Adam’s expression was cold band /brazor–sharp. “Elijah’s car tes are untouchable in Merrity. Locking down the roads won’t w work intime.b” /b

“Then what’s the n, Mr. Alvarez?” Leo asked..

Without a word, Adain pulled out his phone and dialed a mumber–Elijah’s father, Hendyb. /b

A te? family and the Zander family shared long–standing tirs, and by custom, Adam was expected to address Henry as “Uncle Henry“,

Annected almost instantly, and Henry’s voice came through “Adam? What an unexpected call. What’s the asion?”

Adam’s grip on the phone tightened, his tone cutting like steel. “Your son just kidnapped someone who belongs to me. Think carefully, Does he have any private vis in the suburbs?–

Meanwhile, in a private vi on the outskirts of the city, Celine’s eyelids fluttered open. She quickly became aware of her surroundings–a luxurious, oversized bed beneath her and the omate decor that adomed the bspace/b.

Where was she?

Her pulse quickened as she shot upright, her bbody /btaut with bm/b.

“Celine, you’re awake?” A bman’s /bvoice pierced the silence. Her head snapped in the direction of the voice, her eyes locking onto Elijah.

Her pupils narrowed instinctively “Elijah? What are you trying bto /bdo?

past moments ago, she had been preparing to step bback /binto the bspotlight /bas Dr. C, but now Elijah had dragged her her.

Elijah smirked. “What do you think I’m trying to do? The other day, you humiliated me and beat me so badly in front of everyone. Don’t you think bit’s /btime even

the score

forthis

Elijah was a man unustomed to disgrace. The humiliation she’d dealt him still burned, and he wasn’t the type to forgive. He had been waiting for opportunity to make her pay.

Celine’s hand inched subtly toward her waist, her instincts licking in. But as her fingers brushed the fabric of her dress, her expression faltered.

Earlier, while changing backstage, she had chosen a sleeveless white dress. She hadn’t thought to bring her silver needles or her medicinal powders.

Elijah suddenly eased himself down onto the edge of the bed beside her. “Celine, I’ll give you two options. First, you kneel and apologize to me. Second…” His gaze lingered on her faceb, /btaking in her delicate features. With makeup, Celine looked bradiant /band breathtaking, enough to stir bhis /bheart.

Celine instinctively shifted back, putting as much distance as the bed allowed between them. “And the second option?” she asked.

Elijah’s lips curved binto /bba /bsly smile. “Second, you be my girlfriend. If you agree, I’ll forget what happened that day. Your little ‘win‘ can just be chalked up t lovers‘ spal

He dated bto /bask her to be his girlfriend again.

*I will never be your girlfriendb,/b” she dered firmly, her tone resolute.

to

have any idea how many women would kill for the chance

Elijah’s expression hardened instantly. “Celine, don’t act like you don’t know what’s good for you. Do you ha to be my girlfriend?

Celine didn’t bother answering. Without another word, she climbed off the bed and darted toward the door, But she didn’t make it far.

Elijah grabbed her arm in one swift motion and shoved her down onto the bed. “Celine, if I can’t bhave /byour heart… then I’ll just take your body instead.” Pissing her down beneath him, Elijah began tearing at her clothes.

“No! Let me go!” Celle seamed, struggling with all her might. Her nails raked across bhis /bneck, leaving a deep, bbloody /bscratch.

Her deisance seemed t

to turl him further, his blood boiling with exhration. With a sharp re, he raised his hand and bstruck /bher hard across thece. Celine’s vision med as the bp /brattled her senses. The metallic tang of bblood /bpealed in lige mouth, a thin trail dripping from theer of her lips.

Elijahtore l?s shirt over his head in a heartbeat and unbuckled his bell with the same urgency. The bpale /bglow of her wless skin, the delicate bcurve /bof her bare arms, and the long, slender liner of herlegsset les pulse hammeding.

“Damn it,” he thought. He’d been with plenty of women, but something about celine was different. She bwas /bexquisite and inesistible.

without hesitation, he grabbed the hem of her diess and posted it upward. “Celine, I really like you just be mine already,” he murmured. Celine’s scream tore through the room, sharp and unrelenting.