Catherine's POV. My eyes slowly fluttered open only to be greeted by an oppressive darkness. My head throbbed in pain, I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out so I calmed down. My eyes suddenly widened and I began to struggle to move but the sounds of chains jiggled, and I felt the restraints on my hands and legs. Panic surged as memories of the car ride and the masked men flooded back.Oh no no no! What the fuck is going on?! I struggled again and the chains made rattling sounds that echoed in the dark room, "Where am I?" I muttered, my voice barely audible. Frustration and fear welled up, and I couldn't help but shout, "Who's there? What the hell is going on?"When no answer came, anger and panic welled up in me and I let out a cuss, "Whoever you are, show your fucking face and stop hiding in the dark! Why have you abducted me?!" I let out a scream but nothing came, Different thoughts began to run in my mind and the thought of my kids and Lucas immediately seeped

Lucas's POV.I never thought this would happen again. Not for once in my life ever since I lost my wife did I think that someone dear to me would be kidnapped again. I've given up a lot for the safety of my family. I never want to lose someone again because of me."That brute! I'm gonna kill him once I get him. I don't care what anyone would think, but immediately I get that son of a bitch, I'm drilling a hole into his body," I mumbled angrily, fisted my hand, and banged it on the driver's seat."Calm down, boss. We'll get there soon. I've sent our men to take care of things as quietly as they can. They would get rid of those cheap hoodlums he had positioned to safeguard him," Marcos, my once-upon-a-time underboss, explained to me, but I wasn't anywhere near calm.I don't know what that silly boy was thinking, kidnapping my woman. He definitely has a death wish, and I'm gonna grant it to him. I don't care what the school authority, the police, or his father says about me letting justic

Catherine's POV.‘Escort her to the car, Marcos.’ Lucas's order kept ringing in my head as Marcos led me outside. I still found it baffling that Lucas was a mafia leader. I shouldn't think too deeply about it, but it bothered me greatly, and I wished I could do something about it. The man saved me, leaving everything behind to come and save me, and what did I do in return? I provoked him.I wanted to murder Sam for everything he wanted to do to me and all that he had done. But I had said those things in the heat of anger, and I meant none of those words. I was just too angry. But seeing Lucas harming him, wanting to kill him, had made me fearful."Are you okay, Madame?" Marcos asked, and I just looked at the young man walking me out. Marcos and I weren't much of friends, but I wouldn't term us as enemies either. We talked and laughed sometimes, but most times, he wore a rigid mask, looking almost like he had no emotions. I now understand where all that comes from; he's an underboss to

Catherine's POV.A few days later."Don't worry, darling, everything will die down soon. It's normal for people to gossip; they would talk about what happened until it bore them. Just don't show that whatever they're saying matters to you, and I promise you that you'll be just fine," Natty assured me as we left class to head home.It had been four days since the unfortunate incident with Sam happened, and the school had been buzzing about it. I could say that most students probably feared me now, and some wanted to get close to me, but I wasn't interested in any of them.Because of the different gossip, Natasha thought I was bothered by it, but she didn't know what bothered me was far too great. I don't care if they would gossip about it for years; I have grown past that. I am almost twenty-three, and I didn't have time to listen to gossip."Cathy, are you alright? You look lost again. I told you that everything would be alright. The competition will be held in less than two months; y

Catherine's POV.Bella's words echoed in my mind as I raced to where I thought Lucas would be, my heart pounding in my chest like a constant drumbeat. Every step felt heavier than the last, loaded with the weight of uncertainty because I didn't know what to expect... Another woman? Nah, this must be a prank; Lucas would never.But... But what if he did?My heart raced with a desperate beat at the thought, fear, confusion, and heartache flowing through my veins. The thought of another woman in Lucas's life sent a chill down my spine, filling me with a gnawing sense of dread that threatened to consume me whole.I didn't know why I was feeling so scared, why I feared deeply. I'd been hurt before... Good God! Please, I didn't want to be hurt again, please.The image of Lucas's face, once filled with love and tenderness, haunted me like a ghost, and despite my racing heart, I had to smile because Lucas was the best thing that had happened to me after the kids. He had become the whole unive