CHAPTER 23

*First Person's Perspective*

Enise

I rushed back into the house and into my bedroom, immediately, I picked up my cell phone and dialed Lucian’s number as soon as I closed the door behind me. My hands were trembling slightly, the events from just now left me worried and unsettled

“Do you know who Diana is?” I asked the moment he answered. My voice came out sharper than I intended. No formalities, no greetings whatsoever

“Diana?” he repeated, confusion evident in his tone. “Who’s that? What happened? Did she do something to you?” he asked so many questions at a time but I shook my head as though he could see me

“No, none of that. But She says she’s an old friend of Lucas,” I explained. “But she knows things, Lucian—she knows about Miracle being my daughter. She knows why I'm back in the pack. She's the one who sent me that letter, the one who said we should play a game. She knows everything and I'm scared, I'm really scared Lucian. What if she exposes us? What if she tells Lucas everything? What are we going to do?, and…” I hesitated, swallowing hard. “She called me Enise she wasn't just blabbing. She knows a lot of things. If not everything.”

There was silence on the other end, followed by a low, thoughtful hum. “I’ve never heard of her,” he finally said. “And if she knows who you really are, that’s a problem”

“She said we have a common enemy,” I countered, pacing the room. “She claims she’s on our side.”

Lucian snorted. “That doesn’t mean anything. For all you know, she could be working for Lucas or trying to use you to settle her own vendetta.”

I sighed, pressing my fingers to my temple. He was right—I couldn’t trust Diana. Fuck? I couldn't trust anybody. But there was something about her that didn’t sit right with me, something that felt… familiar.

“I’ll be careful, but I'm still not settled. Things weren't supposed to go down like this, no body was supposed to know about this. What is happening? We haven't even gotten to the best part of our plan and too many people already know about it. We have to be extra careful and also act very fast” I said to him. “But I need to figure out what she’s after first l"

“Do that,” he replied curtly. “And keep me updated, please Enise, let me know every move you take. The places you would be. You know it's not safe as there's someone out there to get you” he cautioned and I nodded

"I know that Lucian and I am being extra careful. I won't let anything happen to me and surely, I'll keep you updated"

I ended the call and sank onto the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor. My mind raced with questions, none of which I had answers to. How many enemies did Lucas have? And why did Diana seem so fixated on me?

A knock at the door startled me. Before I could respond, Lucas stepped inside, his usual commanding presence filling the room.

“Denise,” he greeted, a faint smile on his lips.

“Lucas,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

He closed the door and walked over, sitting beside me on the bed. His proximity made my skin prickle with tension, but I forced myself to stay calm.

“What did Diana want from you?” he asked, his tone casual, but his eyes were sharp.

“She asked about Miracle,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “She said Miracle is her goddaughter and wanted to know how she’s doing.”

Lucas frowned, his expression darkening. “She’s not my friend,” he said firmly. “Whatever she told you was a lie. She’s just someone I met a few years ago. We have no connection.”

I nodded slowly, pretending to accept his explanation. But his response only raised more questions in my mind.

Before I could press him further, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch was gentle, almost tender, and it caught me off guard.

“Lucas,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “This isn’t right.”

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. His hand lingered, his fingers brushing against my cheek.

“Maybe not,” he admitted, his tone carrying a hint of something I couldn’t quite place. “But I can’t help it. You’ve been on my mind lately, Denise.”

I turned to him, startled. “What are you saying?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me closer. My heart pounded against my ribcage, and I felt frozen, unsure of how to react.

“I don’t know what this feeling is,” he murmured, his eyes searching mine. “But I can’t ignore it anymore.”

Before I could process his words, he leaned in, his lips brushing against mine. The kiss was soft, tentative, but it sent a jolt through me that made my breath catch.

I pulled away abruptly, my cheeks burning. “What about your late wife?” I asked, my voice trembling.

He shrugged, his expression unreadable. “You already know she’s gone.”

"Is this how you want to honour her?"

I tried to push myself out of his embrace, but my body betrayed me. His arms were warm and secure, and for a fleeting moment, I hated myself for not resisting harder.

The sound of the door creaking open shattered the moment.

“Daddy?” Miracle’s small voice cut through the tension like a knife.

We untangled from each other immediately, both of us scrambling to put some distance between us.

“Yes, sweetie?” Lucas said, forcing a smile as he turned to her.

Miracle tilted her head, her wide eyes darting between me and Lucas. “Why are you sitting so close?”

Lucas chuckled, though his laugh sounded forced. “We were just talking,” he said smoothly.

I nodded, praying she wouldn’t ask any more questions. “What’s that you’ve got there?” I asked, pointing to the paper in her hands.

“It’s a drawing!” she exclaimed, climbing onto the bed to show me.

As Miracle babbled about her artwork, Lucas stood and straightened his shirt. “I’ll leave you two,” he said, his tone returning to its usual composed calmness.

I watched him leave, my heart still racing. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a shaky breath.

Miracle nestled beside me, holding up her picture proudly. “Do you like it, Dr Denise?”

“It’s beautiful,” I replied, forcing a smile as I stroked her hair.

But inside, I was anything but calm. My thoughts were a tangled mess of confusion, guilt, and something I couldn’t name. Whatever Lucas’s intentions were, I needed to stay focused. I couldn’t afford to lose sight of my goal—not now, and not ever.