LOGIN"Congratulations. You're officially free," Jade laughed.The automatic glass doors slid open.Warm sunlight spilled across the hospital entrance as Elysia stepped outside for the first time in days.She paused for a moment, inhaling deeply before slowly letting the breath leave her lungs.For the first time in five years, she felt free.She felt genuinely happy to be exactly where she was, with the people beside her.Almost absentmindedly, her hand drifted to her stomach.It was still flat, but touching it had already become a habit."Careful now," her mother reminded gently.She had arrived a few minutes after the news bulletin announcing that the Windsors had offered a reward for information leading to Elysia's whereabouts."I'm fine, Mom..." Elysia groaned, unable to hide the amusement in her voice.Ever since she'd told her mother about the pregnancy, she'd been treated like she might shatter if someone looked at her too hard.Then again...Compared to what her grandmother would h
Elysia opened her eyes to the morning sunlight streaming through the open curtains, swaying gently in the breeze.She slowly sat up.The doctor had told them the previous day that she would be discharged today.Her mother and Jade had insisted on staying the night, but after Kai assured them he'd take care of her, they had left without much argument.Jade, of course, had flashed her that ridiculous heart-eyes look before walking out the door.A small yawn escaped Elysia as her gaze drifted to Kai.He was still asleep.Even in sleep, his brows were furrowed, as though something weighed heavily on his mind.He had spent the entire night making sure she was comfortable, barely closing his own eyes.He was slumped in the chair beside her bed, one elbow resting on the mattress while his head leaned against his forearm.She reached out and gently smoothed the crease between his brows.He stirred lightly, his hand instinctively catching her wrist.His eyes opened a fraction. For a second, he
The heart monitor beside him beeped steadily while the IV continued dripping into his arm.Declan lay restlessly in the hospital bed, his head moving weakly from side to side. A light sheen of sweat covered his forehead, his brows drawn into a deep frown as faint murmurs escaped his lips.“...Elysia...”Asher frowned.The doctors had told him Declan had developed a high fever from exhaustion. Days of little sleep and constant stress had finally caught up with him.To make matters worse, he had consumed alcohol on an empty stomach, only worsening his condition.Asher looked at his friend. It felt like Declan was trapped in some kind of nightmare.This was the third time since they had brought him to the hospital that he had whispered Elysia's name in his unconscious state. "Victoria is not another woman."The words left his lips as the world around him shifted.Suddenly, he was back at the dining table from a few days ago."Don't act like you don't know what this is... You're only my
“Shit,” Declan cursed, his voice rising slightly.Then, as if catching himself, he immediately lowered it and glanced toward Victoria.His only lead to finding Elysia.Dead.Just like that.Why did it feel like it wasn't a coincidence?And what do you think would happen if he finds out?His uncle's words from earlier echoed in his mind.Did Daniel know something about this?But then again, his uncle and the St. Laurent family's former gardener, Javier Santiago, shouldn't have had any connection to each other.As far as Declan knew, they had never even met.Daniel Windsor moved in circles far above men like Javier.One belonged among powerful businessmen and politicians.The other had spent most of his life working for a single family.So who would want Javier Santiago dead badly enough to silence him?It couldn't be a coincidence.Not now. At this particular time?Not after learning he had been at the house before the fire.And what reason would Javier have for setting fire to his hom
Daniel stared at Declan for a moment. His smile slipped briefly before settling back into place.“Come on, son. We’re all family after all,” Daniel laughed.The sound was forced. Everyone in the room could hear it.Declan raised a brow.Suspicious or not, Daniel had been the only person in the family who tried convincing his parents to let him marry Victoria all those years ago.“I know how much you love her,” Daniel continued. “I came as soon as I heard about the fire.”It sounded like concern.Yet Declan couldn't help noticing what was missing.Daniel hadn't asked about Elysia.Not once.He had come straight to the hospital. He hadn't called Declan beforehand. And now he was here, hovering over Victoria's bed like her wellbeing mattered more than anyone else's.On the surface, it all made sense.But after everything that had happened in the last few hours, suspicion came far too easily.“Declan, Uncle Daniel is like a father to me,” Victoria said softly.Before now, Declan wouldn't
“You stupid fool.”Alistair Windsor’s voice thundered across the room.Declan stood quietly in the middle of the large foyer while his father lashed into him.“How hard is it to protect one woman? How hard?!” his father roared.“Alistair…” his mother called quietly.They had spoken to Elysia’s mother only a few minutes ago.Eleanor had hoped Elysia was with her mother. That she had left the house and gone there before the fire broke out.But the call hadn't gone the way they'd hoped.The media outlets had already carried news of the fire, and they couldn't imagine what would happen if they got wind that their daughter-in-law had gone missing in the fire when everyone else had made it out.“It’s not like I set fire to my own house, Father,” Declan retorted.That seemed to infuriate his father even more. His hand connected sharply with Declan’s cheek, the sound echoing through the foyer.Declan stumbled back, his eyes widening in shock.Eleanor gasped and rushed to her son.“Enough, Ali
"I've already filed for a divorce," Elysia finally said with a sigh.Kai's attention snapped to her.She didn't see the slight widening of his eyes.Her gaze remained fixed on the window, on the trees swaying gently in the breeze outside."What?" Nicole stared at her.Genuine shock flashed across h
Declan frowned as he stared at the footage. For several moments, neither he nor Bene spoke. The security camera showed the upstairs hallway outside Elysia's bedroom. Victoria appeared on the screen a few seconds later. She walked directly toward Elysia's room before stopping outside the door. Dec
It came back to her in flashes—sharp, unwanted and cruel.Elysia stumbled up the stairs, gripping the railing so hard her fingers ached, her chest tightening like something inside her was breaking all over again.She had been on the phone earlier that evening with her mother.“Honey, it’s time to l
Elysia’s hand trembled slightly as she stared at the pregnancy test in her hand. Her breathing hitched the moment she saw it.Two red lines stared back at her.Positive.She shuddered, exhaling a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding since she’d picked the thing up from the bathroom co







