Bound by lies Trapped by Desire novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53

» What are you SM

“He pol bustion, can’t you s

rimean to shout, but it came out loud anyway. The fury bubbled up faster than I could stop it, burning hotter than the pain in my arms. My hands ched beneath the bandages, useless and mumb, but I wasn’t numb anywhere else. Especially not when it came to watching Nikolai get blamed, Kikladne finch. He stood beside my hospital bed, silent and unmoving. He didn’t try to defend himself Not antil Label,

But he held up a hand now, probly..

“Elena, thalnight,” |

Thowned. “You al

he said qiretly, voice rough but calm. “She has a right to be angry”

almost died, too. She can be mad and interrogabe you later it didn’t even register to me how, for the first time ever, I was siding against

But hey looked at Beatrix now, his eyes steady. “She deserves to know the truth.”

Baatria stood stift, arms crossed, her jaw tight, I could see the way she was holding herself back, ke it took everything not to lash out again. She was scared. That was all it was. But fear in my mother always wore the mask of fury.

Nikolai took a breath,

“We went on a road trip. That part was my idea. Elena had been studying nonstop, and I wanted to give her a break after the banquet. So I thought she might enjoy a road trip, she could drive half the way and we could take short breaks and talk”

“But the car was new and turns out, it had been rigged.”

Beatrix blinked, yes narrowing “What?”

“There was a bomb in the vehicle. Whoever planted it knew we were going to be in that car. It had been timed to explode right before we were about to enter the city”

The silence that followed was a vacuum. I felt it in my chest, pressing inward. Whoever had done this clearly wanted to ruin his reputation. Because if that car had exploded in the city, causing civilian casualties, even if we died, people would blame Nikolai for not being careful. For buying such an expensive car when he couldn’t drive it properly. People always found a way to blame the privileged, just to make themselves feel better.

“She saved my lide,” Nikolai said, glancing down at me. His voice cracked at the edges. “The moment we realized something was wrong, she acted faster than I did. If she hadn’t been there, I’d be dead.”

Hiche

“She’s the reason I’m still standing here.”

Beatre was staring at him now, something in her posture changing. The frost was still there, but it was melting slowly. The edges of her shoulders softened, and she uncrossed her arms.

“And what she said ahir a moment, voice low are you planning to do about it? Are you going to just sit here? Or are you reporting it? To the police?

kolai shook his head will take care of it. In my own way

Her eyes Nord. “That’s not good enough. Someone tried to kill you tried to kill my daughter. And you’re saying you’ll just take care of it?”

“My assistant is already working on it, Nikolai said, his voice cooling “Security footage, the mechanic logs, personnel who had access to the car

1M

Chapter 53

combing through everything I have a very strong suspicion about who did this.”

That caught my attention,

1chied

scing at the pullin my back, but was watching him closely now

“You think you know who it was asked.

He nodded slowly but didn’t elaborate.

Beotris seemed to recogne the change in energy too. Her gaze flicked from me to him. “Are you two hungry?”

Tip got food

“she interrupted, without looking at him. Her voice wasn’t cold this time. If anything, it was almost… sheepish “Wait here with her.”

he turned to leave, but not before I saw her glance back at Nikolai. Her eyes lingered, and for a second, she looked guilty. She know he wasn’t to blame. She just hadn’t knowhere else to put all that feat

The moment the door clicked shot. I turned to Nikolai

“You said you had a suspicion. Who?”

Head saw it in his ey

“Niko,” I pressed. “Tell me ”

He looked at me, thoughtful. If I didn’t know the person then he wouldn’t be hiding it like this. Who…would benefit from the death of Nikolai Vetrov? Many would. His business rivals especially. But death in such a horrible way? it would have to be a crime of passion

And suddenly, out of nowhere, I remembered Phillipe. The

The way he looked at me that morning. Greasy. Possessive. Predatory. Something about it stuck to

1uptighter.

o you think it w

_Phillipe?”

There were a handful of people famous enough to rival Nikolai’s business empire. Amongst them, I knew of one Philipe. Philipe Sullivan. The CEO of Lumiere. A fashion brand only second to SIRROCCO.

Was he thurt Phillips?

Nikolai’s brows shot up. “How did you….?” He shook his head, “Nevermind, you shouldn’t worry about this,”

Trolled my eyes at his surpce, “Come on, Niko. I never thought marrying you was going to be a fairy tale. I know power attracts enemies. I know people want your place. Or your life. I read the papers. The reporters or people try to cover it all up as “bad luck, but I know better.”

I remembered seeing pictures of him, half–conscious being taken into ambulances, and the story always changes–gas leak, faulty wiring, bodyguards screwing up. And I was exactly a believer of luck. Whether good or bad.

He just looked at me, stunned. Like he didn’t expect that

“People are selfish,” I said softly. “Greedy. They smell money and blood, and they come crawling

Nikolai stepped closer.

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Chapter 53

“Damn it, Clena” be monnued, his volve rini

My heart stopped Shipped.

like this, and I might actually end up falling in love with you.”

(looked away, heat cranding up my deck. “Don’t be stupid “Why did he suddenly change the subject to this?

But he wasn’t done 10% hand caught my chin gently, turning my face toward him.

Then he kee

Had Deep There was no prelude, no warning. One moment he was staring at me like I was something rate, and the next, his mouth was on mine, steaeg all the all in the room.

gasped into it, my body instinctively trying to push him back, but his hands were firm, holding me without hurting. And the longer he kissed me,

fought melted. Fully, recklessly. The butterflies in my stomach turned into something else something wild and starved.

the

lis kiss grew more dominant. More possessive. My hands were useless, bandaged and heavy, so I just sat there and took it, my heart thrashing against

We broke apart like teenagers caught under the bleachers.

Beatrixstood in the doorway, her eyebrow raised and her phone in hand.

“jent came back to ask if you guys wanted something specific,” she said, tone far too casual. “Sorry to disturb.”

She didn’t look sorry at all.

“Pasta” I croaked. “Anything pasta.”

“And grilled chicken, if possible, Nolal added.

She nodded, lips twinching, and disappeared again

wanted to bury myself under the hospital blanket.

on the rolling table, and

When she returned twenty minutes later, the food was steaming in two paper bags. She unpacked the containers, set them up on without a word, sat next to me and began feeding me bite by bite. I tried not to look at Nikolai, who had taken his own container to the corner chair, looking sheepisht

Ateral minutes, Beatrix turned to him.

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