บททั้งหมดของ The Billionaire’s Regret After His Daughter Died: บทที่ 121 - บทที่ 130

Elara's POVI froze, my entire body trembling as that gunshot echoed through the hospital corridors.My mind immediately flashed back to the warehouse. The smell of gasoline, the feeling of rough rope cutting into my wrists, the terror of thinking I was about to die.I spun around, expecting to see armed men pursuing us even here, even in what should have been a safe place.Instead, I found myself staring at a large television screen mounted on the hospital wall.The evening news was playing, showing aerial footage of the warehouse we'd just escaped from. Police cars surrounded the building, their red and blue lights painting the scene in garish colors."Breaking news," the anchor was saying, "shots fired during a dramatic rescue at an abandoned warehouse on the industrial district..."It was just the television. Just news coverage of our own ordeal, broadcast to the entire city.But the sound had triggered something primal in me.All the fear I'd been suppressing during our escape cam

Elara's POVI turned around slowly, my heart already sinking as I recognized that voice.Isabella stood behind me in the café doorway, wearing a cream-colored designer dress that probably cost more than most people's monthly salary. Her perfectly styled blonde hair caught the afternoon sunlight, and her smile was as beautiful and venomous as always."Isabella," I said carefully, glancing around the crowded café. "I didn't expect to see you here.""Oh, what a surprise running into you here!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying just loud enough for nearby tables to overhear. "How are you doing, sweetheart? Are you feeling better now?"Something in her tone made my skin crawl. The way she emphasized certain words felt deliberate, calculated."I'm fine, thank you," I replied quietly, hoping to end the conversation quickly.But Isabella stepped closer, her voice growing even louder with false concern."I heard about that terrible kidnapping ordeal you went through. Those awful men who held yo

Elara's POVThe air went completely still. For what felt like an eternity, neither of us spoke. I could hear my own heartbeat, could feel the warmth of his skin against mine, could see something vulnerable and uncertain flickering in his gray eyes.Finally, his voice came, quiet and serious."Yes."The simple word was more precious than any elaborate declaration could have been."It is a confession," he continued, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on my bare shoulder. "Though I have to admit, this isn't how I imagined telling you."I shifted slightly to look at him better, studying the unexpectedly shy expression on his face."I always thought a proper confession should happen somewhere... meaningful. Romantic. Not in a hospital bed after we just—" He paused, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "This feels... cheap. Almost.""Cheap?" I repeated softly."Like I'm taking advantage of a moment when you're vulnerable. When we're both caught up in... physical intensity."His honesty was en

Elara's POVWhen the paramedics reached us, Isabella stirred in Damien's arms.Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glazed with pain. She looked around slowly, taking in the warehouse, the police officers, the flashing emergency lights.Then her gaze landed on Damien's face.A piercing scream tore from her throat, raw and desperate and filled with such anguish that it seemed to echo off the warehouse walls."You took so long," she sobbed, her voice breaking. "Why did you take so long to find me? You promised... you promised you'd always protect me."She tried to lift her mangled hands toward him, the movement causing her to cry out again in agony. Blood seeped through the makeshift bandages the paramedics had applied."I'm sorry," Damien said, his voice thick with a guilt that tore at me. "I'm so sorry, Isabella. I should have been faster.""You should have!" she wailed, tears streaming down her dirt-stained face. "You promised you'd always keep me safe!"As he leaned closer to comfo

Elara's POVThe accusation hung in the air between us.My pulse hammered so violently I could hear it in my ears. He was right—I had lied about meeting Liam. But how could I tell him the truth? That I'd sought out my friend because I was struggling with doubts about our marriage, questioning whether I could move forward with him without first getting justice for Lily?That conversation had nothing to do with work and everything to do with my conflicted feelings about the man now staring at me with growing suspicion.But the accusation underneath his question—that I could orchestrate Isabella's kidnapping and torture—was something I would never, could never do.I forced myself to meet his penetrating gaze. "I swear to you, I had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to Isabella."The words came out stronger than I felt, fueled by the righteousness of knowing I was innocent of the crime he was silently accusing me of."I may not be able to prove why I was there, but I can prove eve