Chapter 118 By Myself

Chapter 118 By Myself
\-Lucien-

The first thing I felt was a hand against my forehead. Then my eyes slowly opened.

For a moment, all I could see was a blurred face leaning over me. 

“Celeste?” The name left my lips before I could stop it.

The woman froze… Then my vision cleared.

Bianca.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through the back of my head.

“Don't,” she said, pressing a hand against my shoulder. “You're still bleeding.”

I looked around, I was at Blackwell Estate.

“How did I get here?”

“Paul found you.”

I nodded, the details coming back in small flashes.

“Where is he?”

“He went to check on your father at the correctional facility. He asked me to stay with you.”

I touched the back of my head and winced. “Why didn't he take me to a hospital?”

She scoffed. “Because it would attract a lot of attention. The family is already dealing with enough right now. How would it look if you announced yourself as CEO, only to suddenly show up at a hospital after being attacked?”

“You have a point,” I admitted as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed.

She immediately reached for me. “Lucien, don't. You can barely stand.”

“I need to find Celeste.”

Her expression changed. “We don't even know what happened to you.”

I let out a small sigh. There was only one enemy I had on my back right now. Jackson. Everything had him written on it.

At that moment, my phone buzzed on the night stand. It was Jackson.

He texted me an address and gave strict instructions to come alone, and not involve the police.

I forced myself to my feet. 

“Who is it?” she asked.

“Jackson. He has Celeste,” I said urgently, ignoring the sharp throb at the back of my skull.
“You have to inform the cops—”

“I’ll handle this myself.”

“You’re literally bleeding. You can barely stand.”

“Bianca. I said I’ll handle this myself.” I gathered my things.

She stared at me for a moment, then sighed. “Why do you always do that?”

I frowned. “Do what?”

“Keep everything to yourself. Carry everything alone.” She shook her head. “You hid the fact that you’re a billionaire. You hid that you’re the owner of Echelon. And now, even after being attacked, you still refuse to let anyone help you.”

“Bianca—”

“No.” She shook her head. “And that’s part of why our relationship failed, Lucien.”

I looked at her.

“You’re right,” I said quietly. “But I don’t have time to explain my entire life story to you right now.”

She stared at me.

“I’ve always handled things this way. Maybe it’s a flaw. Maybe it’s one of the reasons we failed.” I headed to the door. “But it’s who I am.”

“Lucien—”

“Move on, Bianca.” 

The room suddenly tilted, but I caught the edge of the table before I fell.

She rushed toward me. “See? You shouldn't be moving.”

“I'll be fine.”

“You're bleeding.”

“I'll survive.” I made my way out of the room. 

She followed me to the front door. “Let me come with you.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because if Jackson sees you, he might use you too.”

She stared at me. “Then at least let me call the police.”

I stopped. “If he thinks I'm bringing anyone, Celeste could be dead before we get there.”
She stared at me for a brief second, then pulled out her car keys from her pocket.

“At least take my car. It’ll help me know you're safe.”

\---

The drive felt longer than it should have. My head throbbed with every turn, but I kept going.

When I finally reached the address, I found myself at a marina. 

The place was almost deserted. Only the dim lights along the dock broke through the darkness, while the sound of water lapping against the boats filled the silence.

I stepped out of the car, and that's when I saw it clearly. 

The water. Loud and dark.

My entire body went rigid, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe.

That night flashed before my eyes. Once again, I was a little boy stuck in a drowning car.

Not now.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to take a breath.

One. Then another.

I could do this.

I had to.

Jackson called me again, and I answered immediately. “Where is she?”

A low chuckle came through the speaker. “Look toward the dock.”

I did.

A small boat sat waiting at the end of the pier.

My chest tightened. “She’s on the boat?”

“Yes.”

I stared at the dark water between us.“Let her go.”

“That’s not how this is going to go.”

My jaw clenched. “What do you want?”

“You.”

Then the call ended.

I lowered the phone and stood there for several seconds, staring at the boat. 

Jackson was messing with me. He knew my weakness and was using it.
Every instinct in me screamed to turn around.

But Celeste was out there.

So I forced myself toward the dock.  The closer I got to the water, the harder it became to breathe. My palms grew damp, and my heart hammered against my ribs.

I gripped the railing and kept moving. 

“Keep going,” I muttered.

I reached the end of the dock and two men stood on the boat. One of them held out his hand.

“Get on.”

I stared at the water, and my legs felt weak beneath me. Then I thought of Celeste, and it was all I needed to step onto the boat.

The movement made it rock beneath my feet, and my stomach lurched.

“Where is she?” I demanded hoarsely.

“You'll see her soon.”

I turned toward the men. “What did you do to her?”

Neither answered. Instead, one of them grabbed my arm. I tried to pull away, but another hand caught me from behind.

“Let go of me.”

I struggled, but my strength was already failing me.

Once again, my knees buckled as my entire body went limp. 

I barely registered the hands catching me before the world began to blur.

“Celeste…”