Chapter 15%
Lucas pulled up in front of my newly bought penthouse and shifted the car into park.
I had moved out of Richard’s mansion the moment that ridiculous scandal broke.
Richard and Lucas had handled the press, exposing Trisha’s lies, but staying in that house didn’t feel right anymore. I needed distance. I needed space to breathe, to plan my next move without being surrounded by the memories of everything that had happened !!
Lucas killed the engine and turned to me, his dark eyes watching me carefully. “You sure you’ll be okay?”
I gave him a small smirk as I unbuckled my seatbelt. “Worried about me, Blackwood?“!!
His jaw clenched slightly, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel. “Always”
Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten for a split second, but I pushed the feeling aside. I wasn’t in the mood for emotions tonight. I was exhausted, and all I wanted was a long bath and some peace and quiet.
“Til be fine,” I assured him as I grabbed my purse. “Go home.”
Lucas didn’t move. His eyes lingered on my face like he wanted to say something, but after a long pause, he exhaled sharply and nodded “Lock your doors.“K
I rolled my eyes but nodded anyway, knowing he wouldn’t leave until I agreed. “Goodnight, Lucas.”
He gave me one last lingering look before finally driving off, his car disappearing down the street as I turned toward the entrance of my building
I had barely taken off my shoes when my phone rang.”
An unknown number flashed across the screen.
Frowning. I picked it up and answered, my voice sharp with imitation, “Who the hell is this?”
A familiar, grating voice purred through the speaker, sending an icy chill down my spine.
“Leave Ethan alone, Claire, Or your son will be sorry”
My entire body went ngid.
My grip on the phone tightened as I pressed it closer to my ear. “Olivia.“%
She let out a slow, mocking laugh, the sound oozing with amusement. “Aww, you recognize my voice. That’s cute.”
“How did you get my number?” I snapped, my patience already hanging by a thread.
She ignored my question entirely, “You’re really testing my patience, Claire. I only tolerated that brat Liam because Ethan loves the child, but you? I’ve had enough of you screwing with my career, my life-”
I cut her off with a sharp, humorless laugh. “Oh, Olivia. Go to hell”
Then I hung up, my finger pressing down on the screen with enough force to crack it. I blocked the number before she could call back. Then, to my own surprise, I laughed.!!
She was desperate &
Pouring myself a generous glass of wine, I walked toward my bathroom, letting the warmth of the alcohol spread through my chest as I pushed Olivia’s words out of my head
The bathwater was steaming hot as I slid into the tub, the heat sinking into my muscles and washing away the tension that had built up throughout the day
I soaked for nearly two hours, my mind drifting between thoughts of Liam, Qlivia’s threats, and Ethan’s pathetic attempt to lure me back into his life. They thought they could control me.”
They thought I would break
They thought they had the upper hand.
Idiots. But what i didn’t know was that tonight, they would go too far.k
I stepped out of the tub, the steam curling around me as I wrapped a silk robe around my damp skin. The night was quiet, the air thick with the scent of lavender and warm water as I reached for a towel.!!
And then-
A shadow moved near the entrance of my bathroom.
I barely had time to react before something cold and wet splashed onto my face.
A sharp. searing pain exploded across my skin.
For a moment, my brain couldn’t process what had happened. But then-
The agony swallowed me whole l
“WAHHHH‘
A bloodcurdling scream tore from my throat as fire erupted across my face and body, the pain so intense it felt like my flesh was being melted off my bones
I stumbled backward, my hands flying to my face, clawing desperately at my burning skin as I gasped for air. The pain was unbearable, white hot and relentless, like acid eating through every layer of my body
A distorted voice sneered from the shadows, the words cutting through the haze of pain like a blade.X
“Rot in hell. Sophia Lancaster”
And then, just as quickly as they had come, they were gone.
Leaving me alone
Burning
I couldn’t breathe.
The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt before. It was worse than fire, worse than any nightmare imaginable. My skin burned as if it were melting, as if something corrosive was eating through my flesh, tearing me apart inch by inch
my mind
My fingers trembled as I fumbled for my phone, my vision blurred by tears. I could barely see, barely th
think, my mind drowning in agony. My breath came in ragged gasps as I pressed Lucas’s number with shaking hands.
The moment he answered, a raw, desperate scream tore from my throat,
“Lucas‘ Help me!”
His voice sharpened, filled with alarm. “Claire? Claire, what’s wrong?!”
“It hurts my skin–my face–someone threw acid- My words came out broken, my voice hoarse and shredded by pain.
I heard the sound of tires screeching Tm coming. Hold on.“k
The phone slipped from my fingers. It clattered onto the floor, forgotten, as my body convulsed from the sheer torment ravaging my skin. The air felt thick and suffocating, each shallow breath scraping against my burning throat.
The last thing I remembered was the sound of my front door slamming open, footsteps rushing toward me, a roaring my name with an anguish I had never heard before
and Lucas’s voice,
Then-
Darkness.
