Chapter Sixty Three: Genuine Regret

Maxwell walked into the room quietly, I turned to see him standing by the door post. He paused at the doorway, taking a deep breath before stepping further inside.

“Amelia,” he began softly, his voice filled with genuine regret. “I wanted to come in and apologize for what happened at dinner. I’m so sorry about my mother’s behavior. I know it was awful, and I should have done more to protect you from her remarks.”

I looked up from where I was sitting on the edge of the bed, my anger from earlier replaced by a weary resignation. I shrugged slightly, acknowledging his apology but feeling too drained to respond in detail.

“It’s okay, Maxwell,” I said quietly. “I understand it’s not entirely your fault.”

Maxwell gave a small, relieved smile. He walked over to the bed and gently tucked the covers around me.

His touch was tender, and there was a sincerity in his eyes that I hadn't seen before. “Thank you for understanding. I really appreciate it.”

As he finished tucking me in, his smile grew a bit warmer. “I promise things will get better. I’m going to make sure of it.”

With that, Maxwell leaned down and kissed my forehead lightly before turning to leave the room. I could only sigh and understand that he was as helpless as I was.

I was jolted awake by a hand clamping over my mouth. My eyes flew open, and through the dim light filtering in, I saw masked intruders looming over me. Panic surged through my veins, but I couldn't make a sound.

The men moved quickly, their dark figures casting eerie shadows as they dragged me from my bed. My heart raced, and I struggled against their grip, but their strength was overpowering. I tried to call out, but the hand over my mouth muffled any sound.

As I was pulled from my room, I caught a glimpse of Jonah, Maxwell’s trusted bodyguard. He was already bound and gagged, his attempts to resist futile against the intruders’ coordinated efforts. His eyes met mine, filled with fear and confusion.

The men continued pulling me, their movements swift and deliberate. They dragged us down the hallway, the floorboards creaking under their heavy steps.

Despite all the efforts of Maxwell’s security detail, they couldn’t overpower the intruders. The men seemed almost otherworldly in their strength and coordination, effortlessly neutralizing every guard who tried to stop them. I struggled against my captors, but their grip was unyielding.

As they forced me outside, my heart pounded in my chest. I glanced back at the house, desperately hoping Maxwell would come to my rescue. The night was still and quiet, and I could see the security lights flickering in the distance, but no one was in sight.

The masked men moved swiftly, it felt like a nightmare. I was bundled into the van with Jonah, the doors slamming shut behind us. The van's engine roared to life, and we sped away into the darkness.

The street lights flickered by in a blur as I tried to catch my breath, my heart still racing with fear. I could only hope that someone would realize what had happened and find us before it was too late.

As the van rumbled down the dark road, the motion and the noise barely masked my mounting panic. The masked men had bound my wrists and ankles, their grip unyielding as they sat on either side of me. I twisted and turned in an attempt to break free, but it was no use.

Desperation surged through me. I couldn't just sit there—I'd had enough. “What the hell do you want?” I spat, my voice trembling with fury. “You think you can just kidnap us and get away with it? Screw you!”

One of the men glanced at me, his eyes hidden behind the mask but he didn't respond, just tightened his grip on my arm.

I kicked out, trying to land a blow, but my restrained limbs barely had any strength behind them. “Get your filthy hands off me!” I yelled, wrenching against the ropes. “I’ll make sure you pay for this!”

The other intruder, seemingly unfazed, leaned in close. “Quiet,” he growled, his voice cold and menacing. “This will go easier for you if you don’t make it harder.”

My heart pounded in my chest, anger mixing with fear. I thrashed against my bonds, gritting my teeth against the frustration. “You think you’re so tough? Well, guess what? You can’t keep me quiet forever!”

The man who had spoken before reached over and adjusted the gag in my mouth, ensuring it was snug. My movements became more frantic as the van sped on.

I had no way of knowing where we were going or what was going to happen next, but one thing was clear—I wasn't going to go down without a fight.

Maxwell pov

I woke up to the sound of commotion and raced downstairs, my heart pounding with fear. The scene that greeted me was chaos—my security guards were lying unconscious on the floor. My blood ran cold as I realized that Amelia and Jonah were gone.

In the midst of the disorder, my eyes were drawn to a note placed ominously in the center of the living room. I snatched it up, my hands trembling as I read the message:

“Stay away from Amelia and anything or anyone she cares about, or your secret will be leaked. Consider this your final warning.”

The breath caught in my throat. The threat was clear and personal, targeting my deepest fear. The mention of my secret—my closely guarded truth about my sexuality—sent a cold shiver down my spine.

I had fought hard to keep that part of my life hidden, dreading the repercussions it might have on both my public and personal life.

My mind raced. I knew I had to act quickly to protect Amelia and Jonah, but the danger was now even more glaring.

I was in a fire situation and I didn't need anyone to spell that to me.