Stella, I’m Begging You

Lucian opened the door.

At the sight of the unrecognizable woman in the bed, his breathing faltered.

“Stella.”

He said my name hoarsely, as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Nothing else followed.

He reached toward the woman.

Toward her neck, so fragile it looked as though the slightest pressure could break it.

I knew what was about to happen.

And I couldn’t stop it.

A sorrow beyond words swept through me.

I clenched my hands.

So it was true.

Everyone hated me.

Everyone wanted me dead.

“It hurts, doesn’t it?”

His voice was very quiet.

Full of a tenderness I had never heard from him.

It settled into the silence of the room.

I froze.

I thought I must have misheard.

But his hand moved past her neck and gently touched her hair.

He was so careful.

As if he was afraid she might break.

“Didn’t you tell me we had plenty of time? That I should wait and see? Little liar.”

He slowly bent toward her.

I could see him trembling.

Not violently.

Just a fine shiver that seemed to run all the way through his soul.

He looked so terribly sad.

I didn’t understand.

He should have been happy.

He took off the Beauty’s Bone bracelet and placed it beside “my” pillow.

“I’ve never believed in spirits or gods. But if this can really protect you, I’m willing to make a deal.”

He gazed at the bandaged face.

When he spoke again, his voice was so rough it made something inside me ache.

“Stella. Stay alive.”

A pause.

“I’m begging you.”

He didn’t stay long.

After leaving the prayer beads, he walked out.

Without them, I couldn’t follow him.

I remained in the room, staring numbly at the bracelet.

Those last words kept echoing in my ears.

I’m begging you.

Lucian Blackwood.

Fairhaven’s arrogant, untouchable Devil.

Begging me to live.

Had he lost his mind?

A year earlier, an international terrorist organization had kidnapped his father, Roland Blackwood.

They made three demands.

Seven billion dollars in ransom.

Lucian’s signature on a contract.

And a public display of submission: he was to kneel and beg.

Along with the contract, they sent one of Roland’s fingers.

Lucian burned both.

Then he publicly announced that he wouldn’t give them a cent.

A man that cold.

That ruthless.

Why would he beg the woman he despised to stay alive?

I moved slowly to the bedside.

Looking at the girl who had been made to suffer in my place, I felt guilt and sorrow twist together.

“I know you can hear me. I’m Stella Whitmore. They chose you to replace me so they could deceive the police. I’m sorry.”

I gently closed my hands around hers, even though I knew I couldn’t touch her.

I wanted to give her some comfort.

Anything.

I leaned toward her ear and spoke through tears.

“I understand your pain. I went through what you’re going through now. And my new husband, Julian Whitmore, had my heart cut out too.”

She responded.

Her heartbeat changed on the monitor again.

I held back my tears and kept telling her the truth.

“Julian and his mother, Vivian, killed me. They hired Victor Slade to destroy my body and cover their tracks.”

I swallowed the pain in my voice.

“I know you’re suffering. But if you die, you could end up like me. A ghost who can’t do anything, trapped beside the people who hurt her. If you live, we have a chance. A chance to get revenge. To make the police see these monsters for the murderers they are.”

The door suddenly opened.

Julian came in.

He looked around the room warily.

Then he noticed the bracelet beside the pillow.