Faked Death, Found Freedom

ed file. My hands shook as I opened it. It held chat logs, meticulously compiled, between Holden and Anika

worse. The doctors say she can't carry

or is doing her part. She's stro

deas? What if she does

her rights. She's nothing without me. And o

d planned this. From the very beginning. My entire relationship with Holden was a ca

dread coiling in my stomach. Holden' s voice,

d her purpose. Once the baby arrives, I'll take full custody. She has no resources, no leverage. A tragic accident, p

. My blood ran cold, fear and a fresh wave of nausea overwhelming me. He wasn't j

. My mind went blank, then a torrent of images flashed before my eyes: Holden's ch

tears of pure, unadulterated rage. I was a fool. A naive, trusting fool. He hadn't just br

here was nothing left but bitter bile and raw, burning despair. My body

h a man who saw me as an obstacle to be removed. He was

unblocked Holden's number. My rage had given

lled

th barely suppressed anger. "Elinor? What do you

fectly enunciated, dripping with i

e. "Of course I

like a blade. "Not as your heir. Not as Anik

"You think you can stop me? I ow

r laugh escaping my lips. "You owned a

demanded, his voice laced with

ce dangerously soft. "You wanted a tragic acciden

n, I pulled out my SIM card, snapped it

led "The Un

e other end, my voice devoid of emo

work of compassionate women, and a carefully orchestrated scene. I moved like a gh

Billionaire Holden Terry, Among the Deceased." They even found a "custom-made ring" in the ashes, a replica I'd had manufacture

ped in layers of anonymity, my hair dyed a harsh black, new

that had once been my prison, I placed my hand

"We made it out. I promise you, Apollo, you will have a life filled with love,

ing, a new name, a new life. And I knew, with a certainty