**Ellis POVThe last thing I expected to hear when I walked up to the villa was Brenda and Olivia exchanging heated words.It seemed I had returned to the villa just in time. If I’d known Brenda would be stopping by, I never would have left. I only had a moment to wonder how she found this place before I hurried through the door.I was stunned to see that Olivia was being backed up and confronted by Brenda. She looked very worried and scared. That is the only thing that registered to me. I barely made out what they were saying.I could see the volatile way that Brenda’s body was trembling in front of Olivia as she stepped closer to her. The aggressive pitch in her tone and the threatening clench of her fists were something I’d never seen from her before, and I knew that I needed to intervene.I was just grateful that I was able to grab her arm before she struck Olivia. But her arm was trembling. When she turned her eyes to look at me I could see the anger that burned inside, but quic
**Olivia POVI could see the regret in his eyes as Ellis shook his head.I felt my rising hopes fall to the ground and turned my look of disappointment to my plate. I took a deep breath in and let it out.“Why did you end things with her?” I asked quietly.“Because… it just felt like the right thing to do,” he told me, and I looked back up into his eyes.Although the disappointment was there, I knew that it would still take time for him to remember everything. I knew all the lies that his supposed fiancée said to him. So of course, I knew that he would be relatively confused as to what and whom would be telling the truth.But to prove everything sure would be rather tricky. But just knowing and seeing him there with me made me give him a small smile.It only took a few moments of smiling at each other before I got up and leaned over him. I gave him a hug. Giving a friendly hug felt rather harmless. A hug showed compassion and I had love in my eyes, and I knew he needed that right n
The driver’s strong arms caught me from falling as I continued to stumble behind him down the stairs. I heard him chuckle. I didn't find any of this funny. I yelped loudly as I stumbled again on the last step.He continued to drag me into the club."Klutzy loser." The driver chuckled some more while he dragged me toward a man who stood behind the bar.“Excuse me? You try walking down the stairs while someone else drags you. I bet you would trip too. This isn’t funny in any way shape or form.” I hissed at him.I heard the driver laugh at my comment. But he stayed silent. As I got closer to the bar, I could smell cigarettes and alcohol. It stunk, in my opinion. I could see condoms, beer bottles, napkins, and tissues all over the floor around one of the tables.I could only imagine what and why those things even lay there. My mouth dropped as I saw a young woman slide past me wearing a bikini. I also saw another woman that looked only partly dressed.I realized that this must be an un
**Brenda POVI hung up the phone. My heart raced as I was just informed that the love of my life just figured out all of his d*mn memories. My heart sank at the thought of losing him once again. I knew I couldn’t let that happen. Not this time. I hurried to dial Joan. The phone rang twice before I heard her familiar voice.“Hello, Brenda,” she answered.“We have a problem,” I said instantly. There was no reason to sugarcoat it or not get right down to the point.“Let me guess. He recovered his memories and knows who Olivia really was to him,” Joan said without hesitation.“Correct. He figured it out. What now?”“I told you he would figure it out. I didn’t think it would be that quick though. I told you that you were too impatient.” Joan rubbed it in Brenda knowing all too d*mn well of how Brenda was.“Oh, shut up. Don’t you dare tell me the phrase ‘I told you so.’ I don’t need to hear it. So, any suggestions?” I asked her.“Well, we will think of something. Just give me a minute to thi
**Olivia POVI was kept waiting in a locked room until a burly man who looked like a bodyguard came to collect me. I bypassed people in the strip club, who were giving me curious gazes as I asked for help or someone to call the police. No one moved to help or seemed concerned about what was happening to me.I was pulled along until we were outside in front of a town car that I recognized. A moment later, Bennett Klein emerged from the car and took me by the hand to guide me to take a seat inside. I began to relax, the softness of the leather seats comforting me as my racing heart began to slow and stopped pounding so heavily.Bennett made his way to the other side of the car and took the seat next to me before the driver pulled off. I sat still in a daze from being kidnapped and sold, but sitting in the back seat of this town car, I was feeling much safer than before.Sitting next to Bennett had me still on edge, but it felt better than where I imagined I could have ended up, especi
Seeing Bennett wave and get into the car helped with the anxiety that I’d felt over the last several hours.Once he pulled out of the parking lot and sped away, I felt even better. I breathed a big sigh of relief as I continued to hang on tight to Ellis. I enjoyed feeling his arm around my back. Feeling the light breeze around Ellis and me made me feel calmer too. The small breeze kept me cool too, considering how I sweat when I get nervous sometimes.“Go ahead and go back to the estate. I will be there shortly. Wait for me there,” Ellis instructed his bodyguard.I saw the bodyguard nod and head back to the car. Seeing the bodyguard take the driver out of the trunk did make me feel a little better as well. Whether someone did something wrong or not, I didn’t believe anyone deserved to be inside a trunk.I saw the bodyguard push the driver into the back seat and then he got into the driver's seat. The car drove off rather quickly. I could hear the wheels peel out and a mark could be
**Ellis POVRelief washed over me as I watched them take Brenda away. Just knowing that she would be gone and also face justice for everything that she has done to my family made me feel better. A long sigh escaped me as I turned and kissed Olivia on the cheek. I could see that she too felt better and safe once again.As I turned my face back around, I saw Joan's face become pale white. Like she just saw a ghost. Her eyes looked wide like a deer in headlights. Her mouth dropped open and she put her hands to her face.I could see her start to shake with fear as she stood near the door. She looked like she didn't know what to do or what to think at this point. Maybe she felt that she just lost her only friend and the battle. But I didn't know for sure. At least not yet.I cleared my throat and spoke once again. "So, let's talk about you, Joan. Have a seat." I pointed to the couch."Me? I don't know what there would be to talk about. I've been here the whole time. I just wanted what's b
**Ellis POVJoan laughed hysterically as she watched Olivia fall to the floor, dripping in blood. She waved the gun around like she was enjoying the scene unfolding. Joan danced around and laughed as she twirled around the coffee table.I rushed over and lunged at Joan. We both flew towards the couch. Thankfully, I fell on top of her. Now with my hands, I knocked the gun from her grip and grasped her wrists. I yanked her arms up over her head and held her down.Hearing a gunshot, the servants rushed into the living room. All of them looked shocked as they saw the scene. One of the staff hurried to the closet and found some rope. He yanked the rope out and rushed over to the couch."Tie her up!" I yelled to my staff member.The staff member nodded and put the rope onto Joan's wrists. He made sure to keep it tight around Joan's wrists. Once that was in place, I removed myself from Joan. I rushed over to Olivia who cried in pain. I could see the blood flowing out of her arm. It looked l