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 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
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 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 67Lyla's POV:My hands remained against his chest, my fingers twitching slightly as his face drew closer. He was about to kiss me—The door suddenly swung open.“Lucian—”I jolted at the sound of Marielle’s voice, my body reacting before my mind could catch up. I shoved Lucian away, hard enough that he staggered back a step, his grip on me breaking instantly.Marielle’s eyes flickered between us, her brows furrowing slightly as she took in the scene before her.For a moment, no one spoke.Then, as if shaking herself out of her thoughts, she straightened her shoulders and walked toward Lucian.I clenched my jaw, turning away, my hands fisting at my sides.I moved toward the bed, grabbing his black trench coat and carefully draped it over my arm. Then, I picked up his bow tie, smoothing the fabric between my fingers as I listened to the conversation behind me.“Why aren’t you dressed yet?” Marielle asked, stepping closer to him.Lucian let out a slow exhale. “I was getting re
Chapter 66Lyla's POV:I still couldn’t wrap my head around the staircase incident. No matter how many times I replayed it in my head, the answer remained the same—I didn't fall by accident. Someone had pushed me.But what made it worse were the threatening messages that started appearing shortly after.At first, they were vague. Simple warnings like: Stay away. You don’t belong here.I had brushed them off, thinking they were nothing more than the empty threats of someone who didn’t want me here. But as the days passed, the messages became more sinister and direct: You should’ve died on those stairs. Next time, you will.And then, I realized that it was Marielle.She was behind everything. The notes. The threats. The staircase incident.It made sense. She had the motive, the jealousy, the desperation. She was pregnant with Lucian’s child, and suddenly, he had brought another woman into his home. A woman who was constantly by his side, working closely with him, gaining his trust.To
Chapter 65Lyla's POV:Over the next few days, reality set in. I couldn’t leave. I had to keep working as Lucian’s personal assistant, and there were two reasons for that.First, Lucian wasn’t willing to let me out of his sight.Second, I needed to get my hands on those documents.At first, revenge was my main goal, but now… it was about keeping Justin safe. If I failed, he would pay the price. I couldn’t let that happen.Taking a deep breath, I slid Lucian’s black coffee across the glass table in his office. He barely looked up as he reached for it. I bowed my head and turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.“Lyla.”I froze, then turned slowly. “Yes, sir?”His sharp eyes lifted from the documents in front of him. “What’s wrong with you?”I swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”“You’ve been… off these past few days,” he said, his gaze analyzing me as if I were a puzzle missing a few pieces. “Looking down. Distracted.”I forced a smile, though my stomach churned. “I’m fine. Just been
Chapter 64Lyla's POV:As soon as Lucian pulled out of the hospital’s driveway, I turned to him, arms crossed."Don’t get the wrong idea," I began, my voice firm. "I’m only doing this to protect my brother."He scoffed, not even sparing me a glance. "You’re the one overthinking, not me."I rolled my eyes and turned toward the window, watching the scenery blur past. A moment of silence passed before I spoke again."Do you really think Matteo is behind what happened?"Lucian’s fingers drummed lightly against the steering wheel. "Do you have someone else in mind?"I hesitated, my thoughts racing. "No, it’s just..." I trailed off, finishing the sentence in my mind. It felt familiar."It’s just what?" he pressed, glancing at me briefly.I turned to him, deciding to change the topic. "Do you think Marielle will be happy to see me?"Lucian let out a dry chuckle. "Of course not. You’re a threat to what she wants.""And what does she want?" I asked, though I already had a good idea. "You?""Th
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