Bind you in hellbound
Chapter 174: ~Hellbound~

Chapter 174: ~Hellbound~

"Babe," Derek murmured, reaching for Elena’s hand, but she seemed oblivious to his presence.

In the midst of the shocking encounter with the man who bore an uncanny resemblance to Paul, her mind was caught in a whirlwind of emotions.

Ethan, seemingly composed, gave me a kind smile.

As Derek held me close, I heard the familiar voice of Paulina.

"Actually, we lost a special one who resembled you," Derek explained.

You may change your name, but you can’t change your passion, which am me. You can’t fool my eyes.

Yes, my Paul was no longer with us. His departure had left an indelible mark on my heart, a wound that time had failed to fully heal.

I didn’t know why but their conversations were pissing me off.

"Sorry, ma’am," he uttered with a gentle sincerity.

Derek, always quick to diffuse tension, turned to the man and apologized, "I’m sorry my wife mistook you for someone."

Upon hearing his name, Ethan Allen, a shiver of recognition tinged with shock coursed through me. I looked down, grappling with the implications of a name that seemed both familiar and distant.

However, upon hearing her utter Paul’s name, he paused, a momentary flicker of understanding crossing his features.

I stared at him, unable to tear my eyes away. Self-control wavered in the face of the enigma he represented.

The shock deepened when I processed the revelation that he was the manager of the resort. The room, meticulously arranged to suit my tastes, echoed with a disconcerting truth. If he wasn’t Paul, then how had he orchestrated the details that mirrored my preferences?

Those blue eyes—the windows to a thousand shared moments, whispered secrets, and unspoken promises—I would never forget.

"Hello, Mrs. Elena. I hope you’re doing well now," he greeted, the words carrying a weight of understanding.

"Honey, let’s eat something," Derek murmured, his voice a gentle anchor as he took my hand in his.

The memories that had long slumbered in the recesses of my mind now surged forth, resurrecting the vivid image of Paul—the same blue eyes, the familiar smile that had once been the happiness and sadness of my world.

"Paul," Elena unconsciously murmured, her voice a fragile whisper, carrying the weight of memories that surged to the surface.

The realization struck me—Paulina was supposed to be with him.

"Come here, sweetie," Derek said, gently guiding her away.

"Sa...y sorry," Paulina chimed.

The internal turmoil reverberated in the unspoken accusation.

"Meet my wife, Elena," Derek introduced me, a protective undertone in his voice as he bridged the gap between the past and the present.

Concern etched on his face, the man who had triggered this unexpected cascade of memories attempted to offer Elena a glass of water. However, upon hearing her utter Paul’s name, he paused, a momentary flicker of understanding crossing his features.

Derek, torn between protecting Paulina and managing the emotional storm within the room, paused to consider the request. After a thoughtful moment, he nodded in agreement.

That’s my daughter."

"However, I am not Paul," he continued.

His words sliced through the tumult of emotions, a stark reminder of the painful reality that had shaped the course of our lives. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes in an attempt to anchor myself in the present.

Closing my eyes, I pressed my face into Derek’s chest, seeking solace amidst the storm of emotions.

"Derek, I’m sure he’s Pa-," I started, my words hanging in the air, but Derek interrupted with a gentle yet firm assertion, "Elena, Paul is no longer with us."

"I apologize, Mrs. Elena," he offered.

While we indulged in the act of eating, I kept a vigilant gaze, scanning the surroundings for any sign of the mysterious man who had seemingly vanished. However, my efforts proved futile. Was he gone? The uncertainty added a layer of unease to the already charged atmosphere.

I felt an inexplicable sting at his comment, as if a hidden vulnerability had been exposed. "Yes, she is," Derek affirmed.

My gaze shifted from Derek to Ethan, the threads of the enigma pulling tighter with each passing moment.

"Excuse me," Derek began, addressing the man with a measured tone, "could you kindly leave us alone for a while?"

Suddenly, Ethan knelt down, a gesture both unexpected and disarming. His hand gently touched Paulina’s face as he said, "I apologize if I offended your mother, baby. I’m not going to do that again."

"Elena, take a deep breath. If you’re still worried about whom he is, I’ll check into it. I will find out everything I can about him," Derek reassured.

I could feel Ethan’s gaze on me. His acknowledgment of my name, "Mrs. Elena," resonated in the air, sending a ripple through the quietude.

"Nooo, that can’t be," I stammered, my voice trembling with the weight of disbelief and the resurgence of emotions long buried.

"I hope ma’am is fine?" he inquired, his voice breaking the silence.

The words formed a whisper in the quiet space, a declaration of recognition that hung between us. I attempted to stand, but Derek’s firm grip on my hand restrained the impulse.

Concern etched on his face, the man who had triggered this unexpected cascade of memories attempted to offer Elena a glass of water.

The man reciprocated with a courteous nod, "My name is Ethan Allen, and I’m the manager of this resort." He shook Derek’s hand in a gesture of formal greeting.

Elena’s POV.

The man, understanding the gravity of the situation, responded with a sympathetic nod, "No problem at all."

How could I have forgotten his stare? His blue eyes, his smile... I would never forget.

"Sorry, ma’am," he uttered with a gentle sincerity, realizing the emotional depth of the situation.

In the midst of the encroaching chaos, I clutched Derek’s shirt, my hands fisted tightly as if grounding myself in the tangible reality of the present.

Paulina, sensing the tension, approached with innocent concern, saying, "Mo-ma."

"Mo-ma," she called out, dashing towards us. I searched for the man who had taken her away, expecting to find Paulina in his arms, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Sweetie, can you take me to look around?" the man gently requested as he approached Paulina.

Inhaling deeply, I directed my gaze at Ethan. His eyes, twinkling like stars, held a mysterious allure that defied easy interpretation

As Derek engaged in polite conversation, my mind raced, trying to reconcile the incongruities. How did he arrange all of this if he wasn’t Paul? The intricacies of the room, the choice of flowers, the scent of jasmine—it all pointed to a level of understanding that surpassed the bounds of casual acquaintance.

"Love," Derek whispered, his voice a tender caress as he stroked my hand.

The haunting familiarity paralyzed me, and for a moment, the world seemed to dissolve into a surreal tableau of past and present colliding.

As they departed, a hushed murmur enveloped the space, drawing the attention of onlookers. Sensing the gathering crowd, that man, in an attempt to shield us from prying eyes, discreetly advised people not to linger around.

"Paul," Elena unconsciously murmured, her voice a fragile whisper, carrying the weight of memories that surged to the surface.

"Babe," Derek murmured, reaching for Elena’s hand, but she seemed oblivious to his presence. In the midst of the shocking encounter with the man who bore an uncanny resemblance to Paul, her mind was caught in a whirlwind of emotions. For correct content, please visit

Paulina instinctively wrapped her small arms around Derek’s neck. Her innocent gesture was both a plea for comfort and a reflection of the impact that the unfolding emotional storm had on her tender understanding.

"Yes," the man answered, nodding. He added, "I think your baby is a bit scared to witness this. May I take her with me for a minute?"

I’m not going to trust you, you liar. Paul, you’re my Paul. You’re doing this to punish me, right?

Ethan Allen.

"I apologize for your loss, ma’am," Ethan added, his words a respectful acknowledgment of the grief that permeated the room.

I clutched my dress with both hands.

I merely nodded, avoiding direct eye contact, the tumult of emotions roiling beneath the surface. Paulina’s abrupt statement, "My mo-ma cry," added a layer of vulnerability to the already charged atmosphere.

Paulina reluctantly released her embrace and followed the mysterious man.

"However, your daughter has her mother’s beauty," Ethan remarked, his words slicing through the air with an unexpected intensity.

"Certainly, Mr. Derek loves Ma’am," Ethan interjected.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him.

"It’s him, De-Derek. I’m sure it’s him," I gasped, the words catching in my throat as I struggled for breath. The shock of the encounter with the man who bore an uncanny resemblance to Paul left me breathless, caught in the tangle of emotions.

"Yeah, but now she has a competitor," Derek teased.

"Calm down, honey," Derek urged, his voice a steady anchor attempting to ground me amidst the swirling tempest of emotions.

Derek gently intervened, "Elena, try to take a deep breath."

"Hello, my name is Derek," Derek introduced himself, extending a smile that masked the underlying tension.

"Go with him, baby. I’m sorry, but I have to stay with your mother," Derek gently instructed.

"He’s Paul, I’m sure of it," I whispered, the words escaping in a hushed breath.

But as if conjured from the shadows, he appeared once again, interrupting the quietude that had settled after dinner.

Continue.