Billionaire CEO Saves Maid from Socialite's Fury, Then Claims Her as His Own!
Previously: A chilling winter confrontation outside a cathedral sees a humble maid terrorized by a socialite, only to be rescued by a powerful CEO. But his protection comes with a shocking twist.
An Unexpected Rescue
Edward Sterling’s grip was unrelenting. With a twist that spoke of effortless strength, he forced Julian Vance down onto her knees in the freezing slush. Her diamond earrings swung wildly as sheer terror washed over her face, draining it of color. Edward’s voice, a low, stone-cold rumble, cut through the howling wind.
If your filthy hand ever moves toward my wife again, Vance, I will dismantle your family's empire before dawn.
The words hung in the air, heavy with threat. Julian knelt there, paralyzed, her eyes wide with horror. The revelation – that I, Elena, a simple maid, was considered his wife – shattered her composure. I, meanwhile, swallowed hard against a lump in my throat, a single hot tear tracing a path down my frosted cheek. The overwhelming shock of it all left me breathless.
Without another glance at the sobbing Julian, Edward released her. He turned to me, his expression softening slightly. He extended his broad hand, and as I placed my trembling fingers in his, he gently lifted me to my feet. He then draped his massive charcoal cashmere overcoat over my frail, shivering shoulders, pulling me protectively against his chest. The scent of expensive wool and something uniquely him enveloped me, a stark contrast to the biting cold. As the distant tolling of cathedral bells began to echo through the blizzard, he spoke, his voice filled with a resolute tenderness that made my knees weak.
You will never bow to anyone again, Elena; you are the mistress of Sterling Manor now.
His words were a promise, a declaration. I leaned against him, my cheek resting on his lapel, overwhelmed by a relief so profound it brought fresh tears to my eyes. Julian, a figure of utter humiliation, remained collapsed in the snow behind us, clutching her bruised wrist. The stark power dynamic had shifted in an instant. The socialite's cruel reign was over, replaced by the quiet strength of a billionaire who had, for reasons I couldn't yet fathom, claimed me as his own. But as I stood there, wrapped in his coat and his protection, a whirlwind of questions began to swirl. Why had he called me his wife? What secrets lay beneath this sudden, dramatic rescue?
”What secrets lay beneath this sudden, dramatic rescue?