Trapped in  between

Trapped in between

Zaralove

5.0
Comment(s)
4
View
20
Chapters

In the opulent world of New York City's elite, Elena Bennett is a rising star as a successful art curator, cherished for her keen eye and independent spirit. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she is thrust into an arranged marriage with Alex Davenport, the formidable and ambitious CEO of a global conglomerate. Their union, orchestrated by their powerful families, promises to merge two colossal business empires, but for Elena, it feels more like a gilded cage. Despite Alex's magnetic charm and commanding presence, Elena's heart is drawn to someone else-Lucas Davenport, Alex's younger brother. Lucas, with his genuine warmth and shared passion for art, offers a stark contrast to Alex's ruthless ambition. As Elena spends more time with Lucas, their bond deepens, igniting a forbidden romance that threatens to unravel the carefully laid plans of their families. Just as Elena grapples with her conflicted feelings, a shocking twist emerges: Lucas is revealed to be the true heir to the Davenport fortune, a secret long hidden to shield him from Alex's machinations. This revelation shatters the fragile equilibrium, thrusting Elena into an even deeper turmoil. With her wedding day approaching and her heart torn between two brothers, Elena must make an impossible choice. Will she succumb to the expectations of her family and the demands of duty, or will she follow her heart and risk everything for love? In a world where power, passion, and betrayal collide, Elena's decision will alter the course of their lives forever. As secrets come to light and tensions reach a boiling point, one question remains: who will Elena choose, and what price will she pay for true love?

Chapter 1 Episode 1

The Bennetts' Upper East Side townhouse, an elegant beacon of old-world charm, stood as a testament to their enduring legacy. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of fresh lilies, a nod to Elena Bennett's refined taste, and the subdued hum of classical music played in the background. The sun cast a warm glow through the grand windows, illuminating the tasteful blend of antique furniture and modern art that adorned the room. It was a sanctuary of sophistication, yet today, it felt like a prison. Elena stood by the window, gazing out at the bustling city below.

Her heart was a storm of emotions, a tempest barely contained beneath her composed exterior. At 28, she had carved out a niche for herself as a successful art curator, respected and admired in her field. Her life was meticulously curated, much like the exhibitions she so passionately assembled. But now, that life was on the brink of a seismic shift. "Darling, come and sit with us," her mother's voice, soft yet commanding, broke the silence. Eleanor Bennett, a formidable woman in her mid-fifties, exuded an air of timeless elegance. She was a woman who had mastered the art of navigating the treacherous waters of high society with grace and poise. Elena turned, forcing a smile as she walked over to the plush sofa where her parents sat. Her father, Charles Bennett, was a man of few words, his stern demeanor softened only by his affection for his daughter. Today, however, even his usually impassive face bore signs of unease. "Elena," he began, his voice gravelly with age and authority, "we need to discuss something of utmost importance." Elena's heart tightened. She had known this conversation was coming. It had been lurking in the shadows of her life for months, a silent specter waiting to pounce. "We've arranged a marriage for you," Eleanor said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "With Alex Davenport." The name hung in the air like a guillotine blade. Alex Davenport, the eldest son of the Davenport dynasty, was a name synonymous with power and ambition. His reputation as a ruthless businessman was well-known, his exploits often gracing the pages of business journals and tabloids alike. Elena's mind raced, her carefully constructed world crumbling at the edges. "But why? Why now?" she managed to ask, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to remain composed. "This union is more than just a marriage, Elena," her father explained, his eyes hard and unyielding. "It's a merger of two powerful families, a strategic alliance that will solidify our standing and secure our future." Eleanor reached out, placing a gentle hand on Elena's. "I know this is a lot to take in, darling. But you must understand, this is what's best for all of us. For our legacy." Elena pulled her hand away, standing abruptly. She walked back to the window, needing the distance, needing the illusion of freedom. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions-anger, fear, confusion. She had always known that her family's expectations would play a role in her life, but she had hoped, perhaps naively, that she could chart her own course. "Have you even considered my feelings in this?" she asked, her voice a fragile whisper. "Elena, we wouldn't ask this of you if it wasn't necessary," her father replied, his tone softening for the first time. "We believe Alex can offer you a life of stability and prosperity." Stability and prosperity. Words that sounded hollow in the face of what she was being asked to sacrifice. Elena felt trapped, a pawn in a game of power and influence. She turned back to her parents, her eyes blazing with determination. "I need time," she said firmly. "Time to process this, to think." Eleanor nodded, though her expression suggested that time was a luxury they didn't have. "Of course, darling. Take all the time you need. But remember, this arrangement is not just about you. It's about all of us." Elena felt the weight of her mother's words settle heavily on her shoulders. She knew there was no escaping this fate. But as she stood there, gazing out at the city that had always seemed so full of possibilities, she vowed to find a way to reclaim her life, to assert her own will amidst the forces trying to shape her destiny.

Continue Reading

Other books by Zaralove

More
Dark mafia: kill or be killed

Dark mafia: kill or be killed

Adventure

5.0

In the heart of New York City, where shadows hide more than just secrets, FBI agent Alex “Ghost” Moreno is a man on a mission. Haunted by the brutal murder of his family at the hands of the mafia, Alex is driven by a singular goal: to infiltrate and dismantle the criminal empire of Victor “Viper” DeLuca, the ruthless kingpin who ordered the hit. Alex’s undercover operation plunges him deep into the dark, violent world of organized crime, where every move could be his last. As Alex delves deeper, he uncovers a web of corruption that extends far beyond DeLuca. The closer he gets to his target, the more he realizes that his quest for justice is intricately linked to a dark secret from his own past. His late father, once a revered figure, was entangled in the same criminal network, and his family’s murder was part of a larger, sinister cover-up. Caught between his duty as an agent and his thirst for vengeance, Alex’s journey becomes a dangerous balancing act. He must navigate treacherous alliances, avoid detection, and confront the moral complexities of his mission. With every step closer to Victor, the stakes rise, pushing Alex to the edge of his limits. Friends become foes, and the line between right and wrong blurs in the relentless pursuit of justice. Will Alex’s quest for justice be his redemption, or will the darkness consume him? In a world where betrayal lurks around every corner, and the cost of vengeance is high, Alex must decide whether to kill or be killed in his final confrontation with the man who destroyed his life.

You'll also like

The Billionaire's Cold And Bitter Betrayal

The Billionaire's Cold And Bitter Betrayal

Clara Bennett
5.0

I had just survived a private jet crash, my body a map of violet bruises and my lungs still burning from the smoke. I woke up in a sterile hospital room, gasping for my husband's name, only to realize I was completely alone. While I was bleeding in a ditch, my husband, Adam, was on the news smiling at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. When I tracked him down at the hospital's VIP wing, I didn't find a grieving husband. I found him tenderly cradling his ex-girlfriend, Casie, in his arms, his face lit with a protective warmth he had never shown me as he carried her into the maternity ward. The betrayal went deeper than I could have imagined. Adam admitted the affair started on our third anniversary-the night he claimed he was stuck in London for a merger. Back at the manor, his mother had already filled our planned nursery with pink boutique bags for Casie's "little princess." When I demanded a divorce, Adam didn't flinch. He sneered that I was "gutter trash" from a foster home and that I'd be begging on the streets within a week. To trap me, he froze my bank accounts, cancelled my flight, and even called the police to report me for "theft" of company property. I realized then that I wasn't his partner; I was a charity case he had plucked from obscurity to manage his life. To the Hortons, I was just a servant who happened to sleep in the master bedroom, a "resilient" woman meant to endure his abuse in silence while the whole world laughed at the joke that was my marriage. Adam thought stripping me of his money would make me crawl back to him. He was wrong. I walked into his executive suite during his biggest deal of the year and poured a mug of sludge over his original ten-million-dollar contracts. Then, right in front of his board and his mistress, I stripped off every designer thread he had ever paid for until I was standing in nothing but my own silk camisole. "You can keep the clothes, Adam. They're as hollow as you are." I grabbed my passport, turned my back on his billions, and walked out of that glass tower barefoot, bleeding, and finally free.

One Night With My Billionaire Boss

One Night With My Billionaire Boss

Nathaniel Stone
5.0

I woke up on silk sheets that smelled of expensive cedar and cold sandalwood, a world away from my cramped apartment in Brooklyn. Beside me lay Ezra Gardner—my boss, the billionaire CEO of Gardner Holdings, and the man who could end my career with a snap of his fingers. He didn’t offer an apology for the night before; instead, he looked at me with terrifying clarity and proposed a cold, calculated business arrangement. "Marriage. It stabilizes the board and solves the PR crisis before it begins." He dressed me in archival Chanel and sent me home in his Maybach, but my life was already falling apart. My boyfriend, Irving, claimed he had passed out early, yet his location data placed him at my best friend’s apartment until three in the morning. When I tried to run, I realized Ezra was already ten steps ahead, tracking my movements and uncovering the secret I’d spent twenty years hiding: my connection to the powerful Senator Grimes. I was trapped between a CEO who treated me like a line item on a quarterly report and a boyfriend who had been using me while sleeping with my closest friend. I felt like a pawn in a game I didn't understand, wondering why a man like Ezra would walk up forty flights of stairs on a broken leg just to make sure I was safe. "Showtime, Mrs. Gardner." Standing on the red carpet in a gown that cost more than my life, I watched my cheating ex-boyfriend’s face turn pale as Ezra claimed me in front of the world. I wasn't just an assistant anymore; I was a weapon, and it was time to burn their world down.

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book