Ella felt a rising tide of horror clawing at her throat. Her eyes were fixated on the gun. Her mind raced with thoughts of the terrible fate that awaited her. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat.
"I know everything about you," Sebastian continued. "Your uncle is a greedy man and so you are. You lured Jasper with your charm for his wealth. You don't love him. All you want is his money."
"This is not true." Defending herself, Ella refuted his claims. "I love him."
"I'll give you so much money that you won't be able to earn in this lifetime," Sebastian interjected. "You want to become a fashion designer. I'll help you pursue your career. Take the money and leave the country. Never try to contact Jasper."
Ella's breath came in short gasps as she considered her options. She knew that refusing Sebastian's offer would result in dire consequences. But she couldn't bring herself to betray Jasper's trust, no matter the cost.
