The Billionaire’s Reluctant Bride (By Tessa Wren) novel Chapter 39

Shadows Closing In

Elara’s heels clicked against the pavement as she walked toward her car, her body still trembling with rage. The confrontation with Charles had left her emotionally drained, yet somehow empowered. She had finally stood up to him, laid bare his hypocrisy, and made her intentions clear. As she reached for the car door handle, a chill ran down her spine. Something felt off.

She glanced around the dimly lit parking lot, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Her years of experience had sharpened her instincts, and right now, they were screaming danger.

“Mrs. Blackwood!” her driver, Marcus, called out as he hurried toward her. “Is everything alright? You seem upset.”

Elara forced a smile. “I’m fine, Marcus. Just a… challenging meeting.” She hesitated, then added, “Actually, could you do a quick check around the car? I have a strange feeling.”

Marcus nodded, his expression serious. He’d been with the Blackwood family long enough to trust Elara’s intuition. As he began his inspection, Elara’s phone buzzed. A text from Damian:

“Everything okay? You’re late. Lunch’s getting cold.”

She sighed, guilt mingling with her anger. In her confrontation with Charles, she’d lost track of time. As she began to type a reply, a muffled thud caught her attention.

“Marcus?” she called out, her voice wavering slightly.

Silence.

Heart pounding, Elara took a step back, her eyes darting around for any sign of her driver. That’s when she saw it – a dark figure emerging from behind a nearby van.

“Who’s there?” she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

The figure moved closer, revealing a man with cold, calculating eyes. “Mrs. Blackwood,” he said, his voice a low growl. “I’m afraid you’ll have to come with me.”

Elara’s mind raced. This had to be Charles’s doing. She should have known he wouldn’t give up so easily. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” she spat, backing away.

The man – Asher, though Elara didn’t know his name smiled coldly. “I wasn’t asking.”

She turned and ran, her heels echoing in the empty lot. Fumbling with her phone, she tried to dial Damian’s number.

Asher pursued her with silent efficiency. He’d done this countless times before, and Elara’s panic only made his job easier.

Just as Elara thought she might reach the street, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her off her feet. She screamed, but a hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her cries.

“Shh,” Asher whispered in her ear. “We’re going for a little ride, Mrs. Blackwood. Your husband will be waiting for my call.”

As Elara struggled in vain, her phone clattered to the ground, Damian’s worried voice barely audible from the speal

“Elara? Elara, are you there? What’s going on?”

But she couldn’t answer. She was already being bundled into a waiting van, her world fading to black as Asher pressed a chloroform–soaked cloth to her face.

Meanwhile, in his office, Charles sat back in his chair, a smug smile playing on his lips. “The work should be done now,” he muttered to himself. He quickly picked up his phone that rang. A bright smile crossed his face as he picked up his call.

“The work is done,” Asher said. “I will send you the location.”

A creepy smile plastered on his lips. “You should have listened, Elara,” he murmured to himself. “Now, let’s see how I handle the situation.”

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Shadows Closing In

He stood up, picked up his jacket, and put it on. He walked over to the door and opened it before stepping out.

“Where are you going?” a voice asked. He turned around, with a sweet smile on his lips.

“Where I’m going is none of your business, Margaret.”

Margaret’s eyes shone with fury. She clenched her fists. “Don’t tell me you’re going after her.”

“Welcome to my place,” Asher said as soon as he stepped in. The room was filled with dust, old wooden furniture white sheets stood like ghosts in the dim light. Cobwebs draped from the ceiling to the corners, and the air was th. with the scent of mildew and decay. A grand, tarnished chandelier hung ominously overhead, its crystals dulled with age and grime.

red in

“Where is she?” Charles asked.

“Chill,” Asher said with a smile. “She’s in there.” He pointed in her direction. He approached the unconscious Elara, who was lying on a dirty bed.

“What did you do to her?” Charles demanded.

“What do you think I could do to her?” Asher replied. “You should see she isn’t my type.”

“Then why is she like this?”

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Shadows Closing In

+25 BONUS

“I had to silence her when she was screaming. That’s why she’s like this.” They were still talking when Elara slowly regained consciousness. Her head throbbed, and her vision swam as she tried to make sense of her surroundings.

“Ah, sleeping beauty awakens,” Asher’s mocking voice came from somewhere to her left.

Elara turned her head, wincing at the movement. “You…” Her voice was hoarse. She knew it was Charles’s doing, but seeing the truth scared her.

“Hello, baby girl,” Charles said, moving toward her. He caressed her face gently with a soft smile. “Welcome to my hell.”

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