Page 19 of Broken Bonds

I can’t answer, because a male voice behind me does it first.

“He’s resting now,” Ethan states as he sets foot in the room. “He’s confused and some things are fuzzy right now,” he says and Alexandra looks at me raising her eyebrows like she’s saying, See? I told you. “He asked me to take you wherever you want so you can rest, it’s quite late and it has been a long day.”

No. No, I don’t want to move from here. Regardless of the circumstances of our reunion, this is the place I need to be.

“I don’t know…”

“Listen, Stella,” Ethan interrupts me. “The press already knows you’re here. As expected, there has been an uproar, so we had to do damage control. Lionel needs to rest, to clear his head, so do you. You haven’t left this place in three days and the lack of sleep isn’t good. If you don’t want to go home, I can arrange for you to stay at a hotel nearby. Just give me a few minutes to make a couple of calls. I have to make reservations and organize security.”

That makes me frown, I understand about reservations, but security?

“I don’t need a security team or anything like that and don’t bother making hotel reservations.” I look for my phone in my bag and open up my email, to find the hotel’s information my friend Valerie got me. “I’ve already arranged a place to stay. I can go in a taxi, no biggie. Look, this is where I’ll be.” I pass my phone over to Ethan, so he can look over the information.

Ethan looks at me. Somehow he makes me feel like a little girl his father is about to scold.

“Lionel would cut my balls off if I take you to that place,” he tells me. “And security is very necessary, believe me.”

I turn to Alexandra looking for support, but she seems to have sided with her husband, since she only shrugs and gives me a look that says there’s no point in arguing.

Where is the girl code? Chicks before dicks, doesn’t she know?

After a few more minutes of discussion with Ethan, I finally agreed to go to a hotel that he has booked. They’ve won this time. Lionel has bought a few hours of tranquility, but my husband needs to prepare and get ready for war. Tomorrow, I’ll return with my batteries recharged and my armor in place.

Be wary, Lionel Kral, because you’ve awakened the warrior who’s been asleep inside me.

Chapter 8

This damned hotel room, with its lavish decor and imported sheets, feels like a cage. No amount of luxury can ease the turmoil raging inside me or stop the haunting image of Lionel’s cold gaze and harsh words from replaying in my mind. I toss and turn on the bed, unable to find any solace in this opulent prison.

As the first rays of sunlight hit my face, I realize I had left the curtains open all night. The view from the balcony is breathtaking, but all I feel is emptiness and confusion. My world has turned gray, devoid of color and sense.

I had hoped that when Lionel woke up, we could talk things through and move forward. But instead, I am left with unanswered questions and a gnawing feeling that he is hiding something from me. What secrets does he keep? Is our entire relationship a lie? The uncertainty weighs heavily on me, as I struggle to make sense of it all.

If it’s about the money, I can sign one of those complicated agreements rich and famous people do before getting married, in our case, it would be after, but I think it’s still possible.

I’m a goal digger, not a gold digger.

All I want is for the man I fell in love with to come back to me. Was he even real?

A cool breeze begins to blow, and I close my eyes, leaning on the railing, asking the force that saved him to help me solve this mystery.

Don’t leave me alone, I beg in a whisper, my words are like a small prayer. I need you, you are with the one who sees everything, please help me.

The wind lifts the long strands of my hair on my back. I feel almost embraced by his spirit, comforted by his presence.

Dad.

I feel the familiar sting behind my eyes, and I know what’s coming. Tears flow down my cheeks, but I refuse to succumb to the overwhelming emotions that threaten to drown me.

Anger boils inside me, a raging fire fueled by betrayal and hurt. Everything inside me screams to lash out, to fight back against this injustice.

But I hold myself back. I am stronger than this chaos, stronger than these conflicting emotions tearing me apart.

I didn’t come here to be defeated. If Lionel wants me gone, then fine. I’ll return to where I belong. To the place where bonds still exist.

But first, he will have to answer for his actions. He will have to pay for the freedom he so callously took from me.

They say the truth will set you free. Well, that’s the price he’ll have to pay. And I will have my answers, even if they shatter everything I thought was true.

---