110

Chapter 110
*Rafe*
My voice roared with a fierce intensity, reverberating off the cold, stone walls of the courtroom. The murmurs and whispers that had filled the room fell silent as every eye turned to me. “Enough, Jessica!” I growled, my anger boiling over. “There is no cause for celebration here. Jessica did not conceive this child through mutual consent. She took advantage of me while I was drunk and unconscious.” The weight of my words hung heavy in the air as I addressed the stunned onlookers, their faces frozen in shock and disbelief. My heart raced with emotion as I fought to defend my innocence and expose her deceitful actions.
Gasps erupted from the crowd, shock and disbelief painting every face in the room. Elders exchanged bewildered glances, and my uncle’s mouth hung open in stunned silence. Only Addy and Aurora nodded in agreement, their faces alight with relief and support. They bowed deeply, showing their allegiance to me and Freya.
“She will be punished for her deceit,” I continued, my voice steady and resolute. “This charade ends now.”
As I spun on my heel, the chaos that Jessica had sown swirled around me like a raging storm. My heart thundered in my chest, fueled by a single purpose: to find Freya. I needed to explain everything, to make her see that no one could ever come between us, especially not Jessica. The air was thick with tension and emotion, as if it were tangible and palpable. My steps were quick and determined as I searched for Freya in the crowd gathered around the private court, my eyes scanning every face with urgency. I couldn’t let this misunderstanding drive a wedge between us. She was the calm in my storm and I would do anything to keep her by my side. I realized She had probably gone back to her room after she left the court room. I needed to get to her immediately.
I quickly moved with a sense of urgency, the quick beats echoing through the grand corridors. Each step felt like an eternity, my heart racing as I made my way to her room. Her face was a constant presence in my mind-her radiant smile, the gentle caress of her hand, the sparkle in her eyes whenever we were together. She was my world, my reason for existing.
My heart raced as I pushed myself to run faster, feet pounding against the pavement. “Freya,” I whispered under my breath, willing myself to reach her in time.
Finally, I reached her door, but something stopped me cold. The wooden door trembled under the force of muffled screams resonating from within. Panic surged through me like wildfire, my mind racing with questions. Was Freya in danger? What could be causing such terror?
“Freya?!” I shouted, my voice shaking with fear and urgency as I pounded on the door. The screams grew louder, more desperate. My hands shook as I gripped the doorknob, trying to turn it with all my might. But the door was locked from the inside, a barrier keeping me from reaching my friend. Every second that passed felt like an eternity as I frantically searched for another way to enter the room.
“Hold on, Freya!” I bellowed, my voice cracking with terror. Desperation gave me strength, and I slammed my shoulder into the door again and again, each impact sending tremors through my body. Finally, the door gave way, splintering off its hinges.
What I saw inside sent a jolt of icy fear through my veins.
“Freya!”
“Freya!” I roared, my heart hammering in my chest. The door was locked from the inside, and I could hear her muffled screams growing more frantic by the second. Panic surged through me like a raging river. I tried turning the handle again, knowing it was futile but unable to stop myself. My hands pounded on the wood, my voice desperate.
“Hold on, I’m coming!” I shouted, slamming my shoulder into the door with all my strength. The wood groaned but held firm. Every instinct screamed at me to break through, to reach her. With a final, fierce cry, I threw my entire weight against the door. It splintered and gave way, crashing open.
The sight that greeted me was a nightmare. As I peered through the door, a scene straight out of a horror film met my eyes. Freya, bound and gagged, her once bright eyes now wide with terror. Standing behind her was Clara, one of her trusted maids-or so I had thought. But now, she was transformed into a vengeful creature, her eyes gleaming with malice and her hands adorned with long, sharp claws.
“Stay back,” she hissed at me, holding Freya’s delicate neck hostage with her lethal claws. Her voice was low and menacing, and I could feel the danger radiating off of her. “Take one step forward, and she dies.”
“Clara, please,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the chaos in my mind. “Let’s talk about this. You don’t need to hurt her.”
“Shut up!” Clara spat, her fury spilling out like venom. “There’s nothing you can say to save her now. No one can.” The dim light cast an eerie glow on her face, emphasizing the wicked glint in her eyes and the dangerous sharpness of her claws.
“Listen to me,” I pleaded, taking a cautious step forward but freezing as Clara pressed her claws closer to Freya’s skin. “Freya hasn’t done anything to deserve this. Whatever your grievance is, we can resolve it another way. Just let her go.”
“Resolve it?” Clara laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. “You think words can fix what you’ve broken? You’ve taken everything from me!”
“Clara, you’re making a mistake,” I said, my voice cracking under the strain of holding back my terror. “Hurting Freya won’t change the past. We can find another way-”
“Enough!” Clara’s roar cut through my words like a knife. “There is no other way. Freya will die because of you, Rafe. And nothing you say or do will change that.”
My heart plummeted like a stone into a dark pit of despair, but I refused to let it show. I stood tall, my spine straight and my hands steady, for Freya. She needed me to be strong, to find a way to save her from the clutches of Clara’s vengeance. “Clara,” I said through gritted teeth, trying not to let my fear seep into my voice, “if you truly want revenge, then take me instead. Let Freya go, and I’ll stay in her place. Please.”
Clara’s cold gaze bore into mine with an intensity that made me shiver. “Your life means nothing to me,” she snapped. “Only her death will suffice.”
Desperation clawed at my chest as I pleaded with her, every word a desperate prayer. “Please, Clara,” I whispered. “Don’t do this.”
A feral grin twisted Clara’s lips as she tightened her grip on Freya’s arm. My heart pounded in my ears as I searched for any sign of weakness, any glimmer of hope to save the woman I loved from certain death. Time slowed to a crawl as I struggled against the overwhelming sense of helplessness and dread. I couldn’t lose her. Not like this.
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