Chapter 168

A jolt of terror shot through Selena's spine the moment Declan Raze uttered those vile words. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a brief second, her breath caught in her throat.

Without thinking, she spun around and bolted toward the door like a panicked deer.

But the two gorilla-sized bodyguards moved faster.

Thick, calloused hands clamped down on her delicate wrists like iron cuffs, yanking her backward. She stumbled, heels scraping against the marble floor, as they restrained her effortlessly.

"Let me go! Help! Somebody help me!" she screamed, desperation cracking her voice.

Declan Raze let out a wheezing chuckle, his jowls quivering with amusement. "Scream all you want, sweetheart," he said, licking his cracked lips. "I picked this time on purpose. Your office is empty. Your staff clocked out an hour ago. This building is a tomb now... and you're the only living thing inside."

His words landed like a sledgehammer. Selena's legs buckled, tears pricking her eyes as fear crashed over her like a tidal wave. Her fight instinct turned to despair. She was cornered, caged.

Declan moved closer, his stench hitting her like a wave of rot and cigar smoke.

"Aww, don't cry now," he mocked, reaching to stroke her face. "Daddy's here. You should feel special, you know. I don't make time like this for just any woman."

Selena recoiled, her face twisted in revulsion. She wanted to vomit.

Declan's grin stretched wider, revealing yellowed teeth. "Pinned down and powerless. Just how I like my girls."

Then-

Bang!

The steel-reinforced meeting room door exploded off its hinges, crashing to the floor like thunder. It landed inches from Declan's feet, the tremor silencing the room.

The bodyguards froze.

Declan's eyes went wide.

And then he stepped in.

A tall figure emerged through the smoke and splinters. Broad-shouldered.

Impossibly fit. With sharp eyes that could slice through stone and a jawline carved

by God himself, the man's presence sucked the oxygen from the room.

It was Jaden.

He didn't speak. He didn't blink. He just walked forward with the calm of a man who'd already buried too many people to flinch.

Selena's breath caught.

Her knees gave out-but not from fear this time.

It was him.

Five years.

Five goddamn years.

The man who had haunted her dreams and tormented her memories stood before her like a ghost from hell and heaven at once. A man she once saved, who later took everything from her.

Tears finally broke loose, flooding down her cheeks. Not from weakness, not anymore—but from shock, rage, grief, confusion. A cocktail of emotions no woman deserved to carry alone.

And Jaden... he saw it. That pain in her eyes twisted something deep inside his chest.

He hadn't seen her since that night. Since that night.

The night he violated the one woman who had shown him mercy. A crime born from drunken delirium and deep scars. A sin that had eaten at him every single day since.

Now, seeing her again like this—broken, vulnerable, at the hands of a pig like Declan Raze-it made his blood boil.

Selena opened her mouth to say something, anything, but her voice failed her.

Jaden's jaw clenched. His eyes never left her face.

Then he spoke.

"Come with me," he said, his tone low and cold.

It wasn't a question.

Selena flinched like he'd struck her.

Come with me? After five years of silence? After destroying her life and walking away? That's all he had to say?

Her tears turned bitter. She shook her head violently. "Don't you dare tell me what to do," she missed her vore trembling. "You think you can just barge in here and-"

"What the fuck is this?!" Declan finally exploded, snapping back into reality. "Who the hell are you?"

Jaden didn't look at him. Not even a glance.

His focus was locked on Selena, but she kept shaking her head, backing away like a cornered animal.

"You're the same bastard who ruined me," she said, every syllable shaking. “And now you think I'm just gonna walk out with you like nothing happened?"

"Selena-"

"You don't own me!"

She spat the words like venom, each one cutting Jaden deeper than a blade.

Declan snarled, his face purple with rage. "That's it. Kill this son of a bitch!" “Break his damn legs!" he shouted. "I want him crawling out of here on his hands!" "Yes, boss!"

The two bodyguards lunged.

Bad move.

Jaden didn't even shift his weight.

Thud! A roundhouse kick caught the first guard square in the temple. His body spun midair like a ragdoll before crashing into the glass wally, shattering it into a glittering storm of shards.

The second swung. Jaden caught his arm mid-strike and twisted.

Crack!

The snap echoed like a gunshot. The man dropped to his knees screaming, only to

catch a knee to the face that sent him sprawling unconscious.

Silence.

Declan backed up, sweat pouring down his face.

"Y-you have no idea who you're messing with," he stuttered. "I'm Declan Raze! Redgate Corporation Ironvale City's elite! you touch me, I'll bury your entire family!"

Jaden finally turned to face him.

"I'm not scared of your name," he said, voice flat as steel. "Because after tonight, no

one will remember it."

Declan's knees buckled.

Then-Jaden raised his leg and stomped.

Crunch.

The bones in Declan's leg snapped under the force, twisting unnaturally as he dropped to the floor, howling like a dying animal.

Jaden stared down, cold and unaffected. "You laid hands on the wrong woman."

Selena stood there frozen, watching the scene unfold like it was some cruel fever dream.

Jaden turned back to her, walking slowly now.

His eyes weren't cold anymore.

He stopped inches away from her. "Come with me," he said again—but softer this time. "Please."

Selena shook her head. Her voice cracked. "You hurt me more than anyone ever

could."

Jaden didn't deny it. His fists clenched at his sides. "I've been searching for you ever since. I never forgot what I did. I came back to make things right."

"There's no 'right' for what you did."

"I know," he said quietly. "But I'll never let you go again."

Then-without warning-he scooped her into his arms.

"Let me go!" she screamed, beating her fists against his chest.