Chapter 9 Betrayal Unveiled

The sound of water running in the bathroom did little to soothe Elsa's racing thoughts. The pain from her bruises was a sharp reminder of the earlier incident with the maids. Their brutality had broken something inside her-not just her body but her trust. She had called out for Liam, screaming his name in desperation, only to be met with silence.

Had he been in the house all along? Or did he hear her cries and simply choose to ignore them?

Her mind spun with questions as she pressed a damp towel against the open wounds. The sting was unbearable, but deep down, a part of her felt a twisted sense of relief. Surely, now Liam would have no choice but to confront what his maids had done. He couldn't possibly ignore this.

After a few minutes, Elsa wrapped herself in her robe, her body trembling not just from the pain but from the fever that was beginning to take hold. She carefully dressed herself and made her way downstairs, her steps slow and measured.

Halfway down the staircase, she froze. Her heart stopped for a moment when she spotted him-Liam. He was seated in the lounge, casually flipping through a set of documents.

Had he been home all along? Elsa's mind raced. Did he hear my screams? My cries for help?

Her instinct was to retreat, to go back upstairs and bury herself in her misery. But then she noticed something odd. Liam wasn't alone.

A man, whom she recognized as his assistant, sat across from him, their hushed conversation punctuated by the rustling of papers. Elsa turned to leave, but just as she did, the mention of her name stopped her in her tracks.

"I don't think Madam Elsa will like this if she finds out," the assistant said, his tone cautious.

Liam chuckled-a cold, dismissive sound that sent a chill down Elsa's spine.

"I don't care what she likes or doesn't like," Liam replied, his voice dripping with arrogance. "The moment she became my wife, everything that belongs to her became mine. Legally. When her parents died, and she inherited their fortune, she unknowingly signed it all over to me."

Elsa felt the world tilt beneath her feet. Her grip on the banister tightened as her mind scrambled to make sense of his words. When did I sign away everything?

Liam continued, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "That document she signed before the wedding gave me control over all her family's assets. I'm now the sole owner of the Johnsons empire. Elsa has nothing on me."

Elsa stumbled back, her knees weak. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps. Memories from a few weeks ago began to surface-a conversation she had barely given a second thought to at the time.

She remembered walking through the garden with Liam, the way he had stopped, taken her hands, and spoken with such sincerity.

"We've known each other for so long," he had said, his voice soft and reassuring. "I know how much you hate anything business-related. You only have a passion for painting. But your father will need someone to carry on his legacy. That's why I'm merging my company with his-so the legacy will never die. We'll teach our children to run the business, and you can still follow your passion for art."

The memory burned in her mind as she recalled how he had handed her a stack of papers.

"Read this and give me your approval," he had said. "Your signature will be the key to our merger. It gives me the right to handle the company's decisions, and I'll always support you in your painting career. When you sign this, the company will even fund your art projects. It's all for us, Elsa-for our future."

Back then, she had hesitated. Something about it had felt off. "I'll sign this later, if that's okay with you," she had told him.

The disappointment on his face had been instant. "It's okay if you don't trust me," he had said, his voice tinged with hurt. "If you're not comfortable, you can sign it after the wedding."

And she had. On the eve of their wedding, with her heart full of love and trust, she had signed the document without reading it. She had wanted to prove her faith in him, to show that she believed in their future together.

The smile he had given her afterward had been so warm, so genuine, that she hadn't thought twice about it.

Now, standing at the bottom of the stairs, the truth crashed down on her like a tidal wave.

"He deceived me," Elsa whispered, her voice trembling. "He deceived me."

Her vision blurred with tears as the weight of his betrayal threatened to consume her. The man she had trusted with her heart, her life, had taken everything from her.

Elsa turned and fled back upstairs, her mind spinning with anger, pain, and confusion. As she locked herself in the room, she vowed to uncover the full extent of Liam's lies.

He may have taken everything from her, but she wasn't going to let him win.