Chapter 5 - The Sanctuary
The armored town car glided silently through the rain-slicked streets of Manhattan, carrying Elena and Christian away from the wreckage of the penthouse. Inside the vehicle, the plush leather seating and subdued lighting provided a stark contrast to the harsh, sterile environment they had just escaped. Elena stared out the window, watching the neon lights of the city blur into colorful streaks against the glass.
"We are heading to the estate in Westchester," Christian said, breaking the silence as he adjusted his cuffs. "Mother and Father have already been notified. The medical team is setting up the guest suite so you can rest properly without any distractions."
"I don't want to be coddled, Christian," Elena said, though there was no heat in her voice. She was simply tired—a bone-deep exhaustion that sleep alone could not cure. "I just want peace. I want to raise this child away from the sharks."
"You will have all the peace you need," Christian promised, placing a reassuring hand over hers. "No one will ever touch you again. Julian's assets are currently being liquidated, and whatever is left of his company will be rebranded under our charitable foundation. By morning, his name will be scrubbed from every registry in the city."
Elena looked down at her baby bump, resting her palms gently against the fabric of her white dress. "Do you think he ever really cared about us, or was it all just an elaborate game?"
"Men like Julian don't know how to care for anyone outside themselves," Christian answered bluntly. "They view people as assets on a balance sheet. When the value drops, they look for a way to liquidate. Don't waste another teardown on him, Elena. He isn't worth the moisture."
The car turned through the wrought-iron gates of the Vance family estate, the massive stone pillars standing like ancient sentinels against the stormy night sky. The sprawling manor house was illuminated by soft amber lights along the driveway, looking warm and impossibly secure compared to the cold modernism of the penthouse.
As the vehicle came to a smooth halt in front of the grand entrance, the door was immediately opened by the head butler, Mr. Henderson, holding a large black umbrella.
"Welcome home, Miss Elena," Henderson said with a respectful bow, shielding her from the light drizzle as she stepped out of the car. "The physician is waiting inside, and your rooms have been prepared with your favorite teas."
Elena smiled faintly, stepping onto the stone veranda. But as she turned to wait for Christian to exit the vehicle, the headlights of a second car suddenly swept across the driveway, cutting through the darkness with blinding intensity.
Christian froze halfway out of the car door, his hand instinctively moving toward his inside jacket pocket where his phone—and something heavier—rested.
May you like
A sleek black sedan had just blocked the exit gates, and its doors were slowly swinging open.
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