Chapter 354
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Chapter 354:
She picked up her phone and opened a secure messaging app. She sent a single text to Gaston.
The trash has been taken out. I miss you.
Ten seconds later, her phone buzzed. It was a photo from Gaston — still in bed at the St. Regis, the white sheets tangled around his waist. He wasn’t smiling, but his dark eyes burned with a possessive, satisfied fire that made her stomach clench.
The caption read: Good girl. See you tonight.
Jocelyn locked her phone. The ghost of Kieran Douglas was already fading from her mind.
R𝘦𝘢𝗱 𝘧𝗋𝗼𝗆 𝘺𝗈u𝘳 р𝗁𝗈𝗇е 𝗼𝘯
She turned to her assistant. “Let’s review the quarterly reports. I have a hotel to run p>
The news of the Douglas Tech collapse sent shockwaves through the financial world, but in Washington D.C., it was merely a footnote in a much larger game.
Senator Justin Collins walked briskly down the marble steps of the Capitol Building, the afternoon sun catching the silver threading through his dark hair. His Chief of Staff, Leo, jogged alongside him clutching a thick leather folder.
“Senator,” Leo reported in a hushed tone. “The bankruptcy proceedings for Quentin, Miss Golden’s former fiancé, are complete. His assets have been entirely liquidated p>
Justin did not break his stride. A cold, satisfied smirk touched the corner of his lips.
“Good,” Justin said smoothly. “Throw the report in the shredder. I do not want his name spoken again p>
He reached the curb where his black, bulletproof Cadillac was idling and turned to Leo.
“Cancel my weekend schedule. I am driving to New York. I am taking Carmen to the Long Island estate for the family dinner p>
Leo hesitated, his hand resting on the car door.
“Sir,” Leo said carefully. “Bringing a woman with a completely unknown background into the inner family sanctum — Elbert Collins will not be pleased p>
Justin’s eyes snapped to him. The practiced political warmth vanished instantly, replaced by the terrifying, predatory coldness of the Collins bloodline.
“I am bringing the future Senator’s wife home,” Justin said softly. “If my father has a problem with that, I will crush his objections. Am I clear p>
Leo swallowed and nodded immediately. “Crystal clear, Senator p>
Meanwhile, in a small Chelsea apartment in Manhattan, Carmen Golden stood in front of her bedroom mirror, holding a conservative navy-blue dress against her body.
A sharp, stabbing pain pierced her right temple without warning.
She gasped, dropping the dress and pressing her fingers hard against her skull.
The dissociative amnesia always flared when she was under stress. But this was different — deeper, more visceral. Ever since Justin had announced he was taking her to his family estate, her subconscious had been screaming in quiet, relentless terror.
She felt a heavy, sickening dread, as though she were walking toward a trap she had somehow managed to escape a very long time ago.
Friday evening. The sky over Long Island was painted in bruised shades of purple and gold.
Justin’s black Cadillac motorcade glided smoothly up the mile-long driveway of the Collins Estate. The massive, ivy-covered stone mansion loomed ahead like a fortress.