All Chapters of Sold For A Night, Bound For A Lifetime : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Kayla's POVHours later after the grand hotel ballroomThe silence inside the car was heavy.Rain tapped against the tinted windows as the limousine moved through the bright streets of Manhattan, leaving the St. Regis Hotel behind. I sat as far away from Lucien as possible, my hands resting over my bump. My heart was still racing, and my skin still felt hot where his large hands had touched me at the gala. Beside me, Lucien sat quietly. His collar was open, his bow tie laid on the leather console, and his head rested against the seat. He looked completely calm, like he hadn’t just started a fight over another man talking to me. “You embarrassed me,” I said, breaking the silence. Lucien didn’t open his eyes. “I was setting a boundary.”“Boundary?” I scoffed, turning to look at him. “Julian was being polite! You grabbed me like I was your property.” Lucien slowly opened his eyes and looked at me. His gaze moved over my face before dropping to my belly. “Julian is the kind of man w

Kayla’s POV Three days before the summit. The penthouse felt suffocating. Everywhere I looked, staff and private security were busy making final plans for the Thorne Global Summit at the Metropolitan Center in Midtown. Security badges were being printed, secure communication lines were being tested, and Lucien’s schedule was packed with back to back international calls. Yet, despite his crazy workload, Lucien’s presence seemed to hang over me more with every passing hour. I stood in the secondary living room, trying on an elegant navy blue maternity dress Madame Genevieve had made for me. The soft silk fell gently over my rounded belly, which was now noticeably bigger. “You look beautiful, my dear,” Madame Genevieve said, adjusting her pearl necklace as she watched me from the sofa. “Navy suits the Thorne family.” “I’m not a Thorne,” I reminded her softly, though there was no real anger in my voice anymore, only exhaustion. “Your child is,” Genevieve replied smoothly, her sharp

Kayla’s POVThe silver laundry van swayed violently as it raced through the heavy rain, moving fast through the late night traffic toward the Lincoln Tunnel.Inside the dark storage compartment, Sarah and I sat curled up against the large canvas bags. Every time the driver hit the brakes, my body jerked forward. My belly felt tight with fear, and I kept one hand over it, trying to calm the baby’s restless kicks.“We’re almost through the tunnel,” Sarah whispered, holding onto my arm. Her eyes were wide with fear and hope. “Once we get to New Jersey, Marcus’s contact said we’ll switch cars.”“Are you sure Marcus is okay?” I asked softly, my voice shaking over the sound of the engine.“He made it out,” Sarah said firmly, forcing a small smile. “He’s waiting for us at the warehouse. We’re going to make it, Kayla.”Suddenly, the van slammed on its brakes.Tires screeched against the wet road.Sarah and I were thrown forward as the van shook before coming to a sudden stop.Red and blue lig

Kayla’s POVWhen I opened my eyes, the bright hospital lights hurt so much that I had to squint.My stomach felt numb, heavy, and sore. I panicked and quickly placed both hands over it.It was flat.Empty.“Where is she?!” I screamed, my eyes opening wide as panic rushed through me. “Where’s my baby?!”“Kayla, stop moving!” Lucien’s deep voice came from beside the bed.He quickly moved toward me. His dark hair was messy, his white shirt was open at the collar, and dark circles covered his tired eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all.“Is she alive, Lucien?!” I cried, grabbing his wrists so hard my nails dug into his skin. “Tell me right now!”“She’s alive” he said, his voice shaking. “She’s in the NICU, inside an incubator. She’s three pounds, Kayla, but she’s breathing on her own!”I fell back against the pillows and started crying as the fear slowly left my chest.“I need to see her. Take me to her.”“You just had an emergency C-section,” Lucien said firmly. “The doctor said yo

Kayla’s POVThe early morning sun peeked through the hospital blinds, casting long, golden streaks across the pale floor.Sarah had left at dawn. We didn’t say much, just a tight, tearful hug and a silent promise that we’d find a way to stay in touch, no matter how far away she had to go. Watching her walk out that door made a fresh wave of loneliness settle over my chest, but I forced myself to focus on the tiny life right beside my bed.A young nurse in light blue scrubs pushed a wheeled medical cart into the room, snapping on a fresh pair of latex gloves.Panic instantly flared in my throat. I sat up straighter, wincing as the sharp tug of my C-section staples burned through my light cotton pants and oversized shirt. I had managed to change out of that dreadful hospital gown an hour ago and tied my messy hair up into a high, loose bun just to feel human again.“Is something wrong with her?” I asked quickly, my voice raspy as I leaned toward the incubator. “Why are those monitors bl