Heaven or Hell: Loving My Twisted Billionaire novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Hannah’s POV

I held Finn tightly, feeling his body rigid against mine. His heart

hammered wildly in his chest, the rapid beats telling a story his

words never could. Every muscle in his body seemed frozen, yet I

could feel the slightest tremor running through him, like a current of

electricity barely contained.

“This isn’t your fault, Finn,” I whispered again, my cheek pressed

against his chest. “No one should have to go through what you did.

No one.”

For a moment–just the briefest of moments–I thought I felt him

lean into me. His heartbeat quickened, and I allowed myself to hope

that maybe, just maybe, my warmth could begin to melt the ice he’d

built around himself. That the walls he’d constructed brick by painful

brick might have a crack I could slip through.

I was wrong.

The change was instant. One second I was holding him, and the next

his body went completely rigid, as if he’d suddenly awakened from a

trance. His hands shot up to my shoulders, and before I could react,

he shoved me away with such force that I tumbled backward,

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My palms scraped against the rough floor as I tried to break my fall,

sending sharp needles of pain up my arms. My back hit the ground

hard, knocking the wind from my lungs. For a moment, I couldn’t

breathe, couldn’t think–could only stare up at Finn as he loomed

over me.

The expression on his face had transformed. Whatever vulnerability

I’d glimpsed was gone, replaced by cold fury. His jaw clenched tight,

his brow furrowed deeply above his dark glasses.

“Get up,” he growled, striding forward.

Before I could comply, he grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet.

His grip was like iron, fingers digging painfully into my flesh as he dragged me toward the door. I stumbled alongside him, trying to keep

my balance as he pushed me forward.

“Finn, please-” I started, but he cut me off with another rough shove

toward the exit.

“Get out,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

I managed to catch myself against the doorframe, turning to face

him. My eyes were wet, but I blinked hard, refusing to let the tears

fall. “I’m not leaving you like this.”

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“I don’t need your pity,” he spat, advancing on me again. “I don’t need

your goddamn sympathy.”

“It’s not pity,” I insisted, standing my ground even as fear coursed

through me. My voice shook, but I forced the words out anyway.

“Tonight I don’t care about any task or transaction, Finn. I just want

to be here with you. Everyone needs someone sometimes. Everyone

needs to be held, especially in their darkest moments.”

A cold, mocking laugh escaped his lips. “Who do you think you are?

My savior?” His voice rose with each word until he was nearly

shouting. “I don’t need anything! Especially not your pity and

compassion!”

He mimicked my tone, his face twisting with contempt. “This isn’t

your fault, Finn.‘ Don’t play the fucking saint with me!”

With one final push, he shoved me through the doorway. I stumbled

backward into the hallway, barely keeping my footing on the floor.

Before I could recover, Finn slammed the door shut with such force

that it seemed to shake the entire wall. The sound echoed down the

empty corridor like a gunshot.

For a moment, I just stood there, my heart racing, staring at the

closed door. Then, taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and

knocked gently.

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Chapter 17

As I hummed, then softly sang the words, my mind drifted back to the

Lancaster estate. I could almost smell the old oak bookshelves in the

library, the fresh–cut flowers my mother always arranged in the

entryway. I remembered the feeling of absolute safety, of being

completely loved and protected.

The lullaby grew quieter as exhaustion began to overtake me. My

eyelids felt heavy, my head nodding forward before I caught myself. I

continued singing, but my voice had developed a slight tremor,

emotion catching in my throat.

“The stars will always find you,” I sang barely audibly, “no matter how

dark the night…”

My head rested against the doorframe as sleep began to claim me. In

those final moments before consciousness slipped away, I thought of

Finn alone in his room, surrounded by the physical manifestation of

his nightmares.

I hoped, perhaps foolishly, that somehow my voice had reached him,

that he knew he wasn’t alone in the darkness.

The last thing I remember was the feel of the cold door against my

cheek.

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Heaven or Hell: Loving My Twisted Billionaire

Chapter 18

Finn’s POV