What happens if anyone touches my wife?
The words weighed heavy on Amelia’s chest.
Even after signing the contract it was surreal to hear Damien say it out loud.
Too close.
Damien walked down the mansion steps without stopping.
Outside, rain hammered down.
Amelia was right behind him.
“Damien”
He flung open the car door.
“Get in.” His voice was steadya and too quiet, that frightened her now, for she was beginning to learn something about Damien Vale.
The calmer his voice, the angrier he actually was.
Damien walked around the front of the car and Amelia climbed in the passenger seat.
Thunder rumbled across the dark sky above the city.
No sooner had he settled in the driver’s seat than the engine had roared to life.
Quick and strong.
The gates opened at once, and in seconds the car was off into the rain slicked streets.
As the city lights streaked past the windows, Amelia held onto the seat a little.
“Where to?” Damien watched the road in front of him.
“To your father.
Her heart leaped violently.
“What?”
He wants you to see him.
Damien flexed his jaw a little.
Now he has mine.
The rain hammered the windshield and the wipers went back and forth quickly.
The silence inside the car felt heavy and Sharp.
Amelia watched Damien carefully from the corner of her eye.
His hands gripped the steering wheel firmly.
Controlled strength and controlled rage.
“Damien”
He didn’t look at her.
“If you’re about to tell me to calm down,” he said quietly, “don’t.” Amelia choked on a mouthful of dust.
‘Cause like, She was not, Sophia’s terrified voice still rang in her ears.
Please, please don’t hurt me, Amelia hugged herself tightly.
“I should never have gotten her involved.
“No you didn’t.
“I kissed you in front of everybody in town.” “And your father decided to respond with a kidnapping.
His voice was cold, and again her chest tightened.
Amelia looked down, without speaking.
“He’s getting worse.
Damien looked at her for the first time.
“No.” His voice lowered a notch.
“He’s getting desperate.
The words crackled between them in the void.
Amelia looked out the window again, Desperate people were dangerous, and Richard Laurent was dangerous enough already.
The car slid easily along the wet streets until it slowed near the middle of town.
Huge screens lit up on the buildings around.
News headlines flashed all over.
Amelia’s stomach immediately clenched.
She was everywhere in her face.
LAURENT HEIRESS DISAPPEARS FOLLOWING PUBLIC MELTDOWN
DAMIEN VALE’S FAMILY FEUD ESCALATES AS HE’S CHARGED WITH TAMPERING
Amelia turned her face away, fast.
Humiliation burned in her chest again.
“They’re destroying me in public.” Damien parked it roughly near a large building downtown.
Tall black glass.
Security is tight.
The shiny silver logo at the entrance.
Laurent Group Headquarters.
Amelia blinked in surprise.
“You brought me here?”
Damien turned off the engine slowly.
“Yes.
Her pulse jumped immediately.
“It’s getting near midnight.”
“Fine.He was out of the car before she could say anything.
The moment Amelia went out with him, the rain poured down.
Cold water seeped lightly in the bottom of her dress, and wind pushed against her hair.
The giant shadow of the Laurent building towered over them.
Amelia had a sudden illness, She had spent years in that building.
Working late.
Missing meals.
Desperate to make myself worthy of it. New chapters come out on g.com first.
And now, She was coming as an enemy.
Damien made for the door, not breaking stride.
Security guards nearby the doors stiffened nervously straight.
One rose quickly.
“Mr. Vale, Get going.
The man stopped short at the word.
The glass doors slid open automatically and Amelia hurried after Damien.
At this time of night, the lobby was empty.
But the tension was immediate.
Employees still working leaned over balconies and from hallways upstairs.
Whispers travel quickly.
Phones showed up, people were already taping.
Amelia’s heart clenched, “This bad idea.
Damien stopped.
In the middle of the lobby.
Finally looked at her, “No,” he said softly.
“Your father’s bad idea, kidnapping your friend.”
He pressed the private elevator button, then, and calmly.
Amelia looked at him.
“You’re really going upstairs.” “Yeah.” To face my father?
‘Yeh.’
The elevator doors opened with a hiss.
Damien went in, One shallow breath, Amelia trailed him.
The doors shut, Suddenly it was silent all around them, only the faint hum of the elevator ascending.
Amelia’s pulse pounded wildly.
‘He’s going to go crazy when he sees us.
Damien’s face was a blank slate.
“That’s the point.” The elevator went higher.
Twenty floors.
Thirty.
40.
(C)
Amelia suddenly remembered being younger, in this very building.
Running through the hallways with files.
Trying to impress Richard.
Attempting to be important.
Her throat closed, painfully so.
Now everything was poisoned, finally the elevator came to a stop.
The doors crept open, The executive lounge quiet, dark and Cold.
Only one office still glowed at the far end.
Richard Laurent’s office.
Amelia stopped walking immediately.
Fear crept slowly into her chest again.
Damien noticed, he stepped slightly closer beside her.
“You don’t have to speak unless you want to.”
The quiet support almost weakened her knees again.
Amelia nodded once, then together, they walked down the hallway.
Each step echoed softly against the polished floors.
At the end of the hall, Richard’s office doors stood partly open.
Voices echoed faintly inside.
Victor, and Richard, Arguing.
Amelia’s stomach twisted instantly.
Then Damien swung the doors wide open, the conversation dropped dead inside.
Richard looked up sharply from his desk.
Victor had papers in hand and was standing by the window.
Both of their faces immediately registered shock.
Amelia stood silently beside Damien.
Her hair and dress were still wet from the rain.
Richard was the first to come to.
His face clouded over immediately.
“You’re out of your mind.”
Damien entered the office, unruffled.
“No,” he said, quietly.
“You kidnapped the wrong person.”
Victor said coldly, with a scoff.
“You have no proof of that.
“Where’s Sophia?” Amelia spoke at length, Richard paid no attention to her.
His eyes remained on Damien.
“You bring my daughter here at midnight like some kind of criminal?
Damien’s face was still cold.
“Interesting choice of words.The tension broke immediately, Victor moved ahead, aggressive. You’ve got to go.”
Damien didn’t even glance at him.
“I’m not here for you. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Victor’s face grew dark, Amelia watched her father, carefully.
Richard looked crazy.
But beneath the anger, Now she saw something different, pressure and Stress.
Perhaps Damien was right, perhaps her father was really desperate.
Richard stood slowly from behind his desk.
Costly, perfectly put and Terribly calm.
“You’ve embarrassed this family enough for one night.
Amelia’s chest tightened with pain, even today.
Sophia is gone, Chaos media everywhere.
And Richard cared most about his reputation.
“She’s innocent,” Amelia said, whispering.
At last Richard looked directly at her.
“And you’re an emotional.
She felt the sting of being dismissed keenly, Damien saw it right away.
He set his face.
“Watch your mouth around her.
Richard chuckled quietly.
“You think a sham marriage gives you dominion over my family?
Damien slowly moved closer to the desk.
“No.”
His voice dropped dangerously.
“But I have power over this situation because I feel my wife, silence burst into the room.
Victor looked instantly furious, Amelia’s heartbeat tripped again at the word wife.
Richard’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Have you signed the contract already?
Amelia’s throat worked.
“Yes.
The answer made him angry.
“You stupid girl.
Pain flickered over Amelia’s face, But this time She didn’t glance down.
“You forced me to do this.” I tried to protect you.
You tried to dominate me!
Her voice rang out loudly through the office.
Years of pain exploded suddenly.
“You never cared about what I wanted!”
Richard’s face instantly darkened.
All I did was for this family.” “No,” Amelia whispered, shaking.
Everything you created was for you.
Silence and Dead silence.
Victor stepped toward her, his fury.
“You sound like a looser.” Amelia looked at him with cold eyes.
“And you sound like him too.” Victor’s jaw immediately tensed, Richard walked slowly around the desk.
And then stopped, directly in front of Amelia, Close enough to pressurize the room .
“You think Damien Vale loves you?
The question took her a little by surprise.
Love wasn’t supposed to matter in this place.
This was payback.
war contract, but yet her chest suddenly tightened.
Richard saw and smiled with cold.
There you go.
Amelia scowled.
“What?
“Lost.”
He glanced at Damien briefly.
“That man destroys all that he touches.
Damien’s voice remained calm next to her.
“And your daughter picked me anyway.” The sentence struck like a bomb.
Richard’s face hardened at once, and then, suddenly a telephone rang loudly inside the office.
Victor replied immediately, his face changed in an instant.
Fear flashed across his face for a second.
“Father” “What?” Richard looked annoyed.
Victor came to a stop.
Slowly lowered the phone.
The media just released leaked video from the banquet.
Amelia frowned slightly.
“What footage?
Victor gave Damien a sharp look.
Then at last, video of Edward Kane grabbing Amelia.
The room fell silent, “and footage of Richard telling her she was getting married public without telling her first.” Victor continued quietly.
At once Richard’s face went white, Amelia paused and took a breath.
“What?”
Now Victor was looking furious, “the public opinion is changing. Damien’s face didn’t change in expression, but suddenly Amelia understood. He had done this. Richard looked slowly at Damien. Now his face showed real anger. You let her loose.”
Damien rolled his cuffs up with a calm air.
“You handed it over, in front of everyone.”