Listen UAE

BOUND BY DUTY, CLAIMED BY LOVE! (Full Story below)

The hospital room was silent except for the machines.

Luke stood still, staring at his best friend lying unconscious.

“Wake up,” Luke muttered. “You don’t get to leave things like this.”

“Luke…” He turned.

Annastasia stood behind him, pale but composed.

“How is he?” she asked softly.

“No change.”

She swallowed hard. “My stepmother… she’s already planning something.”

Luke’s eyes darkened. “She won’t get anything.”

“She will,” Annastasia whispered. “Unless I take over the company… but I can’t.”
_____________________________
Later, inside the lawyer’s office, the air felt heavy.

“The will is clear,” the lawyer explained. “Miss Annastasia must prove financial capability—either independently or through marriage.”

“Marriage?” Annastasia repeated in disbelief.

“With someone of equal or greater wealth.”

She let out a hollow laugh. “Who would even agree to that?”

“I will.”
She turned sharply to Luke. “No. Absolutely not.”

“It’s the fastest solution,” Luke said calmly.

“This is insane, Luke. This is marriage.”

“Only on paper,” he replied firmly.

But for Annastasia, it would never be just paper.
_______________________________________
Living under the same roof quickly became unbearable.

“Your room is down the hall,” Luke said coldly one evening. “Mine is off-limits.”

“You think I’ll jump on you?” she shot back.

“I’m preventing that from happening.”

She stepped closer, her eyes searching his. “What if I want to?”
“Annastasia…” his voice dropped, warning and restrained.

She reached up and slowly adjusted his tie. “You’ve always avoided me.”

“Because I had to.”

“And now?”
He caught her wrist, firm but not hurting. “Now I need control.”
But neither of them moved away.
______________________________________________
One night, Annastasia stood outside his door, drunk, her heart pounding.

“Luke… I can’t sleep,” she said quietly.

“Go back to your room,” he replied without turning.

“I don’t want to.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“I do.”

Before he could stop her, she closed the distance and kissed him.
Luke froze, then his restraint snapped. He pulled her closer before abruptly breaking away.

“Stop,” he whispered, his breath uneven.

“Then tell me you don’t feel anything,” she challenged softly.
He said nothing.
Because he couldn’t.
____________________________________________
Days later, the boardroom was filled with tension.

“I meet all the conditions stated in the will,” Annastasia said, standing tall.

“This is manipulation!” her stepmother snapped.

“No,” Annastasia replied calmly. “This is rightful ownership.”

“You’ll fail,” her stepsister sneered.

“Watch me,” Annastasia said.

Luke leaned slightly toward her and murmured, “Own the room.”

And she did.
By the end of the meeting, the company was hers.
_________________________________
But despite everything, Luke remained distant.

One evening, Annastasia sat alone, her hand resting gently on her stomach.
“I’m pregnant…” she whispered, tears forming. “And he doesn’t love me…”
___________________________________
Her world turned dark soon after.

“Please… don’t…” she begged weakly, tied and bruised.

Her stepmother looked down at her coldly. “You should’ve stayed quiet.”

“Take the money… just let me go…”

“We want everything; let us see if your so-called husband can save you now.”

Annastasia cried, clutching her stomach as much as she could.

“Baby… hold on… Daddy will save us…”
_________________________________
Luke was unraveling.

“Find her!” he ordered sharply. “Now!”

When his phone rang, he answered instantly.

“Bring 10 million dollars if you want her alive.”

“It’s ready; where the hell is she?,” Luke said without hesitation.

There was a pause. “You must really love her.”

His voice turned deadly cold. “Don’t you ever touch her; I will deliver you hell.”
____________________________
The rescue was violent and chaotic.
Fists. Gunshots. Blood.

When Luke finally saw her, unconscious and injured, something inside him broke.

“Annastasia…” he whispered, dropping to his knees beside her.

He lifted her carefully, his hands shaking. “Baby… please… don’t go…”

His voice cracked. “I love you… I love you so much…”
_______________________________
At the hospital, time felt endless.

“She’s stable,” the doctor finally said. Luke exhaled in relief.

“And both are safe.” Luke frowned. “Both?”

“Your wife… and your child.” He froze. “My… child?”

“She’s two months pregnant.” The words hit him like a storm.
______________________________
He rushed into her room and held her tightly.

“Don’t leave me,” he whispered.

When she finally woke, her voice was weak. “Luke… are you crying?”

“I almost lost you…”She searched his face. “You… love me?”

“More than anything,” he answered without hesitation.

Tears filled her eyes.

“My love… my life… my everything,” Luke said, his voice breaking.

“I’ll never let anything happen to you again.”

She touched her stomach anxiously. “My baby… what about my baby?”

“Our baby,” he corrected gently. “Both of you are safe.”

She cried softly. “I thought… you wouldn’t be happy…”

He shook his head, overwhelmed. “You made me the happiest man alive.”

Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.

“Marry me again,” he said softly. “This time… for love.”

Through tears, she nodded. “Yes…”

He kissed her gently. “We’re a family now.”
________________________________________
Soon, the room filled with familiar faces—her lawyer, guards, nanny, and friends, all emotional.

Then the doctor entered again.

“I think someone else wants to join this moment,” he said.

They all turned.

“Her father… he’s waking up.”

Annastasia gasped, gripping Luke’s hand.

Luke smiled faintly, holding her closer.

“Looks like,” he said softly, “we have a lot to tell him.”
___________________________________
End.

5 TIPS TO MANAGE STRESS!

🌿 Your mental health matters. 🌿

Depression is not weakness—it’s a battle many silently fight every day. 💙

If you’re struggling, please remember: you are not alone, you are not a burden, and your story is not over.

Take one small step at a time. Reach out. Speak up. Heal.

Better days are coming, and you are stronger than you think. ✨