NicholasAfter Eliana locked me outside, I left for my study, slowly and barely aware of my movements. My head hung, my arms swinging loosely on my sides. Every time I closed my eyes, her teary face flashed behind my eyelids. Her screams of hurt and something I couldn't describe after she closed that door left my head ringing."Aargh fuck!" I kicked the study room door after closing it, barely feeling the pain on my toes."What have I done?" I slid against the door and down to the tiled floor. I felt as if something cold was pressing and squeezing life and joy out of my beating heart. I could never have guessed that seeing Ellie so hurt by my actions would make me feel undeserving of her."I'm so sorry, baby," I whispered to myself, my eyes tightly closed. A whole billionaire like me sitting flat on the floor because of love would surely create headlines if the paparazzi ever got wind of it. The thing was, I didn't even mind; all I cared for was holding Eliana again in my arms, if she

Nicholas"What do you mean there's nothing you can do?" I thundered, staring at the two officers the dispatcher sent."I'm sorry, sir, but an earring alone does not prove that a kidnapping happened. We need more than this; otherwise, you'll have to wait for 72 hours for an investigation to be launched." I raised my eyebrows, trying to make sense of their stupid words."So you are simply saying that you are useless to me." I stated with a bitter chuckle, pushing them out of the way."Sir, you have to understand that the law..." I got into my pack and banged my door in his face, threw the gun onto the passenger seat, and picked up my phone."Where the hell is the security team I asked you to send? The police are not helping, and I need my girlfriend back unharmed." The words flew out of my mouth effortlessly, and my mind focused on getting Ellie back. If only she had told me that her mother had texted, none of what was happening would have happened."They are supposed to be there by now.

Nicholas"You cannot talk to her in her condition." I crossed my arms across my upper abdomen, staring down at the two detectives who were insisting on talking to Eliana."We need to talk to her about the kidnapping and her father's case because it has been reopened." The shorter one of the two detectives said, throwing his gaze at a sleeping Eliana."And I just said you cannot talk to her right now. Where the fuck were you when I reported the kidnapping? My brother and I had to step in because the so-called county police didn't see any emergency." I thundered, glaring at the two men who remained calm."We understand your frustrations, sir," the other spoke."The fuck you do! Do you have a girlfriend or a wife who was kidnapped and the police refused to help her?" When he didn't answer, I stepped back, holding the knob of one of the double doors."Thought so," I nodded. Before I could, however, close the door, Ellie's soft voice filled my ears."Babe." I looked at her as she shifted o

Nicholas"I can't believe I agreed to this," I mumbled, going around my Rolls Royce to open the passenger door for my girlfriend outside the county jail, where both Matthew and Nora were being held. It had been exactly 10 days since I shot her and 3 days after she had been discharged from the hospital. The doctor had insisted that she wasn't to be moved around, but I had to heed her request to see her mom after she threatened to go on a hunger strike."Baby, are you sure about this?" I asked for the umpteenth time as I helped her out, while my brother stepped out to lend a hand. He wanted to have a word with Nora too, but mostly he wanted to make sure that Ellie was safe. Over the course of the week, Rob had become Ellie's protector and it just warmed my heart."I know you're hoping for me to change my mind, but I need to do this." She closed her eyes when her sandal-clad left foot came into contact with the concrete. She still felt pain whenever she strained, even though the stitches

NicholasSilence followed after I broke the news, except for Ellie's loud breathing. I honestly didn't know what to expect, so I just held her face. One minute went by in that position until she placed her hands on mine, then gently removed them and pulled her head backwards. The previous moisture in her eyes was gone, and the first faint trace of irritation crossed her angelic face."Coward," she said flatly, letting out a questionable light and a short laugh."What's for lunch?" She suddenly asked, her lips stretching into a smile. My brows furrowed as she crawled out of bed slowly, raising so many questions in my mind."Oh, never mind, I just remembered Nanny is making eggplant curry today according to the timetable my nutritionist provided." Her voice gave out nothing whatsoever, but what had me tilting my head quizzically was the big smile she was spotting."Did you hear what I said?" I carefully asked, looking as she stopped draping her legs over the edge of the bed half-way.Tur