Chapter 27Lyla's POV:Friday meant a change of routine. I wouldn’t be working at the law firm today but at Lucian’s home instead.I woke up early, went through the process of a quick shower, and ate breakfast before heading to the hospital. Justin, stubborn as ever, had decided he’d be discharged tomorrow. It wasn’t the doctor’s plan, of course, but he was fed up with the smell of walls and endless tests.After ensuring he’d eaten breakfast and didn’t need anything else, I hailed a cab to Lucian’s estate.Lucian’s castle was built in the heart of his large estate, a private estate where Councilmen, Pack Elders, and Officials resided. As the cab pulled up to the towering black gates, I paid the driver quickly and stepped out, my gaze shifting to the familiar building before me.The sight of it stole my breath for a moment, but not for the reasons it once did. The bittersweet memories tugged at me, forcing a bitter laugh to escape my lips.Once, I had been the lady of this house. High
Chapter 28Lyla's POV:“Are you kidding me?” I asked, genuinely baffled. “Why on earth would I move in with you?”Lucian didn’t even flinch. “Because you’re my personal assistant and maid. It only makes sense that you’re by my side 24/7. It would make running errands easier for you and waiting less for me.”I stared at him, half-expecting him to crack a smile and reveal it was all a joke. “Wow, you’re actually serious about this.” A loud laugh escaped my lips.“Did you think I was joking?” He asked, his tone as calm and cold as ever.I crossed my arms. “And what if I say no? Will you threaten to feed me to your dogs again?”A small smirk tugged at his lips. “Wolves, sweetheart. I only feed my dear ones to my dogs.”How am I just now realizing that Lucian Knight is a certified psychopath?Before I could think of another clap back, he glanced at his wristwatch. “It’s 11:57. Make sure I don’t reach the garden before you.” He said, turning toward the door.My stomach dropped. “Oh, shit.”
Chapter 29Lyla's POV:Stumbling back, my foot landed on a branch, and the loud snap echoed through the quiet garden. I froze, my heart pounding as I looked up—and locked eyes with Marielle.Her expression shifted immediately, her eyes widening. Slowly, she brought her phone down from her ear, gripping it tightly as she stepped toward me.Instinctively, I turned to leave, but her sharp voice stopped me in my tracks.“Hey, you!” She called, her tone edged with suspicion.I paused, taking a deep breath before forcing a polite smile onto my face. Turning around, I asked, “Is something wrong, ma’am?”She closed the distance between us, stopping a mere three feet away. Her eyes scanned me like a hawk. “Aren’t you that weird girl from Lucian's firm?”I nodded, keeping my smile wide and innocent.“Why are you here?”“Huh?”“Are you deaf?” She snapped, her voice rising. “I asked why you’re here and not at the firm.”“Oh,” I said. “I’m Mr. Knight’s personal assistant. I go wherever he needs me
Chapter 30Lyla's POV: “He also has a severe allergy to glitter.” Rosa continued.“Glitter? Like… the sparkly stuff?”“Precisely. Contact with glitter causes him to break out in hives—so no glittery clothing, accessories, or art supplies in his vicinity.”I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “Got it. No glitter.”Rosa adjusted her glasses. “Third, Mr. Knight dislikes hearing footsteps in his house. It’s best if you move silently at all times. He prefers if his staff ‘glide’ rather than walk, though how one achieves this remains unclear.”I frowned. “Do I need special shoes or…?”“No.” She shook her head. “Just figure it out. Finally, Mr. Knight insists that all his meals be served at precisely 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Not a degree hotter or colder. If the food doesn’t meet his standards, he’s been known to fling it out the nearest window.”I stared at her, horrified. “That seems… dramatic.”She sighed. “You’ll get used to it.”I leaned back in my chair, still processing. “So, to recap:
Chapter 31Lucian's POV:Gunshots echoed through the secluded shooting range as I squeezed the trigger, sending another bullet tearing through the air. It struck the target dead center. Kael stood beside me, as he lined up his next shot. His jaw tightened before he pulled the trigger. His bullet hit just shy of the bullseye, and he muttered something under his breath before resetting his stance.A young attendant stepped forward from my left, with a bowl in his hand. K reached in, and took a few bullets without looking at him. Kael did the same on his side, then proceeded to load the gun. He aimed it at the target but instead of pulling the trigger he began. "Do you really think it's a great idea for Marielle to move in with you?"I paused for a second, then I slid a fresh bullet into the chamber, and glanced at him from the corner of my eye."I find her suspicious.” I replied curtly, lifting the gun and taking aim again. "It would be easier to keep an eye on her if she is close."
Chapter 32Lucian's POV:I sat at the center of my underground lair in the nightclub, leaning back in my chair with my boots kicked up on the table. The light of a single bulb above cast a dim glow over the cages. Most of them were stuffed with dollar notes, stacked high like trophies. But the one nearest to me, oh, that one held a real beast—a Hyena. It paced restlessly, its eyes fixed on me as though it knew the horrors I could unleash.I took a long drag from my cigarette, letting the smoke curl lazily from my lips, before crushing the butt against the table. The heavy steel door creaked open, and in walked Kael and Michael, shoving three men ahead of them. Their hands were tied, their faces pale with fear. The bastards looked like they’d already seen their graves.I tilted my head, grinning wide. "How are you doing?" My voice was casual, friendly even. I tapped my fingers against the table, watching their knees tremble.They didn’t answer, too busy swallowing their fear.I lea
Chapter 33Lucian's POV:He hesitated, clearly surprised, but didn’t push the issue. I turned toward the door. “Get someone to clean this place up.” I ordered. Without waiting for a response, I carried her out.The hallway was lined with guards stationed at every corner. As I walked past, every single one of them turned to stare. Their eyes widened, and shock was evident on their faces. They’d seen me do unspeakable things in this Nightclub—things that would haunt lesser men—but carrying a woman in my arms? That was something they never expected.I didn’t acknowledge them. Let them stare. Their opinions didn’t matter.River stirred slightly, her head nestling closer against my chest. I clenched my jaw, irritated by the unfamiliar sensation of... concern? No. It wasn’t that. It couldn’t be.When I reached my office, I nudged the door open with my foot. I laid her gently on the leather couch. For a moment, I straightened up, ready to walk away and leave her there to sort herself out. Bu
Chapter 34Lyla's POV:The lights outside the car were blinding, so I couldn’t make sense of where I was. My hands trembled as I reached for the door handle beside me, but it wouldn’t budge. My heart slammed against my ribs, each beat louder than the last.Then I saw her.Through the windshield, a trailer speeding towards me. The headlights cut through the darkness like daggers, exposing the driver. Marielle. Her smile was wide, her hands gripping the wheel tightly. She was coming for me.“Let me out!” I shouted, yanking at the door. But the handle was useless, refusing to open. I clawed at the seat belt, my fingers slipping as the strap tightened around my chest, pinning me to the seat like a prisoner. My breathing hitched, as the trailer barreled closer.“Marielle!” I screamed, but my voice was swallowed by the roar of the approaching truck. My blood froze as her smile widened. She wasn’t going to stop.The impact came with a deafening crash. The car spun violently, flipping ov
Chapter 63Justin's POV:Three days had passed since Lyla’s accident, and I haven't been myself. No matter how much I tried to mask my fear and self-loathing, it was becoming harder each day, especially when I was around her at the hospital.She noticed. Of course, she did. “Why do you look so sad all the time?” She would ask. “Why do you seem so scared?”I always brushed it off, letting her believe it was because of the argument we had before the accident and her stupid decision to steal those files from Lucian’s safe.But that was a lie.The truth was, my fear came from two entirely different things. First, the terrifying thought that Lyla might face another attempt on her life. And second, the gut-wrenching reality that if she ever found out I was the one who told Marielle about her true identity, she would cut me out of her life without a second thought.And because of that, I kept my silence, but it gnawed at me constantly.Taking a deep breath, I folded the last shirt into her s
Chapter 62Justin's POV:Growing up, I was constantly bullied for being too feminine. It was tough, but over time, I learned how to change myself, or at least pretend to.Things only got worse when people found out I liked men. The taunts and harassment escalated, making life unbearable. But in those dark times, my escape was always Lyra. I loved being around her, playing together like we had no worries in the world.Whenever she saw me being bullied, she never hesitated to step in, even if it meant getting hurt in the process. She fought for me when no one else did.At some point, I fell for her. It didn’t make sense, not even to me, so I never said a word about it.Then she lost her parents. I begged mine to take her in, especially since my younger sister had been missing for two years by then. But they refused. They couldn’t bear the thought of replacing her.Instead, Lyra was sent to an orphanage, and after that, she disappeared. They told me she had found her real family—that the
Chapter 61Lucian's POV:Kael’s voice came through the phone, sharp and impatient. “Are you absolutely certain it was Matteo?”I sighed, rubbing my temple. “For the hundredth time, Kael, yes. It was him.”"We don't even know what the bastard fucking looks like anymore.” He snapped. "How can you be so sure?"I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my temper in check. "He sounded exactly like Matteo. And worse? I think he has his eyes on River."Kael fell silent for a moment before exhaling harshly. "And why is that the worst-case scenario? Listen, he saw a girl by your side and assumed she meant something to you. This isn’t the first time someone has targeted the people around you. So why are you so paranoid about her?"I swallowed, my grip on the phone tightening. "Because her life is in danger, Kael."He let out a scoff. "She knew what she was signing up for. Besides, weren’t you the one who pulled that whole ‘fiancée’ stunt in Mexico just to piss her off? Someone must have tipped Matteo o
Chapter 60Lucian's POV:The dimly lit warehouse reeked of blood and sweat. The sound of a leather whip slicing through the air followed by a cry of pain that echoed against the concrete walls.I leaned against the metal table, rolling my gun between my fingers, my jaw tightening as I watched the two men kneeling before me. Their faces were already battered, fresh cuts and swollen bruises marking their skin. But they still weren’t talking.Behind them, my men—two bulky men dressed in black holding whips. The whip cracked again, another scream filling the space."Start talking." I ordered. "Who the fuck sold off a box of R2 and three boxes of R3 to Galaxy XX without my approval?"One of the men, a rat-faced bastard named Gregor, spat blood onto the floor. "We didn’t do it, boss. I swear—”The second he denied it, I raised my gun and fired a single shot into the ground beside his knee. He flinched, but I noticed the way his hands clenched into fists.He was lying.I sighed, rubbing a ha
Chapter 59Lyla's POV:I rushed out of the house, the cold night air hitting my skin as I hailed a cab. A yellow taxi screeched to a stop in front of me, and I yanked the door open, sliding inside.“Red room.” I said, urgently.The driver gave me a quick glance through the rearview mirror before nodding and pulling into the street. My fingers tapped against my thigh as I stared out the window, my mind racing faster than the car.Then my phone rang.I frowned. The number was unknown.Hesitating for only a second, I picked up. “Hello?”Silence.Then a voice—began counting down."Five."My breath hitched."Four."A chill slithered down my spine."Three."I turned in my seat, scanning the street through the window. Nothing seemed out of place."Two."A strange, suffocating feeling coiled around my chest."One."Before I could react, the deafening blare of a horn shattered the night.My head whipped to the right.Blinding headlights.A monstrous trailer. Speeding straight for us.Everythin
Chapter 58Lyla's POV:I stumbled into the house, my body sore, my mind clouded with guilt and confusion.My blouse is missing buttons, my lips are swollen, and I can still feel the ghost of Lucian’s touch on my skin.Justin is waiting.He noticed everything instantly—how I avoided his gaze, the way my hands trembled as I tried to set my purse down.His jaw tightened."Where the hell were you?" His voice is controlled, but there’s an edge to it.I didn't answer. Because how do I explain that I spent the night with Lucian? That, for a moment, I let myself drown in a fantasy that should have died a long time ago?Justin stepped forward, his eyes scanning me, piecing together the evidence. "You were with him, weren’t you?"My silence is all the confirmation he needs. "Goddammit, Lyla!" He slams his fist against the counter, making me flinch. "After everything he did to you? After the hell he put you through?"I snapped out of her daze, anger rising in her chest. "You don’t get to judge m
Chapter 57Lucian's POV:Standing there, arms crossed, brows drawn together in anger. "Are you serious, Lucian?" Her voice was filled with disappointment.She stepped closer. "Drinking yourself into oblivion again? This isn’t how you deal with things."I just stared at her.Was this real? Or was the whiskey finally fucking with me?She sighed, kneeling beside me. "Come on, you need to get to bed." Her fingers brushed my wrist. "Lean on me."I flinched. My breath caught.She was real.Something inside me snapped.I grabbed her wrist and yanked her closer. She gasped, eyes widening as I crushed my lips against hers.For a second, she froze. But then—She kissed me back.Her hands clutched my shirt, fingers curling into the fabric. Instead of pushing me away, she pulled me closer, deepening the kiss.And I let her.Her lips against mine, ignited something in me that had been buried for far too long. I didn't stop to think. I didn't stop to question. All I knew was that she was here—Lyla
Chapter 56Lucian's POV:"I'll call you back.” I said, my gaze fixed on River. Without waiting for a response, I ended the call and slipped my phone into my pocket.My eyes trailed down to her phone, still on the floor from where she had dropped it. The way her hands trembled slightly as she stared back at me didn’t go unnoticed.I smirked. "Aren't you stepping out?"Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she quickly masked her reaction. Without a word, she crouched down, grabbed her phone, and hurried out of the elevator.Suppressing a chuckle, I stepped inside, and Kael followed, pressing the button for the lobby.Just as the doors were about to close, River hesitated, then turned back. "You have a meeting soon.""Cancel it." I said curtly.She gave a short nod, about to leave again when I stopped her."River."She paused, her shoulders stiffening."I left some files on my desk that I can't take with me right now. When you're done here, bring them to my place."She nodde
Chapter 55Lyla's POV:Justin was right—I was losing sight of the reason I became River in the first place.But it wasn’t because of love, it was pity.And the worst part? I hated that I felt pity for someone like Lucian. Yet, no matter how much I fought it, I couldn’t help myself.When I overheard the maids whispering about how he had turned to drinking after my death, I felt strange.When I saw firsthand how cruelly he treated Marielle, how he barely acknowledged her existence, I realized something—he didn’t love her. And for the first time, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, he missed me.Those thoughts were in my mind, growing until they turned into something I despised—pity.The sound of someone tapping against my desk yanked me out of my thoughts. I blinked and looked up to find Kael staring down at me.“Is there a problem, sir?” I asked, straightening in my seat.He tapped his wristwatch pointedly. “It’s 9:05 AM. You do realize that means it’s almost time for you to fetch Lucian’