17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

-Alison-

Summoned to dine with Louis, I struggled to rise from bed, my body protesting every movement. His persistence in sharing a meal with me puzzled me, but resistance seemed futile. When I attempted to decline, two men forcibly extracted me from the bed. Staff members assisted in dressing me in attire free of bloodstains before guiding me downstairs. Every step was agony, exacerbated by the swelling that obscured vision in one eye.

I stumbled, grateful for the support offered by the men. We entered a smaller dining area, much different from the grand one in his main residence, yet I couldn't discern our location. The absence of a cityscape outside the windows, replaced by a dense thicket of trees, suggested we were far from urban civilization.

I found myself seated opposite Louis, who continued his meal with unnerving composure, sparing only fleeting glances at my battered state. His indifference was unsettling. He seemed unfazed by my condition, simply consuming his food without a second thought. When he noticed my hesitance to eat, he gestured toward my plate. I reluctantly reached for it, but even the simple act of chewing sent waves of pain through my jaw, slowing my progress.

"What's the purpose of all this?" I murmured, my voice barely audible.

He offered no response.

"Is this truly about Jared?" I pressed.

Still, he remained silent.

"You must have anticipated his retaliation," I insisted. "You must have known he wouldn't let this slide."

Finally, our eyes locked, and he casually sipped his drink before speaking, "He approached my family."

"And?" I prodded.

"They shouldn't have sided with him," he remarked.

"I see. You underestimated them, yet I still fail to grasp your intentions. Is it Jared's empire you seek?"

"I want him dead," Louis confirmed. "Push a man far enough, and he'll walk willingly into the blade himself."

"So, you've been counting on my disappearance as leverage against him all this time?" I asked, a bitter laugh escaping me.

Louis didn't appreciate my tone. His glare was sharp.

"People fall into line when you dangle something in front of them," he asserted.

"Others have tried to manipulate him through me before. It never works. I've told you this. He'd watch the world burn to reach me. He's that obsessed," I remarked.

"Then he's even more unstable than I thought," Louis observed.

"I don't dispute that."

"And yet, you still stand by him?" he questioned.

"At least he didn't kill his wife," I retorted, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Yet, as soon as they were out, I realized the inaccuracy of my statement. He had killed Astrid, and Louis knew it too.

Louis smiled, shaking his head at my choice of words. "He's worse than you think. His unborn child died too," he stated.

"As if you care for your daughter," I remarked.

"She isn't mine."

"Are you certain? Have you had a paternity test done?" I inquired.

"Yes," he affirmed.

"Then why do you continue to raise her?" I pressed.

Louis hesitated, then set his utensils down, focusing his attention solely on me.

"Because, legally, I am still her father," he revealed.

"And?" I urged.

"And my daughter is worth more than you can imagine. Mila was an heiress from Russia, with whom my family made a deal. Unfortunately, her family was killed long ago, but they left her not only wealth but territory and resources beyond your wildest dreams. Despite her demise, none of that inheritance came to me."

"She made a will," I concluded.

"Julia became her sole heir," he snapped.

I let out a shocked chuckle, unable to fully grasp the complexity of the situation I found myself entangled in. This went beyond Jared and me. Louis aimed to seize control of the world by removing Jared and manipulating Julia.

"But she isn't of age to inherit," I pointed out.

"No."

"Who is her father?" I inquired.

"A deceased man," he replied.

I sighed, shaking my head. The family drama felt like a relic from the past, prompting a wry laugh from me.

"Is something amusing?" he questioned.

"No, just ironic," I snapped.

"What is?"

"That I find myself once again dining with the enemy," I murmured.

Louis failed to see the irony, but he hadn't lived through my experiences. I reached for the water, sipping it slowly to ease the dryness in my throat as I attempted to gather my thoughts. Rubbing my eyes and calming my racing heart, I acknowledged the truth: I was bait, Julia a pawn, and Jared an obstacle.

"Your family," I began.

He met my gaze, pausing his meal.

"Do they want Julia?" I pressed.

He remained silent, confirming my suspicions.

"Aha," I murmured.

"They're greedy vultures. They won't receive a penny."

"I'm guessing they wouldn't want to see all that power in your hands either," I pointed out.

"I won't let them stop me. I married that woman. All of it belongs to me!" he declared.

"It's going to cost an innocent girl her life, isn't it?"

"Innocent? No, she's tainted by her parents' actions."

"Maybe if you had been a better husband—"

"Shut the hell up!" he growled, silencing me as he angrily pushed his food aside, finding it repulsive.

Leaning back in his chair, he downed his drink, tension thickening the air as we locked eyes, but I refused to yield. He loosened his tie, a sign that his plans were unraveling.

"Feeling nervous?" I prodded.

"No," he replied.

I smiled faintly, taking a small bite of my food, but Louis's intense gaze made swallowing difficult. It seemed he was poised to lash out at any moment, using me as his punching bag once more. I braced myself, holding my breath, but he remained still, his anger slowly dissipating.

"She would have resembled you, if she had lived," he remarked.

"Too bad you never let her," I retorted.

"I couldn't. She betrayed me."

"We both know what you truly desired from her, and it wasn't her loyalty. You sought her power to assert your dominance."

He shook his head. "I could have cared for her, but she chose some insignificant bastard instead."

"Who?" I pressed again.

"Her guard. The one always trailing after her."

"You practically placed him in her path," I taunted, noting his glare.

"She was my wife, and he was my employee. They both betrayed me."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, maintaining my composure as our gazes locked. The anger seemed to surge and then ebb away.

"You remained loyal," he observed.

"What?" I questioned.

"You stayed faithful to Jared despite his marriage to another," he clarified.

"We've been friends since childhood. It's different," I argued.

"Is it?" he countered.

"Yes."

"He still married someone else, just like you did," he reminded me.

"But we found our way back to each other. We're with the person we truly want to be with. Besides, we never attempted to harm each other, even when we were with others."

"Never? He never endangered your life?" Louis challenged.

I opened my mouth to defend myself but faltered, realizing I had no defense. Louis smirked at my silence.

"That's what I thought," he remarked.

"You have no idea what you're talking about," I retorted.

"So you never felt betrayed? Never considered ruining his life?"

"Ruining is not the same as killing," I countered.

"Right, because destroying him emotionally wouldn't be far worse," Louis noted.

I sighed, looking away, acknowledging the pain I had inflicted upon Jared, driving him to such despair that death seemed preferable.

"It's in the past. We forgave each other, and we're still alive," I said, turning back to Louis.

"Yes, that's what I mean. You remained loyal," he said, his gaze lingering on me, sending shivers down my spine.

"You're a devoted wife, aren't you?" he inquired, his voice lowering, intensifying the chill that gripped me.

"I... suppose," I murmured.

"You haven't betrayed Jared, have you?" Louis queried.

"No," I replied firmly. "Never."

"That's what I thought."

We maintained our locked gaze, but Louis's expression shifted, darkening into something more predatory. I felt myself starting to tremble, unnerved by the change. Suddenly, he pushed his chair back, and my instinct screamed at me to flee, but my battered body and overwhelming fear rooted me in place.

"You're very loyal," he murmured, circling me, his presence looming over me. "You'd never betray the man you've given yourself to."

He reached out, his hand grazing my bruised cheek, and I recoiled instinctively.

"You know, we always reconciled after our fights," he continued, leaning in close. "She forgave me."

"After you beat her?" I interjected.

"She always forgave me," he insisted.

"Really?" I scoffed. "Or was she just trying to ensure you didn't kill her next?"

"That's not true," he protested, his desperation evident. He reached out, grasping a lock of my hair and inhaling deeply. When Jared did it, it made my body tingle. When Louis did it, it made me shiver with disgust.

"She forgave me, and we made up," he reiterated.

I attempted to pull away, but he seized my hair, tilting my head back to meet his gaze. His smile sent a chill down my spine.

"Let's reconcile, Alison."

Before I could utter a word, he forcefully pressed his lips against mine, his tongue invading my mouth. I felt suffocated, desperately trying to pull away, but he persisted. Grasping at the fabric of my dress, he tore it apart.

"No!" I cried out, attempting to resist, but he seized my arms, pulling me from the chair and bending me over the table.

He immobilized me completely, stripping my dress from my body and using it to bind my hands behind my back. I kicked out, aiming for him with my heels, but he merely laughed, holding me in place with one hand while unbuckling his belt with the other. His heavy breathing betrayed his excitement, bringing tears to my eyes as I despised the repeat of this violation.

I tried to wriggle away, but the pain was overwhelming, draining my energy with every futile attempt. I closed my eyes, retreating into my mind as I listened to the rustling of clothes. Just as he began to align himself, pushing in an inch, and tears began to flow, a sudden commotion froze everything in place, time standing still.

Amidst the screams and gunshots, Louis abruptly pulled away from me, straightening his clothes. More shouts echoed through the air before Louis instructed me to stay put. He strode away, disappearing down the hallway.

The moment he vanished, I regained control over my body and immediately began wriggling out of my restraints. With determination, I pulled and twisted, the fabric proving slightly slippery until, finally, my arm slipped free.

Exhaling a triumphant sigh, I quickly untangled the dress from my other limb and slipped it back on. One strap was broken, and the zipper was useless, so I held it together with one hand while reaching for a steak knife, prepared to defend myself if needed.

Scanning the room for an exit, my gaze landed on the windows once more. I hastened over, attempting to open one, but they remained locked and impenetrable. Peering outside, I saw the cars parked around the house. Despite the chaos, it was still light, allowing me to witness the concerted efforts of men attempting to breach the house while Louis's own team retaliated.

This time, I had no doubt in my mind: it was Jared. I dashed toward the doors leading out of the room. Peeking my head out, I could hear the chaotic clamor and shouted commands reverberating down the hallway. Sneaking into the corridor, I made my way toward the tumult.

Halting at a corner, I surveyed the scene. The door to the entrance stood wide open, with figures engaging in a fierce exchange of gunfire. It was too risky to head that way. I'd be caught in the crossfire. Searching desperately for an alternative exit, I wondered if I could find a window similar to the one in Julia's room that might not be locked.

Taking a chance, I raced toward the staircase, going unnoticed as I ascended the steps. Returning to the room I had just left, I attempted to open the windows, but they remained stubbornly shut. Trying another room yielded the same disappointing result. However, upon reaching Louis's room, I found a door leading out onto a balcony. Stepping outside, I felt the rush of fresh air tousling my hair.

Returning indoors, I began tying sheets and clothes together to fashion a makeshift rope. Tossing it over the side of the railing, I peered down at the ground below, contemplating my escape.

I wasn't too high up, so even if the rope didn't hold, I hoped to manage the fall. As I slipped over the edge of the railing, ready to descend, someone seized me from behind, yanking me back inside.

"No!" I shouted, struggling against the grip.

"I told you to wait for me," a voice growled in my ear—Louis.

"Let me go!" I demanded, sinking my teeth into his arm.

He howled in pain, releasing me, but I didn't get far before he seized my hair, pulling me back and throwing me to the floor, sending waves of pain through my body.

"I thought you were loyal, Alison," he growled.

"Only to one man!"

"Then I have no choice," he said, showing me the gun in his hand. "I'll find another way to destroy Jared and reclaim my daughter."

I stared down the barrel, a knot tightening in my stomach. Was this the end? Though I had always known my life might not be long, I hadn't expected it to conclude like this, not yet. With a deep breath, I prepared myself for whatever awaited, bracing for the inevitable.

The gunshot pierced the air, and I flinched, anticipating pain. Yet none came. Instead, a thud followed, causing me to open my eyes. On the ground lay Louis, blood spilling from a wound in his stomach. He was still alive, coughing and applying pressure to his injury.

I blinked, stunned, as hands from behind me seized me. Looking up, I didn't recognize the men around me, yet I wasn't scared. I didn't know every face of those who worked for Jared. They guided me out of the room, and I glanced behind me, seeing Louis still lying on the ground and shooting me glares.

I smiled back, relishing this moment, knowing I would never see him again. As I was led back downstairs, everything started to turn quiet, and I couldn't feel more relieved. However, when we emerged outside, my heart froze in my chest. The men standing in front of the many cars resembled Louis a little, and none of the people around me looked familiar.

Panic surged within me as I realized these were not Jared's men.

"Who are you?" I demanded, attempting to break free from the strangers' grips, but they held me tightly, intensifying my fears.

"Hey!" I protested, struggling against their hold, but they effortlessly lifted me and placed me before the unfamiliar group.

"Who the hell are you?" I inquired, my voice quivering. "And where is Jared?"

They exchanged knowing glances before a loud groan drew my attention behind me. I watched in horror as they brought out Louis, escorting him toward one of the waiting cars.

"He's still alive?" one of them remarked.

"We didn't finish him off."

"Good, our parents want him in one piece."

"Parents..." I muttered, the pieces clicking into place, dread washing over me as the brothers turned to me. "No..."

"We've been anticipating this meeting, Alison," the apparent leader declared.

"Why are you doing this?" I pleaded. "What have you done to Jared?"

"Nothing yet, but he's taken something that isn't his."

"That isn't... Julia," I realized, shaking my head in denial. "He'll never let her go."

"He will now that we have you. Get her in the car," the leader commanded.

"No!" I resisted once more, but they overpowered me. Unable to fight back, they lifted me and tossed me into one of the vehicles.

As the others climbed in, my hands were bound behind my back. The engines roared to life, and I peered out the window, watching the house fade into the distance.