CHAPTER 15

*First Person's Perspective*

~Enise~

The moment I stepped into my bedroom, I couldn’t contain the excitement that had been building up inside me all day. A loud squeal escaped my lips as I grabbed my phone from the bedside table, eager to call Lucian and tell him the good news. The first phase of our plan had been a success. Lucas had agreed to the investment, and now things were set in motion.

I quickly dialed Lucian’s number, my fingers trembling slightly with anticipation. It was hard to suppress the bubbling joy I felt. This was it. We were finally on our way to destroying everything Lucas had built, and I couldn’t help but relish the thought of it.

Just as the phone started ringing, I heard a knock on my door. I froze, phone still in hand, my heart suddenly racing. Who could it be? The knock sounded deliberate—quiet, but firm—and I knew it wasn’t one of the staff.

I turned the phone’s screen off and tucked it away in my pocket, trying to steady my breathing. The last thing I needed right now was Lucas catching me in such a vulnerable moment. I walked toward the door, still slightly giddy with the success of the plan, and opened it to find none other than Lucas himself standing in the doorway. His deep brown eyes locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, neither of us spoke.

My heart leapt in my chest, thumping so loudly I was sure he could hear it. Did he hear me squeal? What if he was suspicious? I couldn’t let my emotions give me away. I couldn’t risk him discovering what I was really after.

He didn’t say a word, just stood there, staring at me with that unreadable look on his face. I was caught off guard by the intensity of his gaze, but I quickly cleared my throat to break the silence.

“What are you doing in my room, Alpha Lucas?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended but still calm, controlled and collected

He didn’t respond immediately. His gaze lingered on me, and it felt like he was studying me, perhaps searching for something I wasn’t ready to reveal. Then, before I could say another word, he stepped forward and closed the distance between us in a heartbeat. His lips pressed against mine in a kiss so sudden and forceful that I had no time to react.

The kiss was unexpected, leaving me completely stunned. His lips moved against mine, demanding, and I could feel the heat of his body, the tension in the air. It lasted for what felt like an eternity, but it was only about two minutes before he finally pulled away.

I stood there, unable to move, my mind in a fog. I was too stunned to speak. The world around me seemed to blur, and my pulse pounded in my ears. What had just happened? Had Lucas really just kissed me?

He didn’t say anything as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. The warmth of his embrace was almost too much to handle. I could feel his heart beating against my chest, steady and strong, and I knew at that moment that something was shifting. Something dangerous.

But I quickly snapped out of the daze. No. This was not part of the plan.

I pulled away from him, my breath shallow and my chest tight.

“What are you doing, Alpha Lucas?” I asked, my voice firmer this time, more demanding than before.

He looked taken aback by my sudden distance. His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth as though to say something, but he faltered. “I… I’m sorry,” he muttered, his gaze dropping to the floor in embarrassment. “I shouldn’t have done that. I… I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

I stared at him for a long moment, my thoughts racing. I could see the genuine regret in his eyes

“You need to keep yourself in check, Lucas,” I said, my voice much softer now. “I know I resemble your late wife, and seeing me might stir up some old feelings, but you need to understand that this is not right.”

He nodded quickly, almost too quickly. He seemed to agree with my words, but his eyes were clouded with something deeper—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. “You’re right,” he said, his voice low. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have crossed that line. I—”

I held up my hand, cutting him off. “It’s fine,” I said, though it wasn’t fine. I needed him to feel the guilt, the shame, the internal conflict. That was what would make him vulnerable. “But just… stay away from me, Lucas. It’s not fair to either of us to let this go any further.”

He nodded again, clearly disappointed but trying to hide it. “I’ll leave you alone, Denise, I’m sorry.”

He turned to leave, but just before he stepped out of the room, I called out to him.

“Lucas,” I said, my voice soft but steady. “Please, sit down for a moment.”

He hesitated, then turned back to face me. He seemed to struggle with himself, but eventually, he walked over and took a seat at the edge of the bed. His posture was tense, as if he were still processing what had just happened. I sat across from him, keeping some distance between us. I didn’t want him too close. Not yet.

“I know this must be difficult for you,” I began, my voice calm, almost soothing. “I understand that I remind you of your wife. I look like her, I speak like her, maybe even act like her in some ways. But you have to understand that I’m not her. And what we just did… it wasn’t right. We can’t let ourselves get caught up in something that’s just a reminder of the past.”

He looked at me, his brow furrowed, and for a brief moment, I saw the man he once was—the man who had lost someone important to him. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he said, his voice rough. “I never meant to cross any lines.”

I leaned forward slightly, my expression softening. “I know you didn’t. But you need to keep your emotions in check. It’s the only way we can move forward.”

He nodded, slowly standing up from the bed. “I’ll leave you alone, Denise. Again, I’m sorry for what happened.”

As the door clicked shut behind him, I couldn’t help the sinister grin that spread across my face. It was brief, fleeting, but it felt so satisfying. I was succeeding.

I was luring him in, getting him to trust me, to care for me, and the more he let his guard down, the easier it would be to tear everything apart.

Lucas had a lot to lose, and he didn’t even know it yet. But I was patient. I had waited this long, and I would wait a little longer. The moment he fell in love with me, the moment he let himself believe that I was different from his late wife, was the moment he would lose everything.

I smiled to myself, the plan unfolding perfectly. He didn’t know it, but his downfall was already in motion. And there was no turning back now.