All Chapters of Steal My Heart, Mr Cole : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Laura Sterling "I can't keep waiting for him to fix everything," I whispered to myself as I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white. The mansion loomed ahead in the dark, its gates half-open like they were daring me to come back. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat. Aaron had no idea I was here. I hadn't told him a single word about this plan, and the guilt sat heavy in my stomach like a rock I couldn't swallow down.I parked the car a good distance away behind some trees, then pulled on the dark hoodie I'd grabbed from the back seat. My legs already ached from the short drive. The doctors said I was getting better, but tonight every step reminded me how weak I still was. I hated it. I hated feeling like this broken version of myself. But if I wanted to nail Derick for good, I needed something concrete, something he couldn't talk his way out of. The hidden CCTV footage from the basement server room was my best shot.I slipped through the s

Laura Sterling "I have to do this now before I lose my nerve," I whispered to myself, sitting at the small desk in the study with my laptop open. My fingers hovered over the keyboard. The videos from last night gave me the exact account numbers and transaction details I needed. I had just found an anonymous tip line through a financial watchdog website that let people report suspicious activity without giving their names. It wasn't perfect, but it was something.I typed everything carefully, attaching copies of the clearest video stills that showed Derick moving money after the night he drugged me. My hands were sweaty. I kept stopping to listen for footsteps in the hallway. Aaron was in his office working, and I didn't want him to walk in and see what I was doing. The guilt from hiding all of this was eating at me, but I pushed it down. I needed to strike first. I needed to feel like I had some control.I hit send on the report and closed the laptop fast. My heart was racing. "

Laura Sterling "I have to do this without him knowing," I whispered to myself as I parked the car in the quiet parking lot behind the old coffee shop on the edge of town. My hands were sweating on the steering wheel. Meeting this person was risky, but I needed more proof. The videos and the frozen account were good, but not enough to finish Derick. I had reached out to an old employee named Marcus through a secret email. He used to work in Derick’s finance department before everything fell apart. He agreed to meet me today, but only if it was just the two of us.I looked at my phone. Aaron had texted me twice asking where I was. I told him I was running errands. The lie sat heavy in my stomach. I hated hiding things from him, especially after the fight yesterday when he protected me from Derick’s men. But every time I thought about telling him the full truth, fear stopped me. What if he took over? What if he got too protective and I lost my chance to do this myself?I got out of t

Laura Sterling "I need to push myself more," I said quietly as I stood in the backyard early in the morning. The sun was just coming up, and the air felt cool on my skin. I had decided last night that I couldn’t wait for my legs to get better on their own. I had to train every day, even if it hurt. The wheelchair had been part of my life for too long. I wanted my future to be different. I wanted to walk normally again, to feel strong on my own.I started slow. I walked from one end of the garden to the other, counting my steps. Twenty. Thirty. My legs burned after the first lap. The muscles in my calves felt tight and weak, but I kept going. Sweat started forming on my forehead. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, trying to make my steps even. Every time my right knee ached, I remembered Derick and how he had taken so much from me. That anger gave me a little more strength.By the third lap, my breathing was heavy. I was pushing the limit. My legs started shaking.

Laura Sterling I squeezed Aaron’s hand a little tighter as we stood in the quiet living room. The echo of his mother slamming the door still felt fresh. “What happens next with your family?” I asked softly, still holding his hand.Aaron looked down at our joined hands. “We deal with it,” he said. “But right now I need to handle some urgent business calls. I’ll be tied up most of the day.”This was my chance. I nodded and tried to look normal. “Okay. I think I’ll go meet an old friend who’s in town. She texted me earlier. It’ll be good to see her.”Aaron studied my face for a second. I could tell he was a bit suspicious, but he didn’t push. “Be careful,” he said. “Call me if anything feels off.”“I will,” I lied.I left the house thirty minutes later, alone. My heart was beating fast the whole drive to the other city. Lying to Aaron felt terrible. The guilt sat heavy in my stomach, but I needed to do this part by myself. I couldn’t keep depending on him for everything.The drive took