Clara pulled hard against the ropes, ignoring the pain spreading through her wrists. If she could free herself before morning, she might be able to escape or find a way to warn Alexander.Even if she could not stop Elliot's plan entirely, she could at least deny him the satisfaction of using her to destroy the man she loved.But the restraints did not loosen.Elliot watched her for another moment before straightening his jacket. “Keep trying, Clara. Perhaps you'll surprise me.”Before he could continue taunting her, footsteps approached from the adjoining room. One of his subordinates appeared in the doorway, carrying a phone and wearing the serious expression of someone bringing news that required immediate attention.“Mr. Elliot, we've been receiving replies from both of them,” the man reported. “Our messages are getting responses, and we've noticed attempts to hack into our system. Someone is trying to determine our location.”Elliot turned toward him.For an instant, his expressio

The following morning, the safe house was unusually quiet, but the silence did little to ease the tension hanging over the building.Every person inside knew that Alexander had two battles to face that day: one in the courthouse, where he intended to bring his marriage to an end, and another outside it, where Clara remained missing, and the people responsible for her disappearance had yet to reveal themselves.The Crime Boss had just ended a phone call with Alexander’s butler when he heard footsteps coming from the corridor. He lowered his phone and turned toward the stairs, where Alexander appeared a moment later.Alexander looked remarkably composed. He had shaved carefully, his hair was neatly arranged, and his dark suit fitted him perfectly. Anyone who saw him would have assumed that he had slept peacefully and prepared for the day without a single worry.However, the Crime Boss had spent enough time around him to recognize the tension hidden behind his calm expression.Alexander

Aurelia nodded, although her attention seemed divided between Vivian’s words and the courtroom doors.“I know,” she replied quietly. “I'm trying.”“Then focus on what you can control. You cannot force Alexander to change his mind, and you cannot undo the mistakes you made. But you can make sure that you understand every decision before you respond to it.”Aurelia lowered her gaze.She knew Vivian was right, but accepting that truth did not make it any easier to face the consequences of her choices. For years, she had assumed Alexander would always be there, quietly supporting her regardless of how often she dismissed him.She had mistaken his patience for an unbreakable attachment and his sacrifices for something she could take for granted;d, only when he began walking away had she understood how much she stood to lose.Vivian was about to say something else when her expression suddenly changed. Her eyes shifted toward the courthouse driveway, and the faint crease between her brows de

Alexander arrived a few minutes later.His vehicle stopped near the courthouse entrance, and the Crime Boss stepped out first to check the surroundings. Once he was satisfied that there was no immediate threat, he opened the rear door.Alexander emerged, adjusted his suit jacket, and looked toward the courthouse.He had come prepared to face Aurelia, her lawyer, and whatever objections might be raised against the divorce.He did not expect the hearing to be pleasant, but he had no intention of allowing the proceedings to become another opportunity for someone to manipulate him.As he approached the entrance, he noticed a familiar figure standing nearby.Nahir.For a moment, Alexander’s attention settled on him, and the anger he had kept under control throughout the journey sharpened into something colder.Nahir had been involved in Clara’s first kidnapping. He had helped create the circumstances that made Alexander appear violent in front of Aurelia, and he had repeatedly used other p

The courtroom fell into an uneasy silence as the judge settled into his seat and looked across the room at the two parties.For Aurelia, the silence was more difficult to endure than the arguments she had anticipated. She sat beside her lawyer, her fingers intertwined tightly in her lap as she tried to maintain a composed expression.Vivian occupied the seat behind her, watching every development with growing concern, while Alexander sat on the opposite side with his lawyer.Unlike Aurelia, Alexander showed no visible sign of anxiety. His back rested comfortably against the chair, and his hands lay quietly on the table before him. He neither looked toward his wife nor attempted to communicate with anyone in the courtroom.He seemed completely detached from the proceedings, as though the outcome had already been decided in his mind.Aurelia glanced at him briefly, hoping to find some trace of hesitation or lingering affection in his expression. Perhaps if she could see that he was stil