CHAPTER 22

*First Person's Perspective*

~Enise~

When I got back to the mansion, I acted quickly. I looked around to make sure no one saw me. With steady hands, I slipped the letter into the mailbox, ensuring that it was fast and slick. My heart pounded with anticipation, a mix of nerves and satisfaction coursing through me. The plan was moving forward, and that meant I was one step closer to my goal.

I turned to head back into the house, carefully maintaining a calmvexpression to avoid suspicion. It would be nasty, should any one fine out that I had put something in the mail box. As I stepped inside, my gaze immediately landed on Lucas. He was sitting on the couch, surrounded by a group of unfamiliar faces. They seemed deep in conversation, but the moment I walked in, everyone turned their eyes to me

The intense stares were uncomfortable, but I kept my face neutral. It wasn’t unusual for Lucas to host people I didn’t know, but something about this group felt different. My instincts prickled, warning me to tread carefully.

Among them was a woman who stood out immediately. Her sharp, penetrating gaze was fixed on me, and I felt an unsettling sense of familiarity. She didn’t look away, and the intensity of her stare made my skin crawl.

I decided it was best to avoid interaction and turned to walk away. But just as I took my first step, her voice stopped me.

“Dr. Denise, right?”

Her words froze me in place. My body went rigid as I turned back toward her. Honestly, I didn't know why I was surprised. It was only natural that they knew who I was since I worked for an Alpha

“You know me,” I said. It wasn’t a question but a statement, my tone wary.

She nodded, a small, knowing smile gracing her lips. “Yes, I do.”

The confidence in her response unnerved me. I studied her face, searching my memory for any recognition, but I came up blank.

“I’m Diana,” she continued smoothly, stepping closer. “An old friend of Lucas.”

Her introduction didn't sound sincere, almost like she was being sarcastic, but I just thought that I was the one imagining things. She stretched out her arm for a hand shake

I shook her hand, forcing a polite smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”

She held my gaze, her expression unreadable. “The pleasure is mine.”

I wanted to leave, to get as far away from her as possible, I didn't like the familiarity I felt and the fact that I couldn't place my finger on where exactly I had seen or met with her, was something I needed to be wary about. I turned around to leave but she wasn’t done with me yet.

“Wait,” she said, her tone firm but polite. “We need to talk.”

“About what?” I asked cautiously.

“About Miracle,” she replied, her voice softening. “She’s my goddaughter, and I’d like to know how she’s doing. In detail.”

Her words hit me like a slap. Miracle? goddaughter?

“Of course,” I said finally, nodding. “Let’s take a walk.”

We made our way to the garden in silence, the crisp air doing little to calm my nerves. My thoughts raced, trying to piece together who this woman was and why she seemed so familiar.

“You look tense,” Diana remarked, glancing at me.

“I’m fine,” I replied curtly, though my voice betrayed my unease.

She smiled faintly but didn’t push. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

My breath caught in my throat as I recognized it instantly.

“It was you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Diana nodded, her expression calm. “Yes. I’m the one who’s been leaving those notes for you.”

For a moment, all I could do was stare at her. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions—shock, confusion, suspicion. She was the presence I felt in my bedroom?

“Why?” I finally managed to ask, my voice shaking slightly.

“Because we have a common enemy,” she said simply. “Alpha Lucas.”

What the hell did that mean? I raised a brow, clearly not understanding what she was on about. She seemed to have seen the question in my eyes. "What? You're going to play dumb? Don't forget that I know everything. The secret meetings with Lucian, your plans to destroy everything Lucas owns...I know everything" she said. I shouldn't be shocked right? I mean, she made it clear in her notes, but I just couldn't help myself

"I don't know what you're talking about" I maintained my stance and she chuckled. "I know who you are....Enise" my heart flew to my mouth as she mentioned my name. My eyes grew wide in shock. I had no idea how I was supposed to react

"That's right, Enise. I know you're back for revenge. I know everything Lucas did to you in the past. You don't have to hide anything from me" she continued. I wanted to keep arguing about it, to maintain my stance and claim that I knew nothing of such. But she seemed so sure of herself. She was confident and certain and I'm pretty sure she had proof

“If you’re his friend, why would you—”

“Friendship,” she interrupted, her voice laced with disdain, “doesn’t blind me to the truth. Lucas is dangerous, Enise. He’s hurt a lot of people, and he needs to pay dearly for it"

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “What do you want from me?”

Diana shook her head. “I don’t want anything from you. I just want you to know who you’re dealing with. Lucas might seem vulnerable right now, but he's a snake. Trust me, he doesn't love you as Denise nor did he ever love you as Enise. He's just trying to use you. That's what he does"

Her words struck a nerve, but I refused to let her see how deeply they affected me.

“Why should I trust you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“You don’t have to,” she replied calmly. “But eventually, you will.”

Before I could respond, she turned on her heel and began to walk away.

“Wait!” I called after her, desperation creeping into my voice.

She paused but didn’t turn around.

“How do you know so much about me?” I demanded. “And why are you 'helping' me?” I made sure to stretch the word, helping

She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t decipher.

“Let’s just say... I know what it’s like to be betrayed by Lucas,” she said cryptically. “And I know you’ll figure out the rest soon enough.”

With that, she walked away, leaving me standing in the garden, my thoughts swirling like a storm.

As I watched her disappear, one question echoed in my mind:

Just how many people has Lucas wronged?