The Predator’s Protection
345 Words
The boardroom air was still vibrating from the explosion of Liam’s declaration. As security escorted Marcus Sterling and a screaming Sophia Vance out of the building, the remaining board members sat in stunned silence. Elara felt a strange mix of triumph and exhaustion. The revenge she had dreamt of for five years had finally begun, but the weight of it was heavier than she imagined.
Liam didn’t care about the board members' stares. He walked straight to Elara, his hand finding the small of her back. It was a protective, possessive gesture that claimed her in front of everyone.
"We’re leaving," Liam muttered, his voice still vibrating with the anger he had displayed toward his father.
"Liam, the audit—"
"The audit can wait until tomorrow. My father is a cornered animal, Elara. And cornered animals bite. I’m not leaving you or Leo exposed for a second longer."
As they stepped out of the Sterling Towers, the paparazzi were already swarming. Flashbulbs blinded them as they rushed into the armored SUV. Once inside the quiet cabin, Elara finally let out the breath she had been holding.
"You really did it," she whispered, looking at Liam. "You chose me over the man who gave you everything."
Liam turned to her, his blue eyes softening for the first time that day. "He didn't give me everything, Elara. He took everything that mattered. He took you. He took my son's first steps, his first words... he took five years of my life. A throne made of lies isn't worth keeping."
He reached out, cupping her face with his palm. "I’m moving my primary security team to the estate. From this moment on, no one enters or leaves without my personal authorization. Sophia has nothing left to lose, and she knows that Leo is my only weakness."
Elara shivered. "She won't hurt a child, will she?"
"She helped frame an innocent woman and put her in prison while pregnant," Liam said grimly. "We don't underestimate her ever again."
- Writer
