Ella’s POV:
The ride back to Arec’s penthouse was suffocatingly silent. I stared out of the window, but everything outside seed blurry, distant. My mind was racing, trying to piece together how close I’d co to dying tonight.
The fire, the smoke, the panic, it had been more than just an attack. It was a ssage. Whoever was doing this wasn’t just after , they wanted terrified, cornered, helpless. And it was working.
Arec was tense, his knuckles gripping the steering wheel so hard that I could almost hear the leather creak under his hands. His anger hung in the air like a storm cloud, ready to burst at any second.
But he was holding it back, keeping it in check, for . His eyes flicked towards several tis during the drive, concern etched into every line of his face. He didn’t say anything, and neither did I. There was nothing to say right now, only the need to get sowhere safe.
When we finally pulled into the underground garage of his penthouse, Arec wasted no ti. He jumped out of the car before I could even move, rushing around to open my door. He offered his hand, and I hesitated for a mont before taking it. His touch was steady, grounding, but I couldn’t ignore the conflict brewing inside .
As we made our way to the elevator, Arec’s silence still lingered. I felt guilty dragging him into this. Whoever was after could target him next. What if he got hurt because of ? I swallowed hard, pushing the thought away. Arec led through the lobby, his presence enough to make feel safe, at least for now.
Inside the elevator, the events of the night hit all over again. The fire had been too deliberate, too well-planned. Soone had broken into my apartnt, knowing exactly when I’d be vulnerable. And worst of all, I didn’t even have a clue who was behind it.
"I should’ve known," I muttered, more to myself than to Arec. "I should’ve been more careful."
Arec turned to look at , his eyes sharp but filled with sothing close to guilt. "This isn’t your fault, Ella. None of it is. You couldn’t have seen this coming."
"But it keeps happening," I insisted, my voice shaking. "First the poisoned chocolates, now this. Soone is out to get , Arec. And I don’t know why."
His jaw tightened, and I could see the struggle in his expression. "I won’t let them hurt you again. I promise."
His words were ant to comfort , but they only heightened my fear. This wasn’t just about anymore. Arec was in the line of fire too, and that terrified more than anything.
When the elevator doors slid open, we stepped into his penthouse, the sleek, modern décor a stark contrast to the chaos that had beco my life. Normally, a place like this would leave speechless, but now, it felt like just another reminder of how far things had spiraled out of control.
Arec motioned for to sit on the couch, and I collapsed into it, my body feeling heavier with every breath. The weight of the night hung on my shoulders, exhaustion sinking in.
"I don’t want you going back to that apartnt," Arec said, sitting down across from . His tone was firm, almost commanding. "Not until we figure out who’s behind this."
"I know," I whispered, though the idea of staying here indefinitely made my chest tighten. "But I can’t stay here forever, Arec."
He shook his head, his determination unwavering. "You’ll stay here until we get married. I’m not taking any chances."
His words caught off guard. It wasn’t just his usual protectiveness—it was sothing more, sothing that hinted at a deeper fear I hadn’t seen in him before. Was he really that scared for ? Or was it the baby he was worried about?
The thought gnawed at , leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I couldn’t shake the feeling that, while Arec cared, it was the pregnancy that drove his actions. Was that why he was so determined to protect ? Because of the child?
I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable with the direction my thoughts were going. "Arec, I appreciate everything you’re doing. Really, I do. But whoever is after —they’re not going to stop. What if they co after you next?"
"I can handle myself," he replied, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice had softened, but there was still a sharp edge to it. "But I’ve been thinking. This feels too calculated. Whoever’s doing this, they know too much."
"What do you an?" I asked, my heart pounding.
"I’ve been considering all the possibilities," he said, his gaze darkening. "Klaus is still a suspect, but after watching the CCTV footage, it’s clear the person who dropped that gift knew exactly where the caras were. They’re too careful. That makes think it’s soone close to us."
A chill ran down my spine. "Close? Like who?"
Arec t my eyes, his expression unreadable. "Klaus... or my grandmother."
My stomach lurched at the ntion of Klaus. He’d always been vindictive, but would he really go this far? And Arec’s grandmother? She had never hidden her disdain for , but would she resort to sothing so extre?
"I asked her outright if she had anything to do with it," Arec continued, his voice tightening with frustration. "She denied it. But I know her. She’s capable of doing anything to get what she wants, and she’s never liked you."
I swallowed hard, trying to process what he was saying. If Arec’s grandmother was involved, then this went deeper than I ever could have imagined. She had the influence, the power, the resources. And if she wanted out of Arec’s life, she might go to any lengths to make it happen.
Before I could say anything, Arec’s phone buzzed on the coffee table. He picked it up, his expression shifting as he read the ssage.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Arec swiped the screen, opening a video file. "Is a CCTV footage," he said grimly. "The team found sothing."
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