Chapter 1: The Last Name That Mattered Part 5
373 Words
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Chapter 1: The Last Name That Mattered
Part 5 (Final Part )
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Elena didn’t sleep.
She sat in Zane’s room until the sky turned gray, arms wrapped around one of his hoodies, his scent still clinging to the fabric. She had barely spoken to him in days. She had promised herself she’d make it right once her mother was buried.
Now it was too late.
When she went downstairs the next morning, the housekeeper — one of the last loyal staff who hadn’t fled — looked up from her phone, pale.
“Elena...” she said nervously.
Elena’s stomach dropped. “Where’s Zane?”
“I thought he was upstairs with you.”
Elena froze.
“No. He never came back after I left yesterday.”
The woman’s hands began to tremble. “He left this note... it was on your bed.”
She handed her a folded piece of paper, messy handwriting sprawled across it:
> “Don’t worry, Lena. I’ll find Dad. I’ll fix this. I promise. — Zane”
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Elena’s hands trembled as she read it over and over, each word stabbing deeper.
Zane was twelve. Smart, brave — but still a boy.
If he was looking for their father, he could be anywhere.
Or worse… someone could already have him.
She collapsed to her knees, the world spinning. For the first time in days, the tears came. Heavy. Unforgiving.
Damian had warned her.
He had said he knew everything.
And now her brother was gone.
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She stood up, grabbed her coat, and stormed back to her room. She grabbed the USB again and stared at it like it might burn a hole through her palm.
If she wanted Zane back, she had one option.
She had to go back to Damian Alaric.
And this time... she’d play his game.
Even if it killed her.
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✨ END OF CHAPTER 1 ✨
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🔥 Coming up:
Chapter 2: The Billionaire’s Terms
Here’s a preview of what’s coming:
Elena returns to Damian
A cruel contract is put in front of her
She’s forced to choose: her dignity or her brother
Damian begins to pull her into his world — not as a partner… but as a pawn
- Writer
