Chapter 98

Christia

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1 stormed back into the hotel suite, slamming the door behind me so hard that the frame shook. My heart pounded fumously in my chest, a wide range of anger and frustration that I could barely control. How could he? How could Alex stand there, apologizing like his words meant anything? Like they could undo everything that had happened?

The rage boiled under my skin, threatening to explode as I paced the length of the living room. I couldn’t breathe; it felt like the walls were closing in. I stopped, gripping the back of the couch, trying to steady myself, but my hands shook violently Everything had happened because of him. The fire, the kidnapping, the torture..everything

I could have lost my children. My children. A seb choked my throat, but I swallowed it down. I didn’t have time to cry, to break down. Not now. Not when I had to be strong for them.

But the images wouldn’t stop flashing in my mind. The fire…a month ago now…but still so vivid. The smoke, the heat, the pane My habies screaming, me desperately trying to get to them, to save them from the flames that nearly took us all. And just last werk. God, just a week ago. I was kidnapped. Bianca’s men had grabbed me, tied me up like I was nothing, and tortured me for hours. Every punch, every cut, every blow..because of him.

Alex. Alexander Williams Alistair.

1 gritted my teeth, the very sound of his name in my head enough to send a fresh wave of fury through me. He was the reason for all of this. He had dragged his toxic life back into mine. And for what? To play the hero? To swoop in and pretend to save the day?

“Selfish bastard. I spat under my breath, my nails digging into the fabric of the couch. He didn’t care about us. Not really. If he did he would have stayed away. He would have realized that every step he took toward us, every time he forced himself hack into our lives, he was only putting us in more danger.

Bianca’s psychotic jealousy wasn’t some random act. It was targeted. It was deliberate. Because of him. She couldn’t stand that Alex had chosen me, that he had left her in the past. And because of that, she wanted me gone.

She could have killed me. She tried to

I closed my eyes, the memories of last week flooding back. The ropes digging into my wrists, the cold concrete beneath me, Marco’s face as he whispered his apologies before finally letting the go. He had been hired to kill me, and I would have been dead if he hadn’t had a conscience. And through it all, Bianca’s shadow loomed over everything, planning it all like some deranged puppet master

I felt sick. Sick with the memory of it all, sick with the realization that I wasn’t safe. That my children weren’t safe.

And now Alex thought an apology would fix it? That he could say a few words and I would just what? Forgive him? Let h

No

I showed those thoughts aside, burying the small part of me that wanted to consider his side, that wanted to believe he was truly trying to help it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter. He had done this. He had brought this storm into my life, and now I had to pick up the pieces hold my family together whale he played the victim.

1 waster going to let fin off that eastly I wasn’t going to let him waltz back in and pretend everything could go back to

1pared faster, my chest tighe, my head duobbing. The kids would be back soon, nanny, bodyguards, the whole entourage dat now followed in everywhere because of the danger Alex had brought into our lives. And I couldn’t even bring myself to

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Chapter 98

still boiled, not while I sell wanted to scream and

were red, my face tight with fury. I wasn’t this person. I wasn’t someone who let hate consume them,

I hated that

tried so hard to force himself into our lives, none of this would’ve happened. Bianca wouldn’t have spiraled out of control. My

me out of my thoughts. I wiped my face, trying to push down the storm of emotions racing inside me. The door opened, and there they were….my children, my heart and soul…running into the room with their nanny close behind, the bodyguards lingering just outside. Their laughter should have brought me peace, should have

I had almost lost

couldn’t do this. Not right

to them, heading toward the bedroom. I could hear their footsteps behind me, but I kept walking, needing a moment, needing space. I couldn’t face thern with this fire still burning

was still racing, my hands still shaking. I didn’t know how to calm down,

that he felt guilty. The damage had been done, and I wasn’t sure I could ever forgive him for

All because of him.

An hour later.

weight of it all. The room was still, except for the muffled sound of the kids playing just outside. I had tried to distance myself, to push all my emotions down so I wouldn’t break in front of them. But no matter how hard I

door creaked open, and the kids, looking well–fed and a bit more cheerful than they’d been in the past

first thing I saw as he ran toward me, his arms open. “Mom!” he shouted, throwing himself into my arms. Emma followed, her quieter smile

the tops of their heads. They were everything to me, my world, my reason for fighting through all of this. Each of them took turns kissing me, making my

softer than I intended. I wasn’t ready for what I

eyes sparkling. “It was good! We had art today. Look what I made!” He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his backpack, revealing a messy but heartwarming drawing of us, standing hand–in–hand in a garden. My heart clenched at the sight of it Emma chimed in quietly. “I made one

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Chapter 98

Emma’s

me. But the words I needed to say clawed at my throat. desperate to be spoken. I took a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly as I prepared to shatter their

to break it to you..” Lbegan, my voice low, trying to keep it steady. I felt Ethan shift in my lap, his big eyes looking up at me

motion. Emma’s eyes widened in disbelief. while Ethan’s brow furrowed.

but demanding. “Why can’t we see

now. It’s not good for

can’t we see him?” Emma’s bottom lip trembled as she watched me, her eyes filling with tears. “We love Daddy, Mommy. Please

can’t see him

to hold back my own tears. “But right now, it’s not safe. He’s caused.. he’s made

never gonna stop seeing him! You can’t

his arm, but he pulled away, his face twisted in anger. “I’m doing this

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