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Chapter 100
My heart raced like a runaway train as I stood outside the discreet hotel room, fear and determination churning within me like a stormy sea. This was it–the culmination of months of careful planning and nerve–wracking risks.
I took a deep breath, adjusting the recorder taped to my thigh, its weight growing heavier with each step.
Lucas was situated in the room across the hall, silently waiting to intervene if things took a dangerous
turn. I nodded at him, gratitude pooling in my chest for his unwavering support. We had come too far to let anything go wrong now.
Aria and the authorities were right outside, also ready to step in if anything went wrong. I was still on my own up in that cramped little hallway. It was a risky dance, but it was the only way to expose Bruce.
I pushed open the door to the hotel room, my heart pounding as I stepped inside. Bruce was already there, lounging casually as if he held all the cards. His smug smile sent a shiver down my spine, but I couldn’t afford to falter.
I had to stay strong.
“Evie, my dear, you’re looking positively radiant,” Bruce purred, his eyes raking over me with unsettling intensity. He moved closer, and I fought to keep my composure as he got overly touchy, his hands brushing against my arm in a way that made my skin crawl.
I forced a smile, my fingers trembling slightly as I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “Can we just get this over with?”
His arrogant grin widened, as if he believed he had already won. “Ah, someone’s eager.”
As he leaned in, his breath hot against my ear, I felt my stomach churn. But I couldn’t let my fear show. With every word I chose, I had to play the part perfectly, extracting the information we needed without arousing his suspicions.
The hotel room exuded an atmosphere of concealed malevolence. The air was
thick with tension as
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Chapter 100
Bruce and I faced each other, locked in a dangerous dance of wills. I despised every moment I was forced to be in his presence, but I’d learned that survival requires embracing the role I’d chosen.
Bruce’s chilling smile sent shivers down my spine as he gestured toward the small table adorned with a bottle of wine and two crystal glasses. “Care for some wine?”
The very thought of sharing a drink with him made my stomach churn, but I forced a polite smile. “Sure, why not.”
He poured the wine with an exaggerated flourish, his eyes locked onto mine the entire time. I watch the deep crimson liquid cascade into the glass. As he handed me the glass, his fingers brushed against mine, and I suppressed a shudder.
“To new beginnings,” he proposed, lifting his glass in a mock toast.
I gritted my teeth and raised my glass in return, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. Each sip I took felt like a bitter reminder of my circumstances.
As the wine warmed my throat, Bruce’s eyes never left mine. I could practically feel his satisfaction, his belief that he’d finally cornered me. He took a step closer and my heart raced, the proximity igniting a desperate fight–or–flight response within me.
“And to finally taking what was rightfully mine,” he continued, his voice dripping with arrogance.
I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the stem of the glass. I wanted nothing more than to slam the glass against his smug face, but I knew that would only lead to disaster. Instead, I lifted my glass slightly, forcing a semblance of compliance.
“To new beginnings,” I echoed, my voice cold and measured.
His smile widened, and I saw a flicker of something sinister in his eyes. The tension in the room was frightening, an electrifying charge that hung between us like a noose. And then, in an instant, everything spiraled out of control.
Bruce’s hand shot out, his grip like iron as he seized my arm. Panic surged through me as he pulled me toward him, his strength overpowering. The wine glasses. tumbled from our hands, crashing to the floor in a cacophony of shattered glass.
I stumbled and found myself on the bed, the fabric beneath me like quicksand.
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Chapter 100
The scent of the wine filled the air, mingling with the fear that clenched at my throat. Bruce loomed over me, his weight pinning me down as his fingers dug into my wrists.
“No more games, Evie,” he hissed, his breath hot against my skin.
I struggled against his grip, my heart racing as I tried to wriggle free. “Let go of me, Bruce!” I howled.
His laughter was chilling, a sound that echoed with the darkness that resided within him. “You think you can just walk away from this? After all you’ve done?”
The accusation rung hollow. He was the one who had orchestrated this twisted game of manipulation, but I know that reasoning with him is futile. My only chance was to buy enough time for Lucas and Aria to intervene.
I summoned all the strength I could muster and began to kick wildly, catching him. off guard. His grip loosened just enough for me to slip out from under him.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I scrambled to my feet, every fiber of my being urging me to run.
I refused to show him my fear. I stood my ground, my breath ragged as I met his. gaze with defiance. “You can’t control me anymore, Bruce. The truth will come out, and you’ll pay for everything you’ve done.”
He was on his feet in an instant, his expression twisted with rage. I braced myself for his advance, ready to defend myself if necessary.
All of a sudden, loud sirens blared from down below. Blue and red lights flashed across the windows, growing brighter by the second. Tires squealed on the pavement and car doors slammed with an urgency.
Before Bruce could make a move, the door burst open, and Lucas rushed in. “Keep your hands off of her!” he growled, advancing toward Bruce.
Time seems to freeze then. Outnumbered, Bruce’s arrogance was replaced with desperation.
The room is a whirlwind of chaos as Lucas propelled toward Bruce, only for the other man to dodge him swiftly. As Lucas collided into the nearby table, Bruce took that opportunity to run.
“Stop, Bruce!” I cried out, and against my better judgement, I gave chase.
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Chapter 100
The hotel room erupted in chaos, a storm of flashing lights, shouting voices, and the desperate rush of footsteps. Bruce’s eyes widened in shock, his arrogant demeanor having finally eroded. In a heartbeat, he was out the door.
moved instinctively, my fear–fueled determination propelling me forward. The room blurred around me as I followed him down the corridor, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum.
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