48. Chapter 48

Chapter 48

-Alison-

I couldn't bear to stay in my parents' house, tainted by the memory of their murder. So, I sought refuge in the familiar walls of the home I once shared with Warren. Sleeping alone proved to be a daunting task, as if I were being haunted by ghosts, yet somehow I managed, despite the lingering sorrow that clung to me, months after losing Jared to Astrid.

The proximity we once shared, the promise of togetherness, snatched away by an adversary we couldn't shake—I still struggled to comprehend it. Yet, I resigned myself to this cruel twist of fate. I remained uncertain if Jared ever regained consciousness or if the decision was made to end life support. Nevertheless, I threw myself into work, finding solace in the distraction it provided. My survival story only served to heighten my public profile, though I staunchly refused to divulge any details.

Returning home brought a sense of comfort, but Jared was never far from my thoughts. His memory lingered in my heart, his presence always there whether I lay in bed or toiled away at work. It surprised me how I managed to focus with him constantly on my mind, yet somehow, I did.

However, my nightmares persisted, relentless in their grip on my subconscious. One particular night, their intensity reached a crescendo, rendering me unable to find solace in even the most mundane comforts—a hot shower, a hearty meal, or pacing the floor.

So I decided to remain in bed, tossing and turning or gazing out of the window, fixating on the small crack I kept open, yearning for Jared to appear, to whisk me away once more.

Thoughts of him offered a semblance of solace, but it wasn't until the sun began its ascent that I finally began to drift into slumber. Yet, a noise from below on the ground floor abruptly roused me from my restless state. Uncertain if it was merely a product of my dreams, I hastily sat up, scanning my surroundings.

"Hello?" I called out into the room, met with no response. Without hesitation, I sprang from bed, reaching for the gun I kept close at hand in my nightstand. Clad only in a thin robe, I ventured out of my room, cautiously peering into the hallway, but finding nothing amiss. Undeterred, I descended the stairs, but the house remained eerily empty. Even the front door stood firmly locked.

Convinced I had imagined the sound, I proceeded to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, only to freeze upon entry. Before me lay a piece of paper, its presence both perplexing and unsettling. With a mixture of confusion and apprehension, I approached, my eyes scanning the words even before I reached it. As I stood before it, I set the gun aside and seized the paper, my eyes darting over the words repeatedly, attempting to decipher their meaning.

Through tears that welled in my eyes, a chuckle escaped my lips. Before me lay a new contract, its terms simple yet profound: Be mine, forever.

I shook my head incredulously, my gaze falling upon Jared's signature at the bottom of the contract, with an empty space beckoning for mine. A pen conveniently lay on the table, and without hesitation, I scrawled my name alongside his. As I turned the paper over, I half-expected further instructions, but all that met my eyes was an address—a destination I already knew.

I headed to my wardrobe with resolve, initially contemplating dressing casually, until a devilish idea took hold. Opting for a different attire, I swiftly changed and bolted out of the house, grabbing my keys, purse, contract, and gun, leaving the details of my disappearance for later. I needed to see him. It couldn't wait. Ignoring speed limits, I raced back to the place we once called our own.

-Jared-

A knock on my office door interrupted my thoughts, prompting me to grant entry. A staff member informed me that I was needed in the dining room, leaving me momentarily perplexed until the realization dawned—I hadn't been alerted to an intrusion. A smile tugged at my lips as I rose from my chair, adjusting my suit jacket and expressing gratitude for the information.

Descending the stairs, my heart raced with anticipation. It had taken meticulous planning to set everything in motion, but the time had come to claim what was rightfully mine. I knew I had once enticed Alison with the promise of escape, but that illusion was about to shatter. She would either willingly step into the shadows with me or be coerced into their depths.

However, it appeared she had already made her choice. As I reached the cracked doors of the dining room, I pushed them open, revealing Alison seated with arms casually lying on the armrests. Upon hearing my entrance, she gracefully rose from her chair, adorned in alluring dark lingerie and heels, the collar necklace accentuating her beauty even more than I remembered. Before I could utter a word, she teasingly pushed the chair out further.

"Your seat, Master," she teased, her voice dripping with playful submission.

Intrigued, I approached her, feeling the tension escalate between us as I stopped before her. She gestured to the chair, urging me to sit, and I obliged. As I settled into the seat, my eyes caught sight of a covered plate placed before me. With a seductive grace, Alison leaned forward, affording me a captivating view as she removed the lid, revealing the contract signed with both our names. I tilted my head, a satisfied smirk playing on my lips as I glanced up at her, and she reciprocated the gesture.

"You know what this means, right?" I inquired, a hint of anticipation coloring my voice.

"It means you're mine," she declared, her words sending a pleased rumble through me.

I reached for her, but she deftly grasped my wrist, holding me back. Leaning in close, she taunted me with her smug look, whispering provocatively in my ear, "Not yet," before gently nibbling my lobe and retreating, leaving me in suspense. I watched her disappear, knowing I couldn't stay in my seat for long. Counting to three, I leaped out of it, and the exhilarating chase began.