All Chapters of His Wife On Paper : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Eliora's POVThe drive back to the villa was a blur of streetlights and the agonizing hum of my own heartbeat. Every time a car pulled up behind my car, I was convinced it was a nondescript vehicle filled with the shadows of the person who had sent that email. My phone felt like a live wire in my hand, heavy with the digital proof that my life was no longer mine.When I reached the front door, my hands were shaking so violently that I struggled to fit the key into the lock. The metal scraped against the plate, a harsh, grating sound in the dead silence of the night. Finally, the bolt clicked, and I stepped into the foyer.The house was swallowed in darkness. No hall light, no kitchen glow. I didn't reach for the switch. I didn't want to see my own reflection in the hallway mirrors. I looked like a ghost, and I felt like one, too.I leaned my back against the door, closing my eyes and letting out a long, shuddering breath. The silk of my emerald dress felt like ice against my skin, a r

Eliora’s POVThe Grand Sapphire Ballroom was a dizzying display of old-money excess. The air was thick with the scent of lilies and expensive cologne, humming with the sound of a live orchestra that struggled to drown out the predatory whispers of the city's elite. Crystal chandeliers vibrated overhead, casting a fractured, diamond-like light over the crowd.I stepped onto the marble floor, the scarlet silk of my gown feeling like a second skin. It was a bold, aggressive red that stood out against the sea of safe blacks and muted navy. Beside me, Elijah was the picture of a supportive fiancé. He wore his tuxedo with an easy grace, his hand resting firmly on the small of my back."Smile, sweetheart," Elijah murmured, his voice smooth but his eyes sharp, scanning the room like a hawk. "Tonight is about stability. Let them see the Monroe Group isn't just surviving; it's thriving.""I’m doing my best, Elijah," I replied, my voice tighter than I wanted it to be. Every flash of a camera fel

Kian’s POVMy phone had buzzed in my pocket while I was standing in the ballroom after Eliora had stepped out, staring at Elijah and Caden like we were three idiots in a trap.“Eliora is in trouble. Come to the North Fountain.”The message was anonymous, but I didn't care. Anything that involved her safety was my business. But when I got there, she wasn’t there. Only those two were. We stood in a silent, hateful triangle, snapping our heads up toward the balcony when our phones lit up again, telling me to check out the balcony.I knew something was wrong. My gut twisted with a cold, sharp dread I hadn't felt in years. I didn't wait to argue with Elijah. I pulled out my phone and opened a private app, a tracker I had slipped onto Eliora’s phone the last time she was at my place. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't help it. I needed to know where she was especially after the incident in my office.The little red dot was moving. Fast. Too fast. She was leaving the gala, tearing down the

Kian’s POVThe stairwell was a cold, concrete cage. I stood there for a long time, staring at the heavy metal door that led back to the ICU. My knuckles were sore, and the dried blood on my skin felt like a second layer of clothing. A hit and run. The thought kept spinning in my head. Someone had planned this. Someone had watched her stand in that fog and decided to destroy her.I pushed off the wall. I couldn't stay in the dark forever. I needed to see her. Even if she was behind glass, even if a machine was the only thing keeping her chest moving, I had to be near her.As I walked back into the hallway, the hospital felt different. The lights were dimmed for the night, casting long, eerie shadows across the linoleum floor. The only sound was the distant, rhythmic hum of machines and the occasional squeak of a nurse's shoes far away.I stopped walking when I saw a shadow near the end of the long corridor.It was Zoey.She was standing alone by a large window at the end of the hall, l

Kian’s POVThe air in the hallway was thick, charged with a tension so sharp it felt like it could draw blood. I stood my ground, my boots planted firmly on the hardwood floor, my eyes locked on the door where the boy had disappeared. My heart was a frantic drum in my chest, a mixture of ancestral recognition and a dark, possessive hunger. I was ready to tear this house apart, piece by piece, just to get to him. To touch him. To know.Then, the world exploded in a blur of motion.Elijah didn't waste time with warnings. He launched himself at me with a speed born of pure desperation. His fist connected with my jaw in a hard, sudden punch that sent a shockwave through my skull. The sound was a sickening, dull thud. My head snapped to the side, and the metallic, copper taste of blood flooded my mouth instantly. I stumbled back, my ears ringing with a high-pitched whine as I struggled to keep my balance."What's wrong with you?" Elijah’s voice wasn't just a shout; it was a jagged, raw scr