1 clenched my fists. “I thought I made myself clear, Mr. Whitmore. There’s nothing between us anymore, and there never will be.”
I took a deep breath, determined not to leave any ambiguity between us, forcing myself to speak plainly.
“I have a boyfriend now. I’m happy with him. Please, Mr. Whitmore, don’t bother me again.”
Alexander stared at me for a long moment before asking in a low voice, “Your boyfriend–is it
him?”
I froze. Then, the mirrored wall beside us shifted, revealing itself as one–way glass. From where I
stood, I could clearly see the adjoining room.
Inside, a frail young man sat trembling on the couch, surrounded by a group of tall men in black. Standing before them was Lucas, speaking quietly, trying to reason with them.
One of the men sneered, hurling a wine bottle hard against the wall. The glass shattered with a sharp crack, and a shard grazed Lucas’s cheek, leaving a thin line of blood across his pale skin.
My heart seized painfully. I rushed to the glass, staring at Lucas. His face remained calm, almost expressionless, but the blood trickling down his collar made my chest ache.
I turned back to Alexander. “What do you want?”
“I’m helping him,” he said, his voice flat.
Alexander walked toward me, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of the worry on my face.
“His brother owes twenty million,” he said quietly. “The Harris family’s total assets barely reach ten million. Tell me―should I help him?”
I bit my lip. “I don’t remember you ever using such tactics.”
“Despicable?”
Alexander gave a cold laugh. His expression hardened, and the darkness in his eyes deepened with restrained fury.
“Perhaps you never really knew me–that’s why you thought you could escape.”
Chapter 16
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He reached out and gripped my chin, forcing me to turn away from the glass and face only him.
1 elenched my hands, wanting to break free, but before I could, Alexander lowered his head and pressed his lips hard against mine.
The air froze between us–his voice low and suffocating.
“Evelyn, you belong to me.
My face went pale. I shoved him away, shouting, “Alexander!”
He stood there, calm as ever, staring down at me.
The light caught his sharp features–just like the very first time I met him.
The anger burning in my chest slowly deflated, like a punctured balloon. I stumbled back a step,
leaning against the mirrored wall, my hands trembling as I covered my eyes.
“Alexander,” I whispered hoarsely, “Please, I’m begging you. Let me go.”
I didn’t want to go back. I couldn’t live that life again.
Waiting alone in an empty apartment.
Like a bird trapped in a gilded cage–waiting for its owner’s affection.
Everyone said I was different, the “special” one, the perfect “kept woman.”
But only I knew the truth.
There was no difference.
We were all the same–rotting in the same mire, sinking so deep we could never escape.
And now, I’d finally escaped. I’d learned what it meant to stand as an equal.
I couldn’t go back.
I reached out, grasping the front of Alexander’s shirt, pleading, “Alexander… please. Let me go.”
Alexander looked down at the tears streaking my face, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, finally, he spoke.
“Fine,” he said quietly. “I’ll let you go.”
Chapter 16
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I froze and lifted my head.
He looked straight into my eyes, his dark gaze unwavering.
“Break up with him,” he said. “Then I’ll let you go.”
Chapte
Sara 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.

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