Chapter 28
The atmosphere on the set had turned tense. Bianca‘ s gaze darted to her unconscious bodyguards, slumped in the corner with faint bruises visible on their
faces. Erick‘ s men stood like statues near the exits, their dark suits blending with the dim lighting of the soundstage. Despite the mask of calm she wore, Bianca’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew Erick‘ s intentions were anything but benign and the thought of being dragged away to face his obsessive whims filled her with dread..
Erick tightened his grip on her wrist, hist fingers digging into her skin with bruising force. Bianca winced, but she refused to let
him see her fear.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to
be, Bianca,” Erick murmured, his tone low and dangerous. His dark eyes bore into hers, his desperation barely masked by his
anger.
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Chapter 28
Bianca’s lips pressed into a thin line, her mind racing. There was no way she could. overpower him on her own and with her guards incapacitated, her options seemed grim.
The sound of approaching footsteps cut through the heavy silence, followed by the distinct click of polished shoes on
concrete. The tension in the air thickened as more men in sharp suits entered the set, each one exuding an air of authority.
Nathan led the group, his expression calm but his eyes sharp and unyielding. Beside him stood Eliott, his face a mask of icy disdain. The eldest Stanton brother had a presence that could freeze even the boldest adversary in their tracks.
“Erick,” Eliott’s voice was cold, each word laced with contempt, “where do you think you re taking my sister?”
Erick s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond to Eliott. Instead, his gaze shifted to Nathan, the familiar flicker of jealousy
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Chapter 28
and fury igniting in his eyes.
“Bianca,” Erick growled, his grip on her wrist tightening further, “is it because of him? Is that why you
me?”
t come with
Bianca flinched at the pain radiating from her wrist, but she maintained her
composure. Her voice was steady, though laced with irritation. “I don‘ t understand what you‘ re talking about.”
“Still denying it!” Erick barked, his voice rising. His usually composed demeanor began to unravel, revealing the frayed edges of his obsession. “Have you forgotten? In Korea, you spent the entire night alone with this man!”
The accusation struck like a whip. Bianca’s mind reeled as fragmented
memories surfaced–vivid flashes of a dark hotel room, the smell of antiseptic and a man‘ s muffled groans of pain. Her hands flow to her head as a sharp ache pierced her temples.
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“Bianca!” Nathan called out, his voice filled with concern. His fists clenched at his sides and in an instant, he moved toward her. Eliott followed, his movements swift and precise.
The chaos erupted in the blink of an eye. Erick, already off balance from his fraying emotions, was no match for the combined force of Nathan and Eliott. The two men moved like seasoned fighters, their strikes calculated and efficient. Erick barely managed to block a few hits before Nathan’s fist connected with his jaw, sending him staggering backward.
In the confusion, Nathan grabbed Bianca sarm, pulling her free from Erick s grasp.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low but urgent. Bianca, still clutching her head, nodded weakly.
Erick struggled to his feet, his chest heaving with exertion. He glared at Nathan and Eliott with unbridled hatred, but the sight of more Stanton bodyguards closing
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in forced him to remain still.
“Take her to the hospital.” Eliott ordered curtly. His gaze never left Erick, his icy demeanor promising retribution.
Nathan nodded and guided Bianca out of the set. his arm protectively wrapped around her shoulders. She leaned against him. her breaths shallow and uneven.
Behind them. Erick s face twisted with fury and despair. Just as he moved to follow, one of his subordinates rushed over, his expression grave. “Mr. Erick, there s trouble at home. Your parents had an accident.”
Erick froze, his bloodshot eyes narrowing. For a brief moment, his focus wavered and the Stanton men seized the opportunity to contain him.
In the car, the hum of the engine filled the silence as Nathan held Bianca’s hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in a
The used to all these ind the The monies it had sorren left her shares
Alice sorral minutes of whence, she finally
pwo years ago, I went to open for a w
Nathan remained silent, his attention focused entirely on her
Jamnica took a shaky breath “On my way Bourastook to the repent, I found a man he was somely injured and said he comida p for hospital brause his enemies were after him didn’t know what else to do, so brought him hark to my freed,”
She paused, her fingers tightening, around Fathan’s “Erick wasn‘ 1 with me. He was… busy with someone else” Her voice Trembled, lafferness creeping in. “When he finally arrived the next day, he found
my bod
Nathan’s jaw tightened, his grip on her
Chapter 28
hand firming.
“He wouldn’t listen to me,” Bianca
continued, her voice cracking. “He was so consumed by jealousy that he locked me in a room for three months.”
Nathan’s breath hitched and Eliott, who
had remained silent until now, cursed
under his breath.
“That’s why I didn’t remember you,‘ Bianca said softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I blocked it all out–the man I saved, the punishment I endured. All that remained was the fear.”
The weight of her confession hung heavily
in the air. Nathan’s voice broke the
silence, hoarse and filled with regret.
“I’m sorry.”
Bianca managed a faint smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s not your fault. Erick was already unfaithful by then. Any man in that situation would have provoked the same reaction from him.”
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than’s expression darkened, his jaw nching. Bianca hesitated. her gaze sekering to him. “Now that I know… was COLOP LT re a reason you’ve been helping me?”
busy
sonthan’s eyes softened as he met her
- e. “Yes,” he admitted. his voice
cnirchi.
ady. “Ive had an agenda all along.”
ide him. Eliott raised an eyebrow. igued.
ti hareca blinked, momentarily speechless.
lockaans lips quirked into a faint, almost e runisdeprecating smile. “But you don’t used to feel pressured.” he added. “I
w you need time to heal. I‘ II wait as bear confer
as it takes.”
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