Steal My Heart, Mr Cole

Chapter 12

Laura Sterling

“Fine… I’ll go with you,” I said quietly, lowering my eyes as I forced my voice to sound steady, even though my heart was still racing and my palms were damp with fear.

Aaron didn’t respond immediately, and for a moment I felt his burning gaze on me, sharp and searching, like he was trying to peel back my thoughts and see the truth behind my sudden agreement. He seemed like the kind of man whose intentions you would never guess.

“That was fast,” he finally said, his tone calm but laced with suspicion, as if he didn’t believe a single word I had just said.

“I don’t have a choice, do I?” I replied softly, letting out a shaky breath as I looked away, pretending to be defeated while my fingers curled tightly against the armrest. “As long as I stay away from him, I’ll do whatever you want,” I added, my voice dropping lower at the end as if I had already given up on myself.

That part wasn’t entirely a lie. Anything was better than going back to Derick.

Aaron studied me for another second before finally nodding once. “Good,” he said simply, and then he turned the wheelchair around and pushed me back into the hospital without another word.

I didn’t dare look back, but I could still feel Derick’s presence behind me like a shadow clinging to my skin, and it made my chest tighten painfully. “You’re not safe yet,” I told myself, swallowing hard as we moved further inside. “This isn’t over. At least not until I’m far away from both of them.”

The automatic doors slid open, and the cool air inside wrapped around me again, but this time it didn’t feel comforting.

It felt like another cage. Aaron pushed me through the hallway, his steps steady, his presence looming behind me, and I forced myself to stay still, to act obedient, even as my mind raced for an escape.

“Mr. Cole! Oh my God, it’s really you!” a voice suddenly rang out, breaking the tension as a group of women rushed toward us, their faces lit up with excitement.

My hands tightened slightly as I glanced up, watching them crowd around him, their voices overlapping as they spoke all at once.

“Can we take a picture with you?” one of them asked eagerly, already holding up her phone, her eyes sparkling.

Aaron went still behind me, and even without turning around fully, I could feel the shift in him, the tension in his body, the faint irritation he was trying to hide.

“I don’t have time for this,” he said, his voice low and controlled, but they didn’t seem to care.

“Please, just one!” another insisted, stepping closer.

I turned my head slightly and caught a glimpse of his face, the tightness in his jaw, the faint annoyance in his eyes, and something about it made me pause for just a second. “So even someone like him can’t escape things he hates,” I thought quietly, but the moment passed as quickly as it came.

Because then I saw the far side corridor. It was quiet and empty, perfect for my escape.

And at the far end, there was a back door.

My heart skipped instantly, and my fingers slowly shifted from the armrest to the wheels. “This is it,” I told myself, my breathing becoming uneven as adrenaline rushed through me. “If I don’t take this chance now, I never will.”

I didn’t give myself time to think again. I pushed the wheels hard, moving forward quickly and silently, slipping away from the small crowd while their attention remained on Aaron.

My heart pounded louder with every second as I rolled down the quiet corridor, my breaths coming faster, my arms straining but refusing to stop. “Don’t look back… don’t stop,” I repeated in my mind, gripping the wheels tighter as I pushed harder.

The voices behind me faded, replaced by silence, and when I reached the back door, my hands trembled as I pushed it open. The moment the cool air hit my face, relief flooded through me so suddenly it almost made me dizzy. “I made it,” I whispered to myself, my lips parting slightly as hope flickered inside me for the first time. “I’m finally out.”

“You really don’t listen, do you?”

My entire body froze.

That deep husky voice was right behind me. It made the hairs on my body straight up..

Before I could react, the wheelchair jerked backward slightly, and a strong hand gripped it firmly, stopping me from moving any further.

“Let go of me!” I snapped, panic rushing back as I tried to push forward, my hands gripping the wheels tightly, but it was useless.

Aaron caught my wrists in one swift motion and pinned them against the wall, his strength making it impossible for me to move as he leaned in, trapping me between his body and the cold surface behind me.

“Do you enjoy messing with me?” he asked quietly, his voice low and dangerous, his breath brushing lightly against my skin as he moved closer, his presence overwhelming in a way that made my heart race uncontrollably.

“I....I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered, my voice betraying me as I tried to look away, but his grip kept me in place.

He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he lowered his head slightly, his nose brushing against my neck in a slow and gentle movement that made my breath hitch sharply.

My lips parted without my control, and my chest rose and fell unevenly as my mind went blank for a moment.

“What is wrong with me?” I thought, my heart beating wildly as confusion and something unfamiliar twisted inside me. “Why am I reacting like this?”

“Tell me,” he murmured, his voice softer now but still firm, his eyes locking onto mine as he lifted his head slightly, his face so close that I could feel his breath. “What should I do to make you agree to sign that marriage contract?”

For a second, I couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t remember why I was even trying to run.

But then Derick’s face flashed in my mind, followed by the prison, the pain, the fear, and everything came rushing back all at once.

My expression hardened as I forced myself to focus, pushing down whatever strange feeling had just taken over me.

“Leave me alone,” I said, my voice steadier now, even though my heart was still racing and my hands were trapped under his grip.

Aaron didn’t move. He didn’t loosen his hold. His gaze remained fixed on me, intense and unyielding.

“No chance,” he replied calmly.