All Chapters of The CEO'S SECRET BRIDE : Chapter 21 - Chapter 29

It was early morning when we started planning. Carson spread all the files on the living room table, the laptop was open and the little book from Fred was beside it. There were pages, screenshots, names, photos—all mixed together.“This is everything we need,” Carson said.I stared at it all. It looked like a war map. A quiet war, full of secrets and shadows.“So, how do we do this?” I asked.“We go public,” he said. “We hit them where it hurts and this is not leaving behind their reputation, their money, all of it,”he added.I nodded slowly. “Okay. But how do we do that safely?”I asked.Carson tapped the laptop. “We send it out to the right people including the journalists, investigators, and even social media. Everything at once, so they can’t stop it.”He said .I swallowed. “And if they find us before that?”I asked.He looked at me. “Then we go down fighting,”He said.We didn’t eat much that day because we were too focused and too alert, we just wanted to sort everything out and th

The sun was shining through the windows when I woke up and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t waking up from fear. I wasn’t jumping up to check the doors or listen for strange sounds. I just… opened my eyes and breathed peacefully.Carson was still sleeping beside me, his arm across my waist, holding me like he didn’t want to let go. I smiled a little and touched his cheek, as I'm enjoying that little moment.He slowly opened his eyes.“You’re awake,” he said with a sleepy voice.“Yes,” I whispered. “And you’re still here.”I added.He pulled me closer. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said.We stayed like that for a while, with no words, no fear, just peace and silence.Then my stomach growled loudly and we both laughed.“I guess someone’s hungry,” Carson said.“I didn’t even eat well yesterday,” I replied with a smile.“Well, let’s fix that,” he said and sat up. “Today, we'll cook. No laptops, no files, no fights. Just food and lovely moments,”he said again.“I like the sound of

The moment Carson walked out the door, I felt cold, I stood there for a long time, not knowing what to do. Fred watched me.“You’re not really going to let him go alone, are you?” he asked.I turned to him slowly. “I don’t want to,” I said. “But he told me not to follow,"I added.Fred crossed his arms. “And you’re just going to listen to that?”he said.“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I’m scared,"I said.Fred picked up his phone. “Let’s track him,”he said.I stared at him.“You said his phone has a location on, right?” he asked.I nodded slowly.“Then we’ll follow from a distance,” he said. “Quietly. No shouting, no jumping in unless we have to.”he said.“Okay,” I said. “But we'll stay back,"I replied.“Promise,” Fred replied.We followed the little blue dot on Fred’s phone screen. Carson was driving to the edge of town, near the old storage lots. The place looked empty on the map, but I didn’t like it. Not one bit.“Why would she ask him to meet here?” I asked.“Because she doesn’t wan

The morning was so quiet. It was just me, Carson, and the soft sunlight filling the living room. I hadn’t felt this calm in weeks, maybe months.I stretched on the couch, barefoot and wrapped in one of Carson’s soft shirts. Carson walked in from the kitchen, holding two mugs.“One with milk, just the way you like,” he said, handing it to me.I smiled. “You always remember,"I said.“I try,” he replied, sitting beside me.We didn’t speak for a moment. We just drank slowly, letting the peace cover us like a blanket.Then he looked at me.“You look different today,” he said.I raised an eyebrow. “Different how?"I asked.He leaned back and smiled. “Softer. Lighter. Like you finally took a breath,”he replied.I smiled a little. “Maybe I did. Maybe it’s the first time in a long while that I feel… safe."I said.Carson reached for my hand. “You’re safe with me,” he said gently.“I know,” I whispered.*********Later that afternoon, we went for a walk and we walked slowly, our fingers locked t

Just like every normal day I was awake again, with Carson by my side.“You slept well,” he said.“I did,” I smiled back. “I feel safe with you."I said.He brushed my hair gently with his fingers. “Always,” he whispered.We had breakfast together—just toast and tea. It was quiet, calm. We didn’t talk about the flash drive, the names, or the past. For a short moment, it was like all the danger had disappeared.But that peace didn’t last.***********Later that day, I said I wanted to go for a quick walk, just to clear my head. Carson offered to come, but I told him I’d be fine.“I’ll only be gone for twenty minutes,” I said.He hesitated. “Are you sure?”he asked.I nodded. “I just need some air. I’ll be back before you miss me.”I said chuckling.He chuckled. “Too late. I already miss you.”he said.I gave him a soft kiss and left. That was the last time he saw me.***********Thirty minutes passed, then an hour also and Carson didn't see me.Carson started to worry, he called my phone an