Kidnapped - A Beautiful Blessing

nd the rim of her glass. A quiet sort of bravery filled her eyes, pushi

long time, I couldn't see anything beyond my own suffering." She swallowed hard, forcing herself to continue. "He

ched her,

ing I never got to offer freely." She let out a shaky breath. "It hurt-physically, yes-but more than that, it created this hollow place inside me. A place where nothi

didn't know whether she wanted to reach for

ips curved, not in joy, but in something softer, something distant. "He changed. Or maybe I did. Maybe we both did. I started seeing pieces of him that weren't sharp edges and

chest ti

this. It just happens. It doesn't ask for permission. It doesn't always make sense.

e background. Sasha tried to comprehend it, but her mind rebelled. Love didn't

feel something I never had before," she admitted. "It made me... alive. Not bound to

through the air, s

eel safe

hesitate. S

sed. "Even afte

't falter. "It doesn'

ing cold grip her

r got to

o figures entered the

e, a mask of quiet intensity. She, in turn, refused to meet hi

de her, and the warmth that spread across her face was immed

?" Léa asked, her voice lac

"No. I only ha

agreement between them-one that had been forged thr

pe whatever demons clawed at his mind. One night, he passed out in his car. The driver h

cern. She called him, and when she heard his ringtone from down the hall,

resh bruises along his arm. It wasn't the first time, but it was the last straw. She hadn't spoken to him the

ised her he would

kept that

you think we should dance?

n's lips quirked in response-subtle but real. Without another word, they

watche

a distant hum. They swayed, lost in their own world, the

Léon whispered, her lau

watching, her mind

his l

simply s

rt for devotion, or had she truly found s

didn't

sure she

eth. It could break a person before it healed them. Its pow

e didn't come from

t was born i

ou two

t night. His gaze was fixed on the coupl

in, making her shiver. Darius, always observant, didn't miss the slight tremor in her frame. With

n was unreadable, as if he didn't care whether she accepted the gesture

on, its silver light seeping into every corner of the estate, casting soft shadows over the

appearing into the night, while a handful remained-drunken figures

brushing against the coat Darius had given her. The habit was ingrained in

Even though the chill in the air was unforgiving, she chose to keep the car window open as they drove. He didn't quest

med before them, its towering structure dark against the luminous sky. A puddle of wat

material was too much to gather all at once. She struggled, sighing

d her in silence. Then, without

the other wrapping securely around her back. In one smooth motion, he

as instinct took over, her arm

irs with ease, his expression unreadable the entire time. When they reached the entrance, he

. Sasha followed, trailing behind him as he flick

doorway. She exhaled slowly before pulling out her phone, absently

d them aside. Instantly, the moonlight spilled int

er attention. A message

she tapp

en she saw the profile picture

wrapped around her as she smiled broadly at the camera. His own

unmistakable, glowin

e, the same question echoed in Sash

someone who had hur

n. The silver glow bathed her face, highlighting the quiet storm within her. She was lo

e cut through the sil

nning to get s

your own business,"** she mutter

the cold, yet here you are, standing in the

defiance. **"Do you have a probl

ick after getting drenched in the rain last time. And now, after barely dryin

*"Then why did you change first?"** she accused, even thou

expression darkening. **"Don'

ke arguing anymore. She turned to leave, but before she

the wi

ingly. **"Didn't you just

hunder. The sound was so fierce that her body jolted involuntarily. Her fingers trembled, and in that moment,

followed immediately by another loud, roaring thunderclap. Without th

, neither of

didn't say a word, his gaze shifting outside. The garden was completely drenched, the soft glow of the small lam

inst him, her entire body shivering. Without hesitation, Darius lift

ped in the warmth of each other's prese

ha stiffened. She pulled away abruptly, dropp

ors and draw the curtains. She took the oppor

she had bought, she found a soft night suit. It was warm, comforting. She quickly chang

his back, his eyes closed. His face

ng her phone from the nightstand. Th

ike last time,"** she muttered,

l, not even botherin

him from the corner of her eye. *

voice deep and ras

htly. **"Don't you

ke you, I'm

could, another thunderous boom rattled the sky. She shuddered involun

formed in the pi

er heart pounded against her ribs. She didn't even bother reading her

t through her body. Her fingers clenched around the duvet, pulling it up to he

the storm se

other deafe

wiftly onto her side, curling

y observing her, finally spo

e to my side i