Chapter 72: Running Out of Time** Lucien’s grip tightened around the phone as Wallace’s voice echoed through the empty estate. **“You’re running out of time, Hunter.”** The message ended with a sharp beep. I didn't know what exactly to think, I just kept mute, I don't know what exactly to upon, but deep down I know I needed to act as fast as I could Silence filled the air, thick with tension. Caleb exhaled sharply. “Well, that’s not ominous at all.” Lucien didn’t speak. His jaw was clenched so tight I thought it might snap. I stepped closer, my pulse pounding. “Lucien, what does he mean?” His gaze flicked to me, then back to the phone. “Wallace doesn’t leave messages unless he wants us to hear them. He’s taunting me.” I crossed my arms. “Or warning you.” Lucien’s expression darkened. “No. Wallace doesn’t warn people. If he says we’re running out of time, it means he has something planned.” A chill ran down my spine. Caleb shifted, cracking his knuckles. “So, wh
Chapter 72: A Mid Night Meeting I stared at the letter in my trembling hands, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. The words on the page felt like a slap to my face—a cruel reminder that secrets never stayed buried forever. Lucien reached for the letter, his fingers brushing against mine. "Lila, who sent this?" His voice was steady, but his eyes burned with urgency. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "There’s no name, no return address. Just…this." I handed it over, my hands still shaking. Lucien's sharp gaze scanned the words, and I saw the moment he tensed, his jaw tightening. "They know about Reid." His voice was laced with fury. "They know everything." A chill ran through me. My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I forced myself to breathe. "What do they want?" Lucien lifted the paper slightly. "A meeting. Tonight. Midnight. They’re giving us an address." I exhaled shakily. "This could be a trap." "It could be," he admitted, his eyes flickering with dark intensity. "Bu
Chapter 74: The Return of a Ghost** I barely had time to process the shock before Lucien’s phone rang. His jaw clenched as he glanced at the screen, then at me. “It’s him,” he said. Blake. The name alone sent a cold wave through me, but I squared my shoulders. I wouldn’t show fear. Not now. Not ever. “Answer it,” I said. Lucien hesitated for a second before putting the call on speaker. “Blake.” A slow chuckle came from the other end. “Lucien. It’s been a while.” My stomach twisted at the sound of his voice. Smooth, confident—just as I remembered. “What do you want?” Lucien’s tone was sharp. Blake sighed dramatically. “Straight to business. No ‘how have you been?’ No pleasantries?” “You filed a lawsuit against the company,” I cut in. “We don’t have time for games.” Blake went silent for a beat. Then, his voice turned cold. “Oh, but I do. And I’m just getting started.” I exchanged a glance with Lucien. Whatever Blake was up to, it wasn’t just about money. This
Chapter 75: Unfinished BusinessLucien’s grip on the lawsuit papers tightened, his jaw clenched so hard I thought he might snap the paper in half. The name on the document burned into my mind—Blake. A ghost from my past, a man I had buried with my pain, was now clawing his way back into my life.I took a step closer, my heartbeat like a drum in my ears. “What exactly is he suing for?”Lucien exhaled sharply, handing me the document. “He’s claiming rights to your father’s estate. He says he had a legal agreement with him before his death.”I scoffed. “That’s impossible. My father would never do business with a man like him.”Lily smirked from her seat, swirling the wine in her glass as if enjoying the chaos. “Well, sweetheart, the law doesn’t care what your father would or wouldn’t do. It only cares about the paperwork. And if Blake has something solid, you might lose everything.”I shot her a glare before focusing back on the papers. My hands trembled slightly as I skimmed through the
•CHAPTER ONE•A wedding to undo.. Frozen in shock, I felt my eyes turning on their own with my breath caught in my throat. The room's warmth were no where to be found and all it was replaced with were the icy chills that seeped mercilessly into my bones.Could anything be more shattering and nightmarish than stumbling upon a shocking truth exactly three days to your wedding?..Just when the wedding you've been dreaming of is less than 72 hours away!!!!!!My hands quivered as I stared at the lines in the letter I was holding.‘Since we couldn't afford to pay our debts, we've agreed to your alternative proposal – Give out our only daughter's hand in marriage to you. However, we need to deceive her into thinking she's marrying your son. She'ld never consent to marry someone of your age sir. I know you have no son but getting pictures of someone young and handsome will do. All we have to do is declare his false trip and convince her that he'll be coming home on the agreed wedding day’T
•CHAPTER TWO•Confronting the aftermath I guess ‘bumping or getting into an accident with someone understanding’ should be a prayer on its own..‘Cause..I'd really been apologising for the past three minutes but this tall arrogant dude wasn't ready to let go..“Does it look like I care? When you knew how weak your financial strength is, why didn't you drive like a normal person? You're getting me a new car and that's final else I will charge this case to court” he threatened and for some seconds i was in awe..For Pete's sake, the worst thing that happened to his car is the damage of his full light bulb and now…. court?!!What has it gotten to do with that?...I sighed in frustration. “I just told you I'm sorry, can we please talk about fixing this. I can't afford a new car and this is not a crime, anyone gets into an accident” .. I was really getting pissed but trying hard to remain calm.“Well, disobeying the traffic rules is a crime” he retorted.I scoffed.“If you aren't con
•CHAPTER THREE•Fiercely determined.. For the first time since morning, I turned on my phone, falling heavily on my bed to release my tears as I got to my room.Everything had happened so fast..So damn fast.Losing my marriage and virginity within twenty four hours was something I wouldn't have believed if I was told a day before..But then, it's all for good right?..“Adeline, you can't do this..” Mum walked in and i sighed.“I don't want to disrespect you mum, please leave” I muttered from where I was laid while the phone began beeping repeatedly.Annoying notifications…. Well I expected them anyway.“You are not leaving this house, are you?” her voice portrayed both fear and worry.I scoffed, sitting up. “Are you seriously asking me that?” I demanded bluntly.“Adele, your brother isn't in town and you know it. How do you expect us to be fine without having any of our children around? Consider my feelings please” mum pleaded. She couldn't dare scold me for what I did ’cause
•CHAPTER FOUR•Unexpected encounter..YEARS LATER.. Time flew faster than one's imagination and six years swung by as a blur..It's been six years since I walked away from it all and began a new life void of any dictatorship. The best thing I could whip out of my past was to channel all the hurt and disappointment into work, and here I was with a skyrocketing secretarial duty.“Mummy, it's my birthday!” Reid's scream over the phone made me cover my ears and chuckle.Right.. I had a five year old son – the product of my nightstand with Mr. arrogant whom I'd never met since we got intimate.. I could vividly remember, confirming my pregnancy six years ago was like a nightmare..‘I’m just trying to cope in a new country and now, a pregnancy?’ Those were the exact words I said to the doctor when he broke the news of my pregnancy… “You can't cope with this job like this, you're heavily pregnant and your consistent sleep makes your work so unprofessional..” Those were the words tha
Chapter 75: Unfinished BusinessLucien’s grip on the lawsuit papers tightened, his jaw clenched so hard I thought he might snap the paper in half. The name on the document burned into my mind—Blake. A ghost from my past, a man I had buried with my pain, was now clawing his way back into my life.I took a step closer, my heartbeat like a drum in my ears. “What exactly is he suing for?”Lucien exhaled sharply, handing me the document. “He’s claiming rights to your father’s estate. He says he had a legal agreement with him before his death.”I scoffed. “That’s impossible. My father would never do business with a man like him.”Lily smirked from her seat, swirling the wine in her glass as if enjoying the chaos. “Well, sweetheart, the law doesn’t care what your father would or wouldn’t do. It only cares about the paperwork. And if Blake has something solid, you might lose everything.”I shot her a glare before focusing back on the papers. My hands trembled slightly as I skimmed through the
Chapter 74: The Return of a Ghost** I barely had time to process the shock before Lucien’s phone rang. His jaw clenched as he glanced at the screen, then at me. “It’s him,” he said. Blake. The name alone sent a cold wave through me, but I squared my shoulders. I wouldn’t show fear. Not now. Not ever. “Answer it,” I said. Lucien hesitated for a second before putting the call on speaker. “Blake.” A slow chuckle came from the other end. “Lucien. It’s been a while.” My stomach twisted at the sound of his voice. Smooth, confident—just as I remembered. “What do you want?” Lucien’s tone was sharp. Blake sighed dramatically. “Straight to business. No ‘how have you been?’ No pleasantries?” “You filed a lawsuit against the company,” I cut in. “We don’t have time for games.” Blake went silent for a beat. Then, his voice turned cold. “Oh, but I do. And I’m just getting started.” I exchanged a glance with Lucien. Whatever Blake was up to, it wasn’t just about money. This
Chapter 72: A Mid Night Meeting I stared at the letter in my trembling hands, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. The words on the page felt like a slap to my face—a cruel reminder that secrets never stayed buried forever. Lucien reached for the letter, his fingers brushing against mine. "Lila, who sent this?" His voice was steady, but his eyes burned with urgency. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "There’s no name, no return address. Just…this." I handed it over, my hands still shaking. Lucien's sharp gaze scanned the words, and I saw the moment he tensed, his jaw tightening. "They know about Reid." His voice was laced with fury. "They know everything." A chill ran through me. My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I forced myself to breathe. "What do they want?" Lucien lifted the paper slightly. "A meeting. Tonight. Midnight. They’re giving us an address." I exhaled shakily. "This could be a trap." "It could be," he admitted, his eyes flickering with dark intensity. "Bu
Chapter 72: Running Out of Time** Lucien’s grip tightened around the phone as Wallace’s voice echoed through the empty estate. **“You’re running out of time, Hunter.”** The message ended with a sharp beep. I didn't know what exactly to think, I just kept mute, I don't know what exactly to upon, but deep down I know I needed to act as fast as I could Silence filled the air, thick with tension. Caleb exhaled sharply. “Well, that’s not ominous at all.” Lucien didn’t speak. His jaw was clenched so tight I thought it might snap. I stepped closer, my pulse pounding. “Lucien, what does he mean?” His gaze flicked to me, then back to the phone. “Wallace doesn’t leave messages unless he wants us to hear them. He’s taunting me.” I crossed my arms. “Or warning you.” Lucien’s expression darkened. “No. Wallace doesn’t warn people. If he says we’re running out of time, it means he has something planned.” A chill ran down my spine. Caleb shifted, cracking his knuckles. “So, wh
Chapter 71: The TrapThe morning sun barely peeked through the blinds when I woke up to an empty bed. I reached out, but Lucien was gone. Panic shot through me until I heard voices from downstairs. Throwing on a robe, I hurried down, stopping at the living room entrance. Lucien stood near the window, speaking into his phone. Caleb and Luca sat on the couch, deep in discussion. “No,” Lucien said firmly. “We move first.” He turned, spotting me. His eyes softened for a second before his expression hardened again. “Yeah, I’ll handle it,” he muttered before hanging up. I crossed my arms. “What’s going on?” Lucien sighed, rubbing his jaw. “Wallace is making his move.” My stomach clenched. “How soon?” Luca leaned forward. “Tonight.” Caleb nodded. “His men are moving shipments. If we hit them first, we cripple his operation.” Lucien’s gaze locked onto mine. “I need you to stay here.” I frowned. “Lucien—” “No arguments, Lila,” he said firmly. “It’s too dangerous.”
Chapter 70: The Next MoveLucien didn’t let go of me. Even as the police sirens grew louder, as Caleb barked orders into his phone, and as Morgan lay groaning on the ground, Lucien’s arms stayed wrapped around me like a shield. “I need you to get in the car,” he murmured. I pulled back just enough to look at him. “I’m not leaving you.” “Lila.” His voice was firm, but there was something else in his eyes—something raw. “Please.” I hesitated. The last time I’d let him handle things alone, it had almost gone terribly wrong. But this time, the police were coming. This time, Morgan wasn’t walking away. I gave him a sharp nod and turned toward the car. But just as I took a step, a gunshot rang out. Lucien tackled me before I could even register what was happening. We hit the ground hard. My breath whooshed out, and my ears rang. Caleb shouted. Someone screamed. Lucien cursed. “Stay down.” I barely had time to process the words before he was on his feet, gun raised.
Chapter 69: This wasn't overLucien was silent on the drive home. His hands gripped the wheel tightly, his jaw clenched. The air between us felt heavy, charged with unspoken words. I kept stealing glances at him, hoping he’d say something—**anything**—but he didn’t. When we pulled into the driveway, he shut off the engine and exhaled slowly. “I should’ve told you what I was doing,” he finally said. I nodded. “Yeah, you should have.” His eyes met mine. “But you shouldn’t have followed me, Lila.” I crossed my arms. “What was I supposed to do? Sit at home while you put yourself in danger?” Lucien sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “This isn’t just about me.” “I know,” I said. “That’s why we need to work together.” He hesitated. “I don’t know how to do that.” I reached for his hand. “Then let’s figure it out.” For a moment, he just stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then, finally, he nodded. **It wasn’t a promise. But it was a step forward.** ---Insid
Chapter 67: The Pushing away Lucien didn't let go. Even as the city pulsed beyond the glass windows of his office, he held me tightly, as if afraid I'd vanish. His body was tense, his grip firm—but beneath it, I felt something deeper. **Fear. Guilt. Uncertainty.** “I can’t lose you, Lila,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. I pulled back slightly, enough to look into his eyes. “Then stop pushing me away.” A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I don’t want you caught in my darkness.” I cupped his face, my thumbs brushing against the stubble on his cheeks. “Lucien, I don’t care about the darkness. I care about you.” His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I don’t know how to stop feeling like this.” “Then let me help you,” I whispered. For a moment, he just stared at me, like he was searching for something—some proof that I wasn’t making empty promises. Then, finally, he nodded. “Okay.” It wasn’t much. But it was **a start.** ---That night, Lucien didn’t go b
Chapter 67: The Cost of VictoryLucien didn’t speak as we walked out of the warehouse. His steps were heavy, his jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscles twitching. Caleb stayed close, his eyes scanning our surroundings as if expecting another attack. Police officers moved around us, securing the area, but none of it made me feel safe. **Not yet.** Luca stood by one of the police vehicles, his arms crossed. When he saw me, his expression softened, but only slightly. “You okay?” I nodded. “Thanks to you guys.” His gaze shifted to Lucien. “You look like hell.” what, what do you mean?, I asked myself, I didn't want to show off any form of anger, so I had take slow and calm, me don't want anything or form, that anything is escalating so let's keep on a lowLucien barely reacted. His knuckles were still raw, blood drying on his skin. His face was bruised, but that wasn’t what worried me. **It was the emptiness in his eyes.** Luca sighed, shaking his head. “Wallace is