Chapter ElevenLyla's POV:“What?!” Justin’s voice rose, loud enough to make me flinch. “Lucian Knight? Are you kidding me?”“I wish I was,” I said bitterly. “I didn’t know until I stood in front of him. It’s him, Justin. The man I hate most in this world.”“Did he recognize you?” He asked impatiently, and I could almost hear his heartbeat through the line.I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see me. “No. My face has changed, remember? He didn’t recognize me, but—”“But nothing!” Justin cut in. “Lyla, don’t even think about working for him. It’s only a matter of time before he figures it out. Your voice, your personality—they haven’t changed. He’ll know it’s you.”I sighed. “Justin, I don’t have a choice! I’ve spent too long on this. I’ve lost too much to give up now.”“Lyla,” He called out, softer this time, like he was trying to reason with me. “You’ve already been through hell because of him. Why are you putting yourself in his path again? This is suicide.”“I know what I’m do
Chapter 12 Lyla's POV:Justin continued. "She’s too close to the situation. I don’t care how much she’s prepared or what she thinks she knows. If she slips up, it’s game over for both of us."My breath caught. He was talking about me."I don’t trust her judgment right now." Justin added. "She’s driven by the urge to prove herself worthy, and that makes her unpredictable. Recklessness isn’t a strategy."Reckless? Was that how he saw me? After everything I have been through, after everything I’d endured to get to this point?I wanted to push the door open and confront tell at him. But instead, I leaned closer, desperate to hear the response on the other end of the line.“Look,” Justin said after a brief pause, “I’ll keep an eye on her. But if it comes to it, I won’t hesitate to pull the plug on this.”My blood ran cold. Was he planning to sabotage me? And for what? To protect me or to save himself?I stepped back from the door, my pulse racing. I couldn’t listen anymore. I turned and m
Chapter 13Lyla's POV:My stomach twisted. Of course, he wouldn’t wait long to put me to work.I handled Diego quite well.“Of course,” I replied, forcing confidence into my tone.“Good,” He said, his voice carrying that commanding edge that made my skin crawl. “Be at my office in an hour. Don’t be late.”The call ended abruptly, leaving me staring at my phone.“What was that about?” Justin asked warily.I looked up, meeting his concerned gaze. “It was Lucian. He wants me at his office in an hour.”Justin frowned. “Lyla—”“I can handle it,” I interrupted, standing up from the table. “I’ve come too far to back out now.”I didn’t give him a chance to argue as I turned and headed upstairs to prepare.Inside, though, doubt crept in. Lucian’s voice had sounded far too calm. Was this just about work? Or has he started piecing together who I really was?I pushed the thought aside. This is my only chance to bring them all down, and I wasn’t about to let it slip through my fingers.I ran into
Chapter 14 Lyla's POV:Shit. I cursed inwardly, scolding myself for my carelessness. How could I forget? River Anderson wasn’t supposed to know anything about Lucian’s building.“Oh, I just guessed,” I said, forcing a casual laugh. “And since you just indirectly confirmed that my guess was right, I’ll keep heading this way. The boss’s office is usually at the far end, right?”Before he could respond, I turned and walked away, not giving him the satisfaction of a clap back. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my pace steady.The fifteenth floor was eerily quiet, just as I remembered. The left wing was nothing but a long hallway with a single door at the end—Lucian’s office. The right wing housed a few other offices, including Kael’s and some of Lucian’s most trusted men.When I reached the door, I didn’t stop to think. Muscle memory took over, and before I realized what I was doing, I pushed the door open without knocking.The sight before me froze me in place.Lucian sat behind
Chapter 15 Lucian's POV:I leaned back in my chair, staring at the faint reflection of her back in the glass wall of my office. My mind wasn’t on the legal documents scattered across my desk, nor on the dozens of phone calls I’d ignored this morning. It was on her. River Anderson—or whatever her real name was.Her reaction earlier kept replaying in my head. The way her face paled and her lips parted slightly when she saw Marielle. Shock, confusion, and something I couldn’t quite place—it was all there, written all over her face.I expected boldness when she stormed into my office, but I didn’t expect her composure to falter like that. The thought made me smirk. Married to Marielle? Even in the depths of my ruthlessness, I couldn’t have orchestrated that nightmare for myself. Yet River believed it. She intrigued me, and that was dangerous.I turned in my chair, letting my gaze wander towards her. She carried herself with confidence, but her eyes darted around the room, taking in eve
Chapter 16Lyla's POV:The heels of my shoes clicked against the polished marble floors as I hurried toward the elevator, my mind drifting elsewhere.Working for Lucian meant two things: First, Marielle and I were bound to cross paths more times than I cared to imagine. Second, there was a very real chance I could end up dead—whether at his hands or those of his enemies.For now, all I could do was tread carefully and hope it would be enough.The elevator came into view, and I quickened my pace. Suddenly, I felt the jarring impact of another body against mine. “Damn it!” I hissed, my hand instinctively flying to my shoulder. Pain radiated where we'd collided, but more than that, my anger boiled over. “Watch where you’re—”I whipped my head up, my words ready to scorch whoever had the audacity to block my path. But the moment my gaze locked onto his, I froze. My breath caught in my throat, and I stumbled backward, trying to regain composure. The man didn’t move, didn’t utter a word.
Chapter 17Lyla's POV:Mona?Why on earth is she calling me now?Mona was a stripper I’d crossed paths with at four different nightclubs during my relentless search for the Ruthless Knight. Back then, I’d given her my number, hoping she might come across information about him. But she never called—not once.Even when I tried reaching out, my calls went unanswered. Frustrated, I retraced my steps, visiting every nightclub where she performed, only to be told the same thing: She was “unreachable.”And now, after all this time, here she is, calling me?Clearing my throat, I answered the call, my voice steady despite my confusion. “Hello?” I said, stepping outside the building into the crisp evening air.“River? Is that you?” Her voice was soft but had an edge of fear, making me grip my phone a little tighter.“Yes, it’s me,” I replied cautiously.“I’m sorry for being out of touch,” She began. “But I really need your help. Can we meet up?”Her words threw me off. Why now, after disappeari
Chapter 18Lucian's POV:“Listen,” I began softly, locking eyes with her. “I wanted to find him because I needed his help. There are powerful people who’ve hurt me, and I thought he could help me take them down.” I continued. “If you’ve been hurt by someone powerful, I’ll help you too. But I need to know what I’m getting myself into first. You need to tell me what’s really going on.”For a moment, she didn’t respond. Then, as if a dam had broken, Mona burst into tears. She clutched at my hand tightly, her body shaking as she wailed loud enough to draw a few curious glances from nearby tables.I leaned in closer, squeezing her hands reassuringly. “Mona,” I said softly but firmly, “Why do you need to find the Ruthless Knight?”Her voice was shaky, each word coming out between sobs. “To turn him in myself,” She stammered. “Since the police… the police are useless.”I froze.Turn him in?My mind raced, trying to make sense of her statement. Why would she want to turn Lucian in?I kept my
Chapter 43Lyla's POV:James stepped out of the car, making his way to Lucian’s side. He opened Lucian’s door with a bow. Lucian stepped out, adjusting his cuffs as though he owned the very ground he walked on—which, knowing him, he probably did.Curious, I got out of the car as well, watching as James popped open the trunk and unloaded our suitcases. He began dragging them across the tarmac toward the private jet.I hurried to catch up, falling in step beside Lucian. “Wait a minute. Are we using your private jet?”He barely glanced at me. “Why would I use a public one?”I rolled my eyes. “Do you have to answer every question with another question?”Stopping mid-step, he turned to face me, his smirk growing wider. “You know, for an assistant, you ask far too many questions.”Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked confidently toward the jet, his coat billowing slightly in the breeze.As we reached the bottom of the stairs leading up to the aircraft, he paused and looked o
Chapter 42 Lyla's POV:I raised an eyebrow. “What rumor?”The second maid hesitated before answering. “People say that Marielle’s child… doesn’t belong to the Lycan King.”For a moment, I was too stunned to respond. Then, I smiled tightly, shaking my head. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned while living under this roof, it’s that gossip is akin to murder.” I began, stepping closer. “So if you value your jobs—and your lives—you’ll keep your mouths shut.”I turned to leave but paused, glancing back at them. “Just a reminder: I’m not Mr. Knight’s maid. I’m his personal assistant. So anything you say against him—or anyone close to him—will be considered treason.”Without another word, I walked away, leaving them standing stunned.As I descended the stairs, my mind raced. Didn’t Lucian cheat on me with Marielle because he loved her?If that was true, then why was he treating her so harshly now?My mind drifted back to the day I caught them in a compromising position at the office. They we
Chapter 41Lyla's POV:I rushed out of the room, panting heavily, my breaths coming out in gasps. My hands were clammy, and my whole body was drenched in sweat. The walls around me felt like they were closing in, suffocating me with every step I took. I barely made it down the hallway when my body slammed into someone. The collision jolted me, snapping me out of my thoughts. Without looking up, I muttered. “I am so sorry.” And attempted to sidestep them, eager to get away.But a firm hand gripped my arm, halting me.I turned around, and my gaze met Marielle’s eyes. My stomach twisted, and I forced a polite smile. “Please forgive me, ma’am. I had no idea it was you.” I said, bowing my head slightly to mask my discomfort.She didn’t let go.“Is something wrong?” I asked, my voice tight. I wasn’t in the mood for her nonsense.Marielle’s eyes darted toward Lucian’s door, then back to me. Her lips curled into a sneer. “Where are you coming from, River?” She asked, her tone dripping with s
Chapter 40Lyla's POV:I was fast asleep when the sound of my phone ringing, jolted me awake. Groaning, I yanked off my sleeping mask and fumbled around on the bedside table. My hand eventually found the vibrating phone, and without bothering to look at the screen, I swiped to answer.“Hello?” I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.A deep, commanding voice replied, waking me up from my drowsiness. “Pack up. We’re both going to Mexico.”“What?” I shrieked, sitting upright so quickly that my pillow toppled off the bed. My back hit the headboard with a thud. “I don’t understand. Mexico?”“You have a passport, right?” He asked nonchalantly.“Yes,” I said groggily, nodding as though he could see me.“Good. Pack your bag and be at my place in less than an hour. We’re leaving together.”Before I could ask any questions, the line went dead.I stared at the phone in disbelief, his words replaying in my head. “Mexico? What the hell?” I muttered, throwing the covers off. I jumped out of bed and
Chapter 39Lucian's POV:After marrying Lyla, I couldn’t bring myself to love or accept her—not when the only reason I wanted her in the first place was to secure an heir.But Lyla was… different. She never begged for my love, attention, or time. She didn’t demand the things a wife should rightfully expect from her husband.She was obedient and dutiful.She loved cooking, even though I rarely ate her food. She loved reading, so I instructed Kael to fill the library with books. Not because I cared, but because I pitied her. She always looked so lonely and sad.One evening, curiosity got the better of me, and I finally asked her why she never seemed to expect anything from me.“This is a much better prison.” She said quietly, with a wide smile.Her words struck me, and I couldn’t let them go. I dug into her past, and what I uncovered only deepened my pity for her. Her father’s house was not a prison—but actual hell.After that, I started eating the meals she prepared, though we rarely s
Chapter 38Lyla's POV:Lucian stepped closer, his gaze fixed on Mona. "I was wrong," Lucian began. "It wasn’t Alpha Donovan who helped Diego escape. It was Matteo."“Matteo?” I repeated, trying to make sense of it. “Why would Matteo help him?”Lucian leaned against a nearby barrel, his gaze fixed on the woman tied to the chair. “Because Diego had leverage. He threatened to expose all the dirt he had on Matteo—enough to ruin him—on every social media platform. Matteo didn’t have a choice. If Diego didn’t return, one of his allies would step in and finish the job.”I frowned, folding my arms. “So Matteo helped him escape, but then Diego never returned?”Lucian nodded. “Exactly. When Diego disappeared, Matteo panicked. That’s when he found a way to contact Mona here.” He motioned toward the trembling woman, her tear-streaked face buried in her hands. “But she refused to help him.”“That doesn’t make any sense.”Lucian straightened. “So he killed Diego.”A gasp escaped my lips. “What? Why
Chapter 37Lyla's POV:“Are you insane?” The words flew out of my mouth before I could catch them.I slapped my hands over my lips, horrified at my own audacity. “I mean…is something wrong?”Lucian’s smirk deepened. “We have somewhere to go. Go get dressed.”Just like that? No explanation?“Where exactly?” I asked before I could stop myself again. I cursed my inability to hold my tongue.His smirk vanished, replaced by an expression that could freeze lava. “I’m starting to feel like I’ve given you too much audacity. You dare to question me?”“I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to ask where I’m being dragged to.” I said, my voice quieter but not without a trace of sarcasm.“Well, now you know.” He folded his arms. “Go get dressed.”Before I could come up with another ill-advised response, Justin’s voice called out from the sitting room. “Lyla? Who’s at the door?”I froze in place, my heart dropping to my stomach.Justin just called me by my real name.Lucian’s gaze snapped to me, as he til
Chapter 36Lyla's POV:Lucian Knight was never normal, not in the way most people imagine normalcy. And how could he be? He also had the kind of childhood I did—the one filled with struggle. He was born the son of a powerful Lycan King, destined to rule, his birthright was practically engraved in the moon. However, a bloody coup wiped out his entire family, leaving him with nothing but a crown that had been stolen before it could rest on his head. He was forced to flee, but he didn’t crumble under the weight of his tragedy. No, he rebuilt himself from the ground up.He spent years in the shadows, carving out an empire piece by piece. Wealth, power, influence—he had it all, and the world came to know his name but not his identity. The "Ruthless Knight" They called him, a name whispered with fear and respect alike.I’d heard the stories long before I ever met him. Tales of a man who could bring kingdoms to their knees, who ruled the underworld with an iron fist.While simultaneously
Chapter 35Lyla's POV:"Actually." I began, trying to steady my voice. "A few days ago, I overheard a group of people discussing your plans to seal the deal with Le Bronx. They mentioned that you'd be heading to Mexico soon. At first, I wasn’t paying much attention, but then I recognized one of the voices. It sounded familiar, and that made me stop to eavesdrop. I thought that the conversation was something that should only happen on the 15th floor, because amidst the voices, I heard an unfamiliar female speaking."Kael leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "So, that’s it? You overheard some whispers, and now you think someone on the 15th floor is working for Matteo?" His tone was laced with disbelief, as though he were holding back a mocking laugh.I clenched my fists but kept my composure. "No, Kael, that's not all. I also overheard them talking about stealing a safe and how they were nervous about Michael catching them. Apparently, Mich