Chapter 11: The CCTV Phan

[ DAVID'S POV ]The clock on the dashboard showed it was past midnight when I finally shut off the engine. I did not get out of the car right away. I just sat there in the quiet, looking up at the massive shape of my house.The entire estate was brightly lit. High-tech security lamps flooded the stone driveways with clean, white light. The perfectly cut gardens practically glowed under the expensive landscape lighting. It looked exactly like what it was the grand home of a multi-millionaire. But as I looked at the beautiful stone walls, the wealth did not make me feel good.I had spent the last fourteen hours at the corporate office, buried under stacks of business files. I told myself I stayed late because the work was important. But deep down, I knew it was a lie. I just did not want to come home. I did not want to walk through the front doors and feel the strange, cold weight that had been hanging over the house for the last two days.My chest felt empty and hollow as I finally gra

Last Updated : 2026-07-13

Chapter 12: The PR Crisis

[ DAVID'S POV ]My head was spinning, but it was not just the whiskey. For hours, I had been staring at the dark walls of my study, trying to drown out the image of Samantha’s face. The expensive glass in my hand felt heavy, but the drink inside tasted like nothing but bitter anger. I had all the wealth in the world around me, gold frames, rare books, and imported rugs but tonight, none of it could stop the cold irritation gnawing at my chest. She was just a girl locked in a dark room. I had all the power. So why couldn't I get her out of my mind?Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. I saw her sitting perfectly straight on that thin mattress under the harsh light. I had kept her locked up for two days without food or water, waiting for her to break. I wanted her to scream, to cry, to beg for mercy. Instead, she had sat there with a quiet, stubborn pride. It made my stomach twist. I was Kingsley. I did not feel guilty. But the sheer frustration of not being able to control her min

Last Updated : 2026-07-14

Chapter 13: The Cold Measurements

[ DAVID'S POV ]"Do we understand each other?"The words hung in the quiet, dusty room. Samantha did not nod. She did not blink. But the tiny shake in her fingers told me everything. She understood. Sophia’s safety was the leash, and I had just pulled it tight. I could see the pure anger burning behind her eyes, but she had no choice. I held all the cards."Good," I muttered.I turned on my heel, leaving the door unlocked for the first time in two days."Take her to the main mansion," I ordered the two guards waiting in the hall. "Put her in the East Wing salon. Clean her up, feed her, and get her ready. The designer will be here in an hour."Ten minutes later, I stood by the grand staircase of the main house, watching the heavy front doors open. Samantha was led inside. She looked so small against the huge marble pillars of my foyer. Her feet dragged a bit on the floor, but her chin was held high. Even in her dirty, worn-out clothes, she stood completely stiff and straight. Her face

Last Updated : 2026-07-15

Chapter 14: The Midnight Armor

[ SAMANTHA'S POV ]The silk was beautiful.Even in the dim, shadowed light of the limousine, the deep midnight-blue fabric caught the streetlights outside, shifting like dark water. It was easily the most expensive thing I had ever touched. Chloe’s team had done their job perfectly. The cut of the dress was flawless, wrapping tightly around my waist and flowing down to the floor in smooth, elegant lines that made me look taller and far more graceful than I felt.My hair was styled perfectly, with not a single strand out of place. Under the heavy makeup, my skin looked like smooth, spotless porcelain. When I tilted my chin to look in the dark window glass, I couldn't see even a hint of the purple bruise on my jaw. The makeup artist had covered every mark, blending them away until my face looked flawless, radiant, and presentable.I looked completely untouched. I looked beautiful. I looked like a pampered, beloved wife.But beneath the heavy, stunning fabric, my heart was hammering so h

Last Updated : 2026-07-16

Chapter 15: The Red Carpet Mirage

[ SAMANTHA'S POV ]The door swung open, and the quiet, dark safety of the limousine was ripped away.A wall of noise hit me first. It wasn't just loud; it was a physical wave of sound that made my ears ring and my chest tighten. Hundreds of people were screaming at the top of their lungs, shouting my name, calling for David, and begging us to look their way.Then came the light.A blinding, solid sheet of white flashes exploded in front of my face. For a second, my eyes burned, and my vision went completely black, filled with blurry blue spots. The cool night air rushed into the back of the car, but it felt too thin to breathe. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird, wild and frantic. I wanted to shrink back into the leather seats. I wanted to pull the dark shadows of the car over me and hide.But David didn't let go of my hand.He kept his fingers locked tightly with mine. His grip was solid, warm, and completely unyielding. He stepped out of the car first, his broad s

Last Updated : 2026-07-17

Chapter 16: The Vultures' Taunt

[ SAMANTHA'S POV ]The sharp click of heels against the shiny floor sounded like wolves closing in.I didn't turn around right away. I kept my eyes locked on the heavy silver fork in my hand. Slowly, I pushed the metal prongs into the strawberry pastry on my plate, splitting the crust open. A tiny drop of thick red syrup leaked out onto the silver. I lifted the piece to my mouth, chewed slowly, and forced myself to swallow it down past the huge, dry lump of nerves in my throat. I wasn't going to look rushed. I wasn't going to let them see me sweat."Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."I swallowed, used a white cloth napkin to dab the corner of my lips, and spun around like I didn't have a single care in the world.Three girls blocked my path to the ballroom, standing shoulder-to-shoulder like a wall of expensive silk and glittering diamonds. The girl in the middle wore an emerald dress that fit her like snake skin. She had high cheekbones, perfect blonde hair, and a nasty smirk

Last Updated : 2026-07-18