“No, I don’t love you anymore.” Amelia’s voice was sharp and stern as she tried to channel Landon’s commanding presence. She believed that by appearing strong, she could ward off Zachary.
“I am the lady of the Kingsley family,” Amelia growled. “Let me go now, or the Foster family can forget about doing any business in Nerava.”
Zachary shook his head, a condescending smile playing on his lips. “Oh Amy, look how you’ve changed. You’re threatening me now?” His hand reached out to caress her cheek. “A woman should maintain her gentle nature. You bite me?”
Zachary jerked back with a curse, staring at the bite mark on his hand as blood started to bead up.
“I’m not the same Amelia you once knew, Zachary,” Amelia spat out. “Get out of here. Aaron will be here any minute with backup.”
A twisted smile spread across Zachary’s face. “Heh, even better. Let them catch us together. The Kingsley family will be handing you divorce papers before you know it.”
Amelia’s heart froze as the realization hit her. So this was Zachary’s plan all along, she thought. “He wants the Kingsley family to throw me out on the street.”
“You’re a monster, Zachary,” Amelia spat venomously. “Even if you succeed, the Kingsley family won’t let you get away with this.”
“None of that matters now. I just want you,” Zachary said darkly before biting at Amelia’s neck.
“Ow,” Amelia cried out, struggling to break free. “Help! Somebody help!”
Her resistance only seemed to encourage Zachary’s threatening behavior. “Go ahead, scream,” he sneered. “Landon can’t do anything. He could never satisfy you. But I’ll show you what a real man is like.”
Zachary’s eyes were wild with lust as he tore at Amelia’s clothes. He cursed himself for not noticing how incredibly beautiful she was before. The mere act of ripping her clothes off was enough to send a surge of excitement through him.
Once I actually sleep with her, Zachary thought, his body trembling with anticipation. Just the thought was almost too much to bear.
Zachary knew Elizabeth was right. There was a difference between not wanting something and not being able to have it. And now, he wanted Amelia badly. Today, he was going to have her. He was going to screw her, roughly and completely.
The fabric tore with a sickening rip, exposing her chest. Despair washed over Amelia, threatening to pull her under. Is this really it? she thought. “No, I can’t let this happen.”
Then, like a lifeline in the darkness, an idea sparked. “Money,” she shouted, her voice raw with desperation. “Is that what you want? 100 million dollars! Let me go, and it’s yours.”
“What?” Zachary finally paused, caught off guard.
“Zachary, you’re right,” Amelia blurted out desperately, “I know I shouldn’t have feelings for Landon. But he’s loaded. You wouldn’t believe it. He gave me a hundred million dollars just as pocket money.”
Amelia was trying her best to keep her composure and stall for time, desperately hoping Aaron would return and save her from this situation.
As expected, the mention of money seemed to cut through some of Zachary’s rage. He looked down at Amelia, who appeared fragile and helpless beneath him. “For money…”
“How else do you think I could afford to stay at a place like this?” Amelia shot back.
Zachary had to admit she had a point. The Falcon Hotel was notoriously expensive—even he, the young heir to the Foster fortune, had only visited occasionally for a fling with Sandra.
Chapter 59
Zachary’s financial situation had taken a hit since losing the Stonefield property deal. He hadn’t been able to secure any projects, and his family had significantly tightened his access to funds. The only reason he was here today was due to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth had said playing with the curtains open in a high-rise building was both exciting - one could see them - and thrilling, knowing Landon would find Amelia here.
“Zachary, let me go, and the 100 million dollars will be yours immediately,” Amelia’s heart leaped to her throat as she spoke.
Money was always Zachary’s weakness. He valued money far more than any woman, craving both fortune and fame.
In fact, if it hadn’t been for Debra’s 70 million dollar antique collection, Zachary would never have bothered getting to know Amelia in the first place.
But as his predatory gaze lingered on Amelia, Zachary leaned closer with malicious intent. “The money can wait, but you can’t.”
“No, stop,” Amelia screamed in terror. “If you touch me, I swear I’ll never give you the money. I’d rather die.”
“Really?” Zachary let out a sinister chuckle. He picked up Amelia’s phone from the floor and opened the camera app. “If I don’t get the money, your sex tape goes viral tonight.”
The color drained from Amelia’s face. How can he be so cruel? she thought desperately. “He’s trying to destroy me, just like he and Sandra did in my past life. Is this some kind of sick joke? Where are you, Landon…”
Suddenly, someone started pounding on the door. Zachary jumped at the sudden interruption.
“Help! Someone help me,” Amelia cried out desperately.
“Shut up,” Zachary hissed, shoving a gag into her mouth. “No one can save you, Amy. No one.”
Zachary adjusted the underwear beneath his robe and leaned in, deciding to get this over with quickly. He wanted Amelia, and he had the leverage to take her. Once he was done, she’d be his, and so would her money.
Amelia’s mouth was gagged with her bathrobe, her muffled whimpers echoing in the room.
Suddenly, the electronic lock beeped, and the door flew open. Aaron rushed in with his security team and roughly pulled Zachary away.
Tears streamed down Amelia’s face as she saw a familiar face amidst her despair. Thank goodness, I’m safe, she thought.
Aaron swiftly grabbed a towel and covered Amelia, his voice thick with remorse. “Mrs. Kingsley, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
“That was terrifying,” Amelia sobbed, struggling to sit up while clutching the towel tightly around herself. She broke down completely, realizing how close she had come to being assaulted by Zachary.
“Mrs. Kingsley, I’m so sorry,” Aaron said, filled with regret. Thank goodness Landon had been so insistent today, making him come back to get the 100 million dollars that Amelia had transferred out of the company. He shuddered to think what might have happened otherwise.
“He… He didn’t succeed,” Amelia managed to say between sobs.
Aaron froze, his heart heavy with guilt, at a loss for words. He understood how much her reputation meant to her. Even now, she was desperately trying to prove her innocence.
“Mrs. Kingsley, why don’t you take a moment to change? I’ll drive you home,” Aaron said in a gentle voice.
Amelia’s earlier anger at Landon was forgotten. Right now, all she needed was a safe place to retreat to—somewhere she could feel protected.
“O–Okay,” Amelia replied between sobs.
Soon, Aaron had arranged for fresh clothes to be brought up and waited outside the door. Meanwhile, Zachary was getting what he deserved. Several security guards were teaching him a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget.
Zachary curled into a fetal position on the hallway carpet, blood streaming down his face. “Please, stop. I’m begging you to stop,” he whimpered.
Chapter 59
He could hardly believe someone would dare beat him so brutally in public.
“I’ll die if you keep going,” Zachary screamed, desperately calling out toward...
“Elizabeth, help me. Please help.” But no response came.
The bodyguards kept raining down blows until Zachary could barely feel the pain anymore. Finally, Amelia spoke up. “Enough.”
“Amy?” Zachary instantly snapped to attention at the sound of Amelia’s voice. His heart leaped with hope. She came to rescue me? Thank goodness! he thought. “I know it. She still has feelings for me.”
“Let me handle this.” Amelia approached Zachary with measured steps. Her beautiful face was taut with tension, and her eyes blazed with unbridled hatred.