Ella’s POV:
I could see the storm brewing in Arec’s eyes, the quiet rage that only surfaced when he felt truly cornered. Arec wasn’t just angry, he was livid. His protectiveness wasn’t just about the baby anymore; it was about . And that realization hit harder than anything else.
He pulled out his phone, barking orders to whoever was on the other end. His voice was sharp, no longer the smooth, composed Arec I knew. He was in full protective mode, and it was both comforting and terrifying.
I’m going to find out who did this," he said, hanging up and turning back to . "No one gets away with trying to hurt you."
I nodded, my emotions a tangled ss of fear, guilt, and sothing else , sothing that felt like relief. Arec was here, and he was fighting for . But as grateful as I was, a cold realization settled in my bones. Soone wanted dead. They’d stop at nothing, and I didn’t know if I’d ever feel safe again.
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Arec’s POV:
The hospital slled like antiseptic and bad mories. I hated hospitals, the sterile white walls, the hum of machines, and the sense of helplessness that ca with waiting.
But here I was, pacing the hallway outside Ella friend’s room, my mind racing with a mix of fear, anger, and disbelief. Soone tried to kill Ella. The thought wouldn’t leave , like a shadow that clung to the edges of every mont. Ella sat in one of the chairs, her hands clasped tightly together, her face pale but composed. I could see the strain in her eyes, though. She was holding it together, but barely.
I wanted to pull her into my arms, to make her feel safe, to promise that I’d fix this, that I’d stop whoever was doing this. But I also knew that promises weren’t enough. Not now. My stomach twisted as I thought of what could have happened if she had eaten those chocolates instead of Kate.
Kate. I glanced at the door to her room, where the doctor had gone in a few minutes ago. Thankfully, she was stable. They’d pumped her stomach and given her dication to counteract the poison, but it had been a close call. Too close.
"How are you feeling?" I asked Ella, my voice softer than usual. I wasn’t used to being this worried, this...emotional.
Ella looked up at , her eyes filled with guilt. "I should’ve known sothing was wrong. I an, champagne? Chocolate? It didn’t even make sense."
"Hey, stop," I said, crouching down in front of her so I could look her in the eyes. "This isn’t your fault. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. They wanted to catch you off guard."
Ella shook her head, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her coat. "But Kate, she’s in there because of . What if..."
"She’s going to be fine," I interrupted gently but firmly. "You didn’t do this. The sick person who sent that gift did."
She didn’t respond right away, just stared at her hands like she was trying to convince herself of what I was saying. I could tell she was spiraling, blaming herself for sothing that was completely out of her control.
I felt and urge to do anything to protect her, I want to do sothing, anything, to make her feel safe again.
"We need to get you out of your apartnt," I blurted out before I could think it through. "You can stay at my penthouse."
Ella blinked at , clearly surprised. "Your penthouse?"
I nodded, feeling a bit awkward now that the words were out in the open. "Yeah, I use it sotis when I need to get away from my grandmother. It’s secure, and no one would know you’re there."
Her expression softened, but then she shook her head. "I appreciate it, Arec, but...I can’t. I don’t want to drag you into this more than I already have."
I felt a surge of frustration, not at her, but at the situation. "Ella, soone is trying to kill you. This isn’t just so minor inconvenience. I need you to be safe."
"I’ll be careful," she insisted, standing up and wrapping her arms around herself. "I promise. I’ll be extra cautious from now on. But I can’t just run away from my house. I can’t hide."
The determination in her voice was admirable, but it also scared the hell out of . Why wouldn’t she just let protect her? Why was she so stubborn? I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Fine. But I don’t like it."
Ella offered a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Arec. For everything. I’ll be okay, really."
I didn’t believe her. Not for a second. But I nodded anyway, knowing there wasn’t much I could do if she wasn’t willing to accept my help the way I wanted to give it. We left the hospital together, making sure Kate was out of harm’s way before heading back to her apartnt. The drive was quiet, but the silence between us was thick with unspoken tension.
When we pulled up outside her building, I didn’t want to let her go. "Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?" I asked one more ti, hoping she’d change her mind.
"I’m sure," she said, her hand resting lightly on my arm. "But thank you."
Reluctantly, I walked her to her door, my every instinct screaming at not to leave her alone. I hesitated as she unlocked the door, the feeling of unfinished business hanging in the air. There was so much I wanted to say, so much I wanted to do, but instead, I just stood there like an idiot, watching her.
"Goodnight, Arec," she said softly.
"Goodnight," I replied, forcing myself to turn and walk away.
When I got back to my car, the frustration bubbled up again, simring just beneath the surface. I couldn’t just let this go. Soone had crossed a line, a line they couldn’t co back from. Whoever it was, they were going to regret it.
Just as I started the engine, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw a ssage from one of my security contacts. They’d found sothing. The CCTV footage from Ella’s building.
I opened the video file, my heart pounding in anticipation. This was it. This was how we’d catch the person responsible. But as I watched the footage, my hope quickly turned to frustration. The figure that appeared on screen was cloaked in shadows, their face obscured by a hood. They moved with purpose, staying just out of range of the caras as if they knew exactly where they were placed.
"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, slamming my fist against the steering wheel. It was like they’d planned this perfectly, knew exactly how to avoid being identified.
I watched the video again, hoping to catch so detail, anything that would give a clue. But there was nothing. It was like the person had disappeared into thin air.
My mind raced. If it wasn’t the security footage that would give them away, then what? I needed answers, and I needed them fast. This was no longer just about protecting Ella, it was personal now. Soone had made this a ga, and I had no intention of losing.
I made a call, my voice sharp as I spoke. "Find Klaus," I ordered. "Wherever he’s hiding, I want to know. Now."
If it wasn’t my grandmother behind this, then Klaus was the next logical suspect. If anyone had a motive to hurt her, it was him. I wasn’t going to let him slip away this ti.
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