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 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 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 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 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 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 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