Untamed Love

Chapter 001

The Silent Storm

Elena's POV

I used to think that suffering had a cap. Your body would go numb after you passed a particular level, therefore stopping the agony. But standing here, glancing at the documents in my fingers, I realized that suffering was unbounded. The more you attempted to ignore it, it changed form, became stronger.

The divorce paperwork seemed heavier than they ought to have. Perhaps as they reflected the end of who I thought I was, not only the end of my marriage. Elena Hayes-Knight had been my friend for so long; I knew nothing else could be.

I looked about my empty apartment, shadows created by the low light from the window over the still unopened boxes. Since I left Sebastian's penthouse three months ago, I hadn't really dug around. This was a temporary refuge, a hiding spot while I worked out what to do next; it felt not like home. Still going in circles, though, I was attempting to find out how to extricate myself from the mess my life had turned into.

The quiet was broken by the slight sound of my phone vibrating. Ava's name sprang on the screen.

"Hey," I said, a faltering voice.

Always the worried best friend, "How did it go?" she questioned. She had been beside me through every low, every crisis, every restless night.

I choked and looked back at the papers. "That's finished. I signed those."

There was a silence, the sort long enough for me to sense her uncertainty. "Are you fine?"

I did not. Still, I wanted not to acknowledge that. "Yeah. I'm good.

"Elena, it's good if you're not fine," she replied softly. "You're allowed to feel disappointed about this."

I closed my eyes and dropped my head in my palms down onto the couch. "Ava, I'm not sure what I'm feeling at all now. Frayed? Not great. Thank you. Relieved All mixed together is what it is.

Ava let out a low moan. "Although you have gone through so much, you are stronger than you would think. Don't overlook that."

Though she saw me, I nodded. solid. For now, the word seemed alien. Once I had been sure of myself, confident. But I had lost that aspect of me some distance along the road. And I had no idea how I could retrieve it.

Her tone was wary, as if she didn't want to bring up Sebastian, she asked, "Have you heard from him?"

I answered quickly, "No." Too swiftly. "He's most likely too busy running his empire to pay any attention."

In my mouth the words tasted sour. Sebastian Knight is a billionaire CEO, the man I had loved and trusted. The man who had turned on me in ways I had never considered feasible. First, the whispers about the affair; secondly, the revelation that one of his careless commercial transactions had put me in jeopardy.

For that, how would you pardon someone? How do you go forward?

I jumped at the door before Ava could reply. My heart stammered in my chest, the abrupt noise shattering the calm in the room.

Rising, "Hang on, someone's at the door," I said.

I opened the door gently, my breath stopping at the sight of him.

Sebastian.

Looking as commanding as ever in his dark suit, he stood there. His eyes were stormy, inscrutable, those strong blue eyes that had once entranced me with a glance. My heart raced, contradictory feelings whirled in my chest—angry, wanting, perplexity.

"Elena," he whispered softly, his voice gruff, as though he had been practicing this moment for some time.

Trying to stifle the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm me, I crossed my arms. "What is Sebastian doing here?"

I have to talk to you. His eyes went to the documents I had in hand. You signed her.

Of course, I signed these. You were looking for that, not anything else?" Though I didn't regret it, my voice came out more sharply than I had meant.

"No," he answered, stepping in front of her. "What I want is not this. That is what I assumed you wanted."

Though there was no comedy in it, I laughed. "You supposed me to want this? Sebastian, I objected to all of this. I turned away the falsehoods and the treachery—"

"I didn't turn on you, Elena!" His voice got louder than either of ours expected. "I never turned around on you."

I shook my head and back-off. "It's meaningless." As best as you could have. You mislead me. You hid from me stuff that might have endangered my life. How am I meant to believe you going forward?

Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, his face softened and the strain released from his body. " You are correct. I ought to have shared with you the offer. I was attempting to shield you.

"Survive me?" I repeated, incredulity woven through my words. "You nearly brought me down, Sebastian. Not protection is what that is.

He stammered, remorse flashing in his eyes. Neither of us talked for a minute; the stillness laden with all left unsaid was oppressive.

"I'm sorry," he murmured at last, his voice breaking. "I messed up." I let my ambition distort all else. But I never stopped loving you.

At his words, my heart contracted. Loving me? How could he assert that his acts had destroyed us beyond recovery?

"Sebastian," I started, but the words choked me. I was not ready to start this discussion. I was not ready to untangle the mess our relationship had created.

"I know it's too late," he said, his voice low and urgent. But I can't let you leave without trying to right things."

I started to say, but just then my phone buzzed once more. I downcastly looked at the television. Ava sent a message:

Turn on the news; right now.

I scowled, bewilderment dragging me away from the moment's emotional anarchy. Sebastian noted my changed attitude.

"What is it?" he asked.

Turning on the TV, the news blipped across the screen. As the reporter's voice filled the room, my tummy fell.

"Breaking news: Victor Knight, the brother of billionaire Sebastian Knight, has been taken under custody on allegations of illicit business practices, fraud, and conspiracy. Authorities are looking at relationships to several criminal groups right now.

Shock sent me staring at the screen. Victor is the brother who had always dominated every power fight the Knight family engaged in. the brother discreetly plotting behind the scenes.

Sebastian watched the news and his face turned white. His hands closed at his sides, the strain pouring off him in waves.

Under his breath, Sebastian mumbled, "This... this is his doing," his mouth hard. "Only Victor was dragging the strings. He has been undermining every item.

I gazed at him, uncertainty replacing the burning rage inside me. "What are you speaking of?"

Sebastian looked back at me, regretful eyes. "For months Victor has been subtly changing things behind the scenes. All of the stories about me and Isabella, the business arrangement that put you under risk, fit his strategy."

I shook my head, attempting to organize what he was saying. Why would he do that?

"Because he's always yearned for leadership of the business. And he didn't give a damn about anyone he offended during the process."

His words weighty settled on my chest, a fresh sense of betrayal sweeping over me. Victor's. Though I knew he couldn't be trusted, the brother Sebastian had tried to defend for so long—the one he had always stood by.

And you neglected to tell me? My voice quivering with a mix of rage and incredulity, I questioned.

"I didn't know until it was too late," Sebastian remarked gently. And you had already left by the time I learned.

I inhaled deeply, attempting to ground myself. This affected everything. The distance between us and the treachery I had experienced—all had been planned by someone else. It did not, however, absolve the suffering.

I said, "I'm not sure if I can forgive you for keeping this from me."

Sebastian moved forward, begging in his eyes. "I will do whatever is necessary to correct it. Just keep me from being shut off."

I wavered for a split second. The Sebastian facing me was not the frigid, far-off man I had known for the past year. Raw, open, he was driven to mend what had gone wrong. Still, there was so much between us—so much anguish and unresolved issues.

There was a tremendous thud from the corridor before I could reply, then the sound of heavy feet. Fear crawled at the rear of my neck, my heart shot into my throat.

"Who was that?" My voice just above a whisper, I asked.

Sebastian's face darkened and his body stiffened. Keep behind me.

The door sprang open, and two dark suit-clad guys with gloomy faces rushed in. One of them spoke, his voice forceful and frigid.

Mr. Knight, you have to accompany us.

Sebastian stiffened, his jaw clenching. "What's this regarding?"

The man proudly displayed a badge. "FBI." About your participation in your brother's illicit activities, we have some questions for you.

My heart thumping in my chest, I turned to face Sebastian and felt panic starting in my throat. "Sebastian…"

He turned to look at me, regretful eyes. "I'll.