Chapter 101
Chapter 101
CHARLOTTE’S POV
55 vouchers
“Is there a reason you’re suddenly being so arrogant and rude?” I rudely, matching his tone. If he was going to talk to me like that, then he could get the same energy back.
He didn’t blink, there was no remorse on his face, no flicker of the warmth I was used to seeing in his eyes when he looked at me. He just stared at me like I was some inconvenience that had wandered into his office.
“I get that you called Damien and he told you I was busy,” he said coldly. “But you’ve never really been the type to take a hint and back down, have you?”
My nose flared at that. I already knew this was a bad idea. Walking in here had been a terrible decision. What the hell was I thinking coming here like some desperate woman looking for attention?
“I haven’t seen or heard from you for about a week,” I said stiffly. “I thought maybe you were sick… or your marks came back.”
He stood up from behind his desk then, slowly tucking his hands into the pockets of his pants as he began walking toward me. “What is happening to me is none of your business,” he said flatly. “And if I’m not picking your calls or returning your messages, doesn’t that tell you something?”
My legs wobbled and I staggered back a little.
I didn’t know what I had expected when I came here, but it definitely wasn’t this. Hearing those words coming from him was hard to take. This was the same man who used to look at me like I was the only person in the room and now he was speaking to me like I was some stranger who had overstayed her welcome.
Just then, the door opened and Damien walked in. “Oh, I didn’t know Charlotte came around,” he said, already turning halfway back toward the door. “I’ll come back later.”
“Charlotte was just about to leave,” Ace said flatly, cutting him off before he could step out. “What is it you have to say?”
Just like that, all his attention shifted to Damien. He didn’t even glance at me again.
I felt like absolute shit standing there. I couldn’t believe I had driven all the way here just to embarrass myself like this. The humiliation burned under my skin as I turned around and walked out of his office without another word. Never again.
I left the building and went straight to my car, already starting the engine and preparing to drive off when my phone suddenly beeped with a message.
It was from a private number, no caller ID.
“If you want to find out about your past, come to this address by seven pm.”
Another message came in almost immediately from the same number. “299 Vandervoort Avenue, Brooklyn. Come alone and don’t tell anyone about this, if you do I can’t promise your safety.”
I was already exhausted from driving and I needed to go home to my son. It had always been just us and dad from the beginning, maybe it was meant to be that way. But I also needed to know my truth, no matter how wrong this decision felt
I knew it was risky, but I brought the engine back to life and drove straight to the address. Night was setting in, the area. looked lonely and dangerous, a few guys were smoking on the corner, someone even threw something at my car. Swallowing hard, I kept driving until I reached the abandoned warehouse.
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8:41 am 8
Chapter 101
Σ
55 vouchers
I killed the engine and got out of the car, the entire building was dark and silent. My phone beeped again while it rested on the seat. “I see you followed the instructions like the good girl you are. Now go inside the building and wait.”
It felt stupid and dangerous at the same time, but a small, insistent push inside me urged me forward. Whatever this was, I needed answers, needed to uncover the truth for my own sanity.
My phone beeped again, this time from an unknown number, not a private one. “What are you going to choose this time, Dr. Graves, your son or your past?” A video opened, my hands trembling as I tapped play. My blood ran cold when I saw Liam asleep in the backseat of a car, his mouth gagged and his little eyes barely moving.
Damn my past, my son was more important to me. Panic clawed at my chest as I ran toward my car, my mind racing a hundred miles an hour. My phone beeped continually, but I didn’t bother to check until I reached my car. My phone lit up. and a new message made my stomach drop.
“Wrong choice.”
Before I could react, someone grabbed me from behind with brutal force. I struggled, kicking and twisting to get off but a cloth was pressed over my nose and mouth. I recognized it immediately, even as the chemical hit my senses, it was chloral hydrate, a sedative strong enough to knock out even a werewolf. My vision blurred, my knees buckled, and everything went black.
I woke up, my head felt light as I tried to adjust my eyes but I couldn’t see anything, the room was dark. Pain shot through my arms as I tried to move. Silver chains bit into my wrists, forcing them behind me. My entire body felt like it was on fire, and the sweat on my forehead stung from the silver’s effect. I stayed perfectly still, every movement only adding to the unbearable agony.
I heard loud heels clicking against the floor and knew it was a woman. Moments later, the door creaked open and a presence entered.
“Long time no see,” she said, pausing before adding, “Sister.”
I could feel her squatting down to my level, the back of her fingers brushing against my face. Her hands were adorned with several sharp rings that could easily tear skin if they pressed too hard. I couldn’t see her face, but I felt her movement all around me. Before I could even explain, a sharp slap collided with my cheek, sending my head snapping to the side. The rings scraped against my skin, cutting into me, and I felt warm blood start dripping down my face.
“This is for taking what belongs to me!” She struck my face again, my cheeks tearing more. “This is for not dying when I wanted you to.” Another hit, “This is for always messing with my plans.” And again, “And this is for not joining your mother when I pushed you off that cliff.”
“Moon?” My voice barely escaped my lips, a whisper.
“You’re right, little stupid stepsister,” she spat, venom in every word. She straightened and walked away slowly. “I’ll be back for a proper introduction. You’ve always been my punching bag, and you always will be.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
