The actresses who once scorned Khloe now regarded her with fear, as if she were a menacing figure straight from the darkest corners of the underworld.
“You’re free to leave now,” Henrik said in a tone as calm as ever. “And don’t breathe a word about today’s events to anyone.”
At the news that they could leave, palpable relief washed over the group, and they fled in a hurry, terrified of remaining a moment longer in Henrik’s presence.
The core crew of “Peaks of Eternity” remained behind, their bodies shaking with fear as they turned their fearful gazes to Henrik.
Elwood, soaked in sweat and trembling with panic, shifted his desperate gaze to Khloe, his eyes begging her to step in. Khloe couldn’t help but feel powerless. Did they seriously think she had any sway over Henrik?
Did they think she was here to put out the flames of Henrik’s fury?
The tension in the room was suffocating. Forcing down her own fear, Khloe reached out and gently tugged on Henrik’s sleeve.
“Okay, Henrik. The ones who hurt me have paid the price. Maybe it’s time to put the gun down now.”
Henrik shot her a brief look, the storm in his eyes easing slightly, before finally holstering his weapon.
Tess let out an audible sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward, eager to defuse the tension. “Everything’s fine now. We’re all on the same side, right? How about I take everyone out for a meal? It’ll help settle our nerves.” Encouraged by her invitation, the crowd wasted no time and quickly made their exit.
Elwood, however, remained rooted to the spot, his body trembling too much to take a step.
Henrik gave him a cold look. “What’s wrong? Do you still want to finish your audition?”
“No! No need for that!” Elwood blurted out, shaking his head frantically.
Regret weighed heavily on him. He cursed himself for not giving Khloe the lead role right from the start.
In truth, Khloe’s audition had been more than sufficient to secure the lead role of Roselyn.
The second round was a ploy to push her limits and a silent protest against the investor’s meddling.
Remembering his actions, Elwood wished the ground would swallow him whole.
Bowing his head in genuine remorse, he said, “Miss Evans, I truly apologize. I admit I gave you a hard time before. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me and move on.”
His current humility was worlds apart from the cocky director they had all known earlier.
Khloe was itching to ask what on earth Henrik had done to reduce Elwood to such a state, as though he’d seen the devil himself.
But as she caught sight of the sheer terror on Elwood’s face, she gave him a reassuring nod. “It’s fine. I understand your dedication to the craft. I hold no grudges.”
She turned to Henrik, giving his hand a light squeeze. “And Henrik? He won’t hold it against you either. It’s just work; he’s fair.”
Elwood’s eyes brimmed with relief, as though he were on the verge of tears.
After all, Henrik had a fierce protective streak when it came to those he cared about.
Elwood shuddered at the thought of meeting the same fate as Judith, who had been executed.
Henrik cast a disdainful glance in his direction. “Khloe’s forgiven you. I’ll let it slide this time.”
Relief flooded Elwood’s face as he shot Khloe a grateful look. Swiping a shaky hand across his sweat-soaked brow, he said, “There’s a lot to sort out today. I’ll make time to apologize properly later.”
“Alright,” Khloe agreed, taking the chance to tug Henrik away without delay.
As they walked out, Henrik’s striking good looks and Khloe’s radiant beauty turned heads wherever they went. They made their way to the parking lot in silence and climbed into their car.
Without warning, Henrik reached over and pulled Khloe firmly into his arms.
Khloe was caught off guard by Henrik’s sudden movement. She had never imagined someone as composed as him could lose control in such a way.
For a moment, the shock lingered, and a sense of unease settled over her. His arms wrapped around her so tightly, it felt as though an invisible force was engulfing her.
After a few minutes, she placed a hand on his arm, her voice soft with confusion. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
Henrik didn’t answer right away.
His breathing was labored, each inhale shaky as he struggled to find his words.
After a few deep breaths, his voice emerged, low and gravelly, carrying a raw vulnerability Khloe had never heard from him before. “Khloe, my mother was murdered in an attack like this.”
For a moment, time seemed to freeze for Khloe as his words hit her. Her heart skipped, and her body stilled as she processed the heavy weight of his confession. She didn’t ask him to let go; instead, she stayed in his arms, listening intently.
Henrik’s voice lowered even further, thick with sorrow. “I was only eight. She went to a charity event. Someone handed her flowers, and when she reached for them, she was stabbed. She didn’t survive.”
Khloe’s heart tightened as the pieces clicked into place. The attack on her had unlocked the deep-seated trauma Henrik carried from that tragic day-the day he lost his mother.
Her heart ached with the realization that his panic wasn’t just about her; it was about his fear of losing someone close again, the painful memory of that loss still clinging to him.
Khloe’s heart softened in a way she couldn’t control. For once, she let go of her usual resolve to keep her distance from Henrik. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him, her touch gentle as she patted his broad back, as though comforting a child.
“I’m fine. I’m safe now. You don’t need to worry.”
Khloe relaxed fully into Henrik’s embrace, her body sinking into his as she rested her head against his chest.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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