Chapter 3 Taken Hostage
984 Words
"I just hope you keep your promise and at least give me some warning next time. And after this is over, I want to find that waitress," Elise conceded.
Arthur remained noncommittal. "We'll discuss that later. Right now, I have someone to meet. You can stay in the suite next door."
Noticing the dismissive tone in Arthur's voice, Elise decided not to waste any more time. She stepped out, intending to find the waitress herself.
But a nagging curiosity lingered—who could be so important that Arthur needed to meet them now?
*****
She had barely taken a few steps when a loud crash behind her made her jump.
Turning around, she saw a tall, muscular man bursting through the door. It was her ex-boyfriend, Jack.
Dressed in a suit that seemed to strain against his broad chest, his sunken eyes gleamed with an unsettling madness as he strode toward her.
As he approached, Jack's expression shifted from shock to disbelief at Elise’s transformed appearance.
She looked completely different from what he had ever seen before.
Her face was radiant and refined, her skin glowing with a subtle blush. Even her hair seemed different—smooth and shiny, exuding a new kind of allure.
No longer the weary woman struggling through life, she now radiated elegance and charm.
"Elise!" Jack’s voice was hoarse and frenzied as he closed the distance, his gaze fixed on her. "So this is where you are! Come with me!"
"Jack, how did you get in?" A sense of dread washed over Elise.
"Surprised, aren’t you?" Jack laughed maniacally. "Did you think I would stand outside and watch you marry him? Do you even know what you're doing?"
In a sudden movement, Jack lunged at Elise, gripping her wrist and yanking her toward the door.
Elise struggled in panic, but Jack’s strength was overwhelming, like a bull.
At that moment, chaos erupted as a swarm of reporters rushed in, their cameras flashing relentlessly.
Jack seized Elise, pulling her close and brandishing a knife.
"Jack... let’s talk about this calmly," Elise gasped, trying to calm him down, hoping he might listen just a bit.
But Jack tightened his hold, his eyes wild. "You’re mine! You’ll always belong to me!"
Hearing the commotion, Arthur emerged, a look of shock on his face as he processed the scene before him. He clearly didn't expect that Elise, who was supposed to be staying in her suite, would run into Jack and be taken hostage in front of the journalists.
He slowly approached Jack, trying to divert his attention. "Calm down. Doing this will only make it harder for Elise."
"Calm down?" Jack's laugh was sharp and unhinged. "I’ve lost everything! I can’t lose Elise too! If I can’t have her, no one can!"
Elise fought desperately against his grip, but in his frenzy, Jack didn’t even notice. She felt her breathing becoming increasingly difficult and decided to suddenly let herself collapse into Jack's arms.
Her elbow connected hard with his head, catching Jack off guard. The sharp pain made him howl. He loosened his grip, collapsing to the floor.
Without thinking, Elise instinctively reached for the fallen knife, panic and resolve coursing through her as she aimed it at Jack's hand.
Just as she was about to strike again, Arthur surged forward, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her away from Jack.
"That’s enough, Elise!" Arthur's voice was low but firm.
Elise trembled, the knife slipping from her grasp and clattering to the ground.
She leaned against Arthur, breathless and shaken, her heart pounding, unable to utter a word.
Jack, holding his bleeding hand, looked at Elise with a mix of rage and hurt.
He glared at her, his voice loud and accusatory in front of the reporters. "Elise, are you really going to marry him? Are you really willing to sell yourself out just to get back at me?"
At his words, Elise couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
She had thought three years of love would be enough for Jack to know her, only to realize he viewed her as a fool who would betray herself for money.
Even more absurd was his complete lack of remorse for his cheating.
"Jack, you’re really overestimating yourself," Elise replied sadly. "If I remember correctly, you’re the one who cheated. Did you ever consider my feelings when you were with Lisa?"
Just then, Henry rushed in with several security guards, swiftly subduing the struggling Jack.
As the reporters eagerly captured the unfolding drama, one shouted a sharp question that drew everyone’s attention: "It seems like this man and Miss Harper know each other. Is there a deeper story behind this engagement?"
At that, a hush fell over the room.
Arthur frowned, preparing to address the inquiry, but Elise reached out gently to hold his arm.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, signaling for the guards to let Jack stand.
With a sudden chance to breathe, Jack’s eyes lit up with hope; he knew she wouldn’t abandon him.
"Elise, I don’t want to argue about who’s right or wrong anymore. If we’ve decided to move on, we should live our separate lives," she stated, meeting his gaze without hesitation.
Turning to face the reporters, Elise straightened her back, her expression clear and resolute.
"Everyone, since there are questions, I’ll clarify them today. I won’t allow my fiancé’s important moment to be tarnished."
Standing beside her, Arthur silently observed, pride and love evident in his eyes.
Jack couldn’t bear to hear her defend another man. His expression twisted with jealousy as he interrupted, "Elise, were you already with him? I made one mistake, and you treat it like it's the end of the world. Three years of love mean nothing compared to this one month?"
His voice was loud, framing himself as the wronged party, as if he were the one who had been betrayed.
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