Ophelia’s POV
Finally, everyone else was cleared out of the room.
My wounds hadn’t even been treated yet when I was sent to the CEO’s office.
Maybe it was because I was blind, but his desk had a photo of him and Estelle hugging intimately, just out in the open.
Sunlight hit him, and his eyes looked impossibly gentle.
I forced myself to act normal, pulling my gaze away, but my chest ached in sharp, stabbing waves.
Once the secretary left, Conrad finally looked at me.
Just one look, and I saw a flicker of concern in his eyes.
“Why didn’t they take care of your wounds?”
His voice softened, and he reached out carefully toward my injury.
I subtly moved away, without letting it show.
He bent his knuckles, explaining gently. “What happened earlier… Don’t be upset. Estelle’s been in R&D for years, it’s not easy for her. The upcoming fragrance project depends on her, too. I had no choice in what I said. Once this is all settled, I’ll make your identity public, okay?”
His voice was as calm as always, but my throat felt clogged with cotton.
Looking at his face, I whispered, “Conrad… do you still remember what you said when I first handed you my fragrance?”
He frowned and hesitated for a moment before replying, “Of course, I remember. It’s just… recently, things at the company haven’t been easy. Today was a lot with the R&D department. For your own good, don’t come to the office for now. Once things calm down, I’ll reinstate your position.”
My face was drained of color inch by inch. Even though my goal today was to resign, after seeing him so easily choose to give me up, it felt like being stabbed straight through the heart.
Over a decade of feelings felt like rotting flesh over a wound—something I should have cut away long ago, but it still hurt like hell.
And Conrad had already forgotten the promises he made to me.
When I first handed him my fragrance, he had promised that no matter what, the credit would always be mine.
He wouldn’t sell a single patent related to my fragrance.
But ever since Estelle joined the company, every fragrance I made had her name on it.
The man who once loved and protected me… had long since changed.
I took a deep breath, shoved down the storm of emotions, and handed him the resignation papers.
He frowned as he took it. “Is this also related to the fragrances? For now, let Estelle handle this part.”
Before I could respond, a commotion erupted outside the door.
“Sir! Something’s wrong! Miss Estelle has been taken away!”
His face went pale, and he turned to run out of the office.
I grabbed his hand tight, my voice neutral. “Sign first.”
He glared at me, clearly not expecting me to do this at this time.
But with people urging outside, he finally shot me a look of disappointment, quickly signed, and rushed out.
I carefully tucked the resignation papers away, ready to leave, when Conrad suddenly spun me around and grabbed my wrist like he was trying to snap it off.
Dragging me forward, his voice cold as ice, he demanded, “Ophelia, what the hell are you trying to do? The R&D team said Estelle left with some guy and didn’t come back—and that guy used your name!”
I froze in shock. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t!”
His eyes burned red. “That guy used your name. Just now, you even had a fight with Estelle. If it wasn’t you, then who else? Who else would go through all that trouble just to frame a blind girl like you?”
Before I could even explain, he shoved me to the floor in one brutal motion.
“You’ve got a problem with me? Fine, take it out on me. But why the hell are you attacking Estelle?!”
I crashed hard again, this time my stomach hitting the floor. A sharp, stabbing pain shot through me instantly.
I screamed, trembling, reaching out. “Conrad! Take me to the hospital! My stomach hurts so much!”
When he saw the blood pooling beneath me, panic flashed in his eyes, and he scooped me up immediately.
Right then, the secretary came rushing in, phone in hand, mid-call.
“Sir, we’ve located Miss Estelle, but the kidnappers say they’ll only release her if Ma’am Ophelia comes in person…”
She hesitated, then, under Conrad’s red-hot stare, spilled everything.
“They said only you could pay them. They won’t release Miss Estelle unless you personally tell them to…”
Hearing that, Conrad’s face went completely dark. His eyes on me were ice-cold.
The secretary continued, “Oh, and… Miss Estelle isn’t in good shape. She’s in shock, having trouble breathing. We sent doctors, but the kidnappers refused to let her get treated. At this rate… it could—”
That was all it took. Conrad made up his mind.
He changed direction and started running toward the parking lot with me in his arms, telling the secretary to send the location.
I gritted my teeth against the pain, panicked. “Conrad! Where are you taking me? I already told you—I didn’t send that guy! Just take me to a hospital… for the baby’s sake, please!”
I practically begged through tears.
But he ignored me completely, pressing harder on the gas.
All the way there, I pleaded, I explained, I screamed, I cursed. But he didn’t care.
All I could do was feel the life inside me slipping away.
When we reached the abandoned factory, Conrad’s panic was palpable as he dragged me out.
Inside, the kidnapper had a knife to Estelle’s throat. She was gasping for air, her face frozen in terror.
Conrad’s eyes softened for a fraction, a flicker of pain, but when they landed on the kidnapper, they went cold again.
“I brought her here. You can let Estelle go now, right?”
The kidnapper sneered. “How do I know you’ll keep your word? Here’s the deal: you put that woman into the factory so I can ‘talk’ with her. Don’t worry—three minutes later, Estelle is yours.”
Conrad’s brow furrowed hard. He gripped my hand, trembling, and I clutched my stomach, struggling with everything I had.
I didn’t send this kidnapper. And now, he wants me inside the factory? This has got to be Estelle’s trap.
If I go in, I’m done for.
I fought harder, my fear and rage fueling me.
