Chapter 10 55 vouchers I turned sharply , ready to head out of the room , my chest burning , my stomach tight from panic but before I could even reach the door , I slammed straight into what felt like a wall . The breath rushed out of me as my face landed against something solid and warm . My hands shot up instinctively , pressing against a firm chest . My heart stumbled . I lifted my head fast , and there he was , Rick , his eyes locked on mine . He gripped my arms gently , steadying me before I could pull away . His hands slid up to my shoulders , holding me in place like he could feel how close I was to falling apart . My heart was pounding too loud , my breathing came too quick , shallow and sharp like I couldn't catch enough air . Fiona , " he said , voice lower than usual , steady . " What happened ? " could barely get the words out . My hands trembled in his hold . My chest wouldn't stop rising and falling ike I was suffocating under my own panic . My mouth opened but nothing came . My brain was spinning , out my body couldn't keep up . Hey , " he said again , softer now . His hands slid lower , wrapping around my wrists and gently pulling me oward him , grounding me . " Talk to me , what happened ? " forced myself to look at him , trying to focus on his face , on anything to calm the storm inside my chest . The sharp edges of his jaw , the furrow between his brows , the faint concern sitting in his eyes , it slowed ny panic enough for the words to finally slip out . My daughter is gone , " I choked . My throat burned . " She's missing . I can't find her . I've searched this entire house , and she's nowhere . If she's not found right now , I swear , I will tear this whole place down . " His brows drew together , but not with panic . His gaze stayed steady , almost amused , like watching me inravel was something unexpected . Your daughter , " he repeated , tilting his head slightly , " she's perfectly safe ." froze , trying to understand what he was saying . My hands clenched tighter in his grip , " what ? " One of the staff took her for a small tour around the house , " he said casually , like it was nothing . " I arranged it , everything's fine ." The relief that hit me only lasted for a second before anger shoved it out . My chest heaved as my voice sharpened , " and you didn't think to tell me that first ? She's my daughter , Rick , nothing concerning her should happen without me being told , nothing ." He looked almost entertained as his eyes ran over me . It made my blood boil . " I didn't realize you had this much fire in you , " he said , his lips curving slightly . " I thought you were 1/3 8:41 pm ED Chapter 10 55 vouchers ། supposed to be the calmer sister . " I jerked my wrists free from his hold , my jaw tight , the heat rising in my face burned worse than my anger as I remembered the way he had his hands around that woman , " you don't know anything about me . " I snarled . He followed my movement with his eyes , then glanced past me toward the corner of the room . My stomach dropped before I even turned to look . His gaze had landed on the half - packed suitcase still sitting wide open . His expression hardened , " what do you think you're doing ? " I straightened my spine , forcing my voice steady even though my pulse was racing , " I'm leaving ." His eyes narrowed , his whole body tensing like I'd struck a nerve . He closed the distance between us quickly , " you're not going anywhere ." My fists clenched at my sides , " why do you even care ? I saw you in your study hugging her , whispering like you couldn't wait to see her again . " My throat tightened as the sting I'd been holding back broke into my voice . " If you love her so much , why didn't you marry her instead ? " He looked unchanged by my words , his face cold and blank . The second the words left my mouth , my chest tightened . It felt pathetic even saying it out loud , but I couldn't stop myself . The jealousy , the pain , the confusion , it all came crashing together . His eyes sharpened immediately , jaw flexing as he stepped even closer , forcing me back until my shoulders hit the wall . The coldness of the surface behind me made his body heat feel even hotter , even more suffocating . " You're forgetting something ," he said , his voice dangerously low , " this isn't about love , this is a contract marriage , one you signed yourself into . " I swallowed hard , but my throat stayed tight . I had nothing to say . He was right , but it didn't make any of it easier to hear . His face lowered closer , his breath fanning across my skin . His eyes locked on mine , unblinking . " You can hate me , you can scream but you don't get to walk out , you don't get to decide this is over because you're jealous ." I pushed at his chest , desperate for space , but he didn't move an inch . His body was like a wall , and I was trapped . " It's not your business who I see or who I fuck , " he said , voice dropping even lower , rougher . " But you will stay exactly where you are because whether you like it or not , you're Mrs. Sterling now . " I bit down on my lip hard , feeling my stomach twist , my entire body flushed from how close he was , how 2/3 8:41 pm ED Chapter 10 his voice wrapped around me like a warning . 55 vouchers My chest was rising too fast , my legs barely steady , every nerve in my body screamed at the unfairness of it , but I couldn't push the words past my lips . He let his eyes linger on me for another long moment , studying every reaction he was pulling out of me , before pulling back just slightly . His voice dropped even colder . " Now , " he said , " I've had a dress prepared for you . Go get ready . Tomorrow , you will attend publicly as Fiona Sterling ." Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!