The hum of the engine roared to life as the SUV sped down the uneven road, the distant echo of the confrontation in the warehouse fading into the night. Ray sat in the backseat, his arms wrapped protectively around Lilly’s unconscious form. Her head rested against his chest, her breathing shallow and uneven.Viktor drove with steady determination, the sharp lines of his jaw clenched as he navigated the bumpy terrain. Lucas sat in the passenger seat, constantly glancing back, his usual quips absent in the face of the gravity of the situation.Ray kept his focus on Lilly, pressing the blood-soaked gauze tightly against her side. The bleeding had slowed, but the crimson stain on her shirt had grown, each second feeling like a countdown he couldn’t stop.“Lucas,” Ray said, his voice low but commanding. “How many to the hospital?”“Fifteen minutes,” Lucas replied, his tone clipped. “Maybe less if Viktor keeps pushing the gas like that.”“Push harder,” Ray growled, his eyes not leaving Lill
Ray slumped back into the hospital chair, exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders. His gaze lingered on Lilly, still pale and fragile against the pristine white sheets, but alive. The doctor’s warnings echoed in his mind—her body was at its limit, and the baby was clinging to life by a thread.He pulled out his phone and scrolled to Damon’s number. As the line connected, Ray’s voice was low but steady, masking the turmoil inside him.“Damon, I need you to handle something for me,” Ray said without preamble.“Morning to you too, Ray,” Damon replied dryly. “What’s wrong?” ‘Does this dude even check the time before calling’ Damon thought, it basically 2 minutes after 1 am.Jerry has already told him about Lilly kidnapped and he was the one who gave them the location of the best hospital around the area with the best medical equipment, and efficient doctors that can attend to Lilly fast and could be trusted.“It’s Lilly,” Ray said, his tone softening. “She’s stable, but… she’s not h
Ray paced the hospital hallway, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. His voice was low but sharp, the tension in his tone unmistakable.“Did the alpha team call to inform you the kidnappers and do you have any idea who sent them yet?” he asked, his words clipped and precise.Jerry’s reply came quickly. “No. They’re hired mercenaries, but there’s a link to underworld. I’ve already got people looking into it.”Ray’s jaw tightened. “Good. Have those bastards sent to New York. I want to interrogated them personally. I don’t care what it takes.”“I’ll make the arrangements,” Jerry assured him. “But, big bro, focus on SIL and the baby for now. We can handle the rest.”Ray nodded absently, though Jerry couldn’t see it. “Speaking of bastards, I know you Jerry, do not cause too damage on them that will make them lifeless before my arrival”“Seriously big bro, they are basically a new set of toys they hurt my family and you want me to let them be till your arrival, that’s unfair” Jerry whined.
Water doesn’t have taste Chloe hesitated for a moment, caught between relief and the usual unease Lilly’s sharp tongue brought out in her. “Y-yes, Boss! Right away,” she stammered, standing abruptly and smoothing her skirt. “I’ll, um, see what I can find.” As she turned to leave, the door opened, and Ray stepped in, his imposing figure filling the room. Chloe froze mid-step, her eyes widening as though caught in a spotlight. She has never felt this much fear in her life but he couldn’t be blamed, if she hadn’t listened to her boss and followed his order this won’t have happened. “Excuse me,” Ray said evenly, his deep voice calm but commanding. Looking at her annoys him, he can’t believe in entrusted his family life into her hand, she basically incompetent. Chloe immediately backed away, nearly tripping over her own feet. “S-sorry, Mr. Manchester— I mean, Ray— I mean, sir!” she blurted, her words coming out in a panicked rush. Ray arched a brow, his sharp gaze sweeping over her
Ray leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as his fingers interlocked. His knuckles whitened, betraying his frustration. “Gone?” he echoed sharply, his voice low but tense. “What does that even mean? You can’t just disappear from yourself, Lilly.”Her smile grew wider, a mixture of amusement and defiance. “Can’t I? People change, Cutie. Sometimes dramatically. Sometimes…” she paused, her eyes glinting with something unreadable, “…completely.” “That’s not change,” he snapped, his calm demeanor cracking. “That’s evasion. Deflection. You’re talking in circles, Lilly, and it’s only making me question you more.”“Good,” she quipped, crossing one leg over the other. “You should question things more often. Keeps life interesting.”Ray’s patience was wearing thin, but he forced himself to stay seated. His voice dropped, quieter but no less intense. “This isn’t a game. You can play coy all you want, but I see through you. The way you carry yourself now, the way you look at me—it’s li
“Who are you?” Lilly turned abruptly to Ray, sitting beside her in the private jet. Her voice was sharp, almost accusing.Ray blinked, startled. Since takeoff, she’d barely acknowledged his presence, staring out the window or resting her head back like he didn’t exist. Why the sudden question?“I didn’t say anything,” he replied carefully, his brow furrowing when her intense gaze didn’t waver.‘I’m in your mind, dummy.’What the hell? Lilly flinched. Did that voice just call me a dummy?‘Yes, I did. And you still haven’t answered my question.’ The voice was colder this time, almost impatient.‘Body thief,’ Lilly shot back in her mind, defiance surging. If she wanted to play games, fine—she wasn’t backing down.‘The fact that you’re calling me that means you already know who I am,’ the voice retorted smoothly. ‘I have no memory of you, but clearly, you remember me.’‘Duh! Of course, I do,’ Lilly fired, sarcasm dripping from her thoughts. ‘I’m the one in charge of this body now. But bef
“The Manchester family has them,” a tall man with curly hair muttered, his voice tense.The man seated in the center of the room barely moved, his presence radiating authority. Lounging back in his oversized leather chair like a king surveying his domain, he lifted his gaze to the curly-haired man, his expression sharp with disdain.“And what does my pet have to do with them?” His deep voice rumbled through the room like distant thunder. “Do they even know who they’re messing with?” he fired, each word cutting like a blade.Matt, the curly-haired man, flinched slightly but held his ground. The tension in the room was palpable, the air heavy with unspoken consequences.The boss’s jaw tightened, his gaze darkening as he processed the implications. The Manchester family. Their meddling was not part of the plan. They were powerful, yes—but so was he. “What are they trying to achieve by getting involved?” he muttered, almost to himself.Matt cleared his throat, knowing he had to answer car
Matt’s pulse quickened as he stared at the footage. The “pet,” the most prized creation of their master, was not supposed to care. Her emotions—or lack thereof—were engineered to perfection, ensuring blind loyalty and unwavering execution of orders. Yet there she was, her face flickering with a softness he had never seen before, an almost protective rage as she shielded one of their captured men.Grey turned the screen toward him, rewinding to the critical moment. “See that? Right there,” he said, pointing at the pixelated image. The pet, with her fluid movements and deadly precision, should have eliminated the threat without hesitation. Instead, she had hesitated, even turning her weapon on their own operatives to protect the man.“This is no malfunction,” Grey continued, his voice shaky. “Something inside her is… waking up.”Matt rubbed his temples, his mind racing. He needed to contain this before the boss found out. Any sign of imperfection in his creations was not tolerated, and
Evelyn felt the world tilt beneath her feet. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as her mind raced, struggling to process the words that had just left Lilly’s mouth.What does she mean by ‘I raised her’? Evelyn’s fingers trembled as she clutched at her dress, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. My Lilly died. I buried her. The memory flashed in her mind like a cruel ghost—the small, lifeless body, the burial, the grief that had consumed her. I buried her. My baby is dead.Her throat closed up, panic clawing at her chest. What the fuck is going on?Her eyes locked onto Lilly, searching for a lie, for some twisted explanation. She said she’s Lilly… not Liliana. How is that even possible? Evelyn’s mind spiraled further. Is she trying to claim her twin’s identity? Is this one of the side effects of what David DeLuka did to her?The room felt like it was closing in on her.“No…” she whispered, shaking her head, her hands curling into fists. “No, this isn’t possible.”But Lilly’s gaze d
Liliana’s voice wavered, but her anger burned steady. “What about the girl who grew up feeling unwanted?” she demanded, her hands trembling at her sides. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to be your daughter? To live a life where love was a distant dream?” Her breath hitched, her throat tightening. “Liliana’s life was miserable. Mine was too, growing up with you.”Evelyn flinched, her lips parting in a silent protest, but Liliana didn’t give her the chance to speak.“You said you were trying to protect me,” she continued, her voice thick with emotion, “but your protection felt more like a cage, Mother. Every single day, I felt trapped, suffocated by the life you built around me. I was always seeking, always pleading for freedom, even when I knew it was impossible.”Evelyn’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her expression contorted with guilt and confusion. “I—I only wanted to keep you safe…” she whispered.Liliana let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Safe?” she spat. “You ca
Liliana’s breath caught, and she took an involuntary step back. “So you didn’t see her—my twin—after that? You didn’t even try to stop him?”Evelyn shook her head frantically, tears spilling down her face. Her shoulders trembled as she clutched her arms, her entire body wracked with guilt. Perhaps she was too caught up in her emotions to notice that Lilly was referring to someone else, her words laced with an underlying recognition that she herself hadn’t fully grasped yet.“I tried, Liliana,” Evelyn choked out. “I begged him to tell me where she was. But he wouldn’t answer. He just kept saying it was necessary, that I wouldn’t understand. And then he disappeared.” She sucked in a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. “He left me alone. With no way to find him. No way to find her.”The air in the room felt suffocating. Lilly’s nails dug into her palms, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. She was shaking, fury and betrayal crashing over her in violent waves.“Yo
Lily felt like her Liliana entire existence was a sham. She had been living a lie, dead believing in a lie and the truth was only now beginning to unravel. The man who had tormented her, whom she thought was her father, was actually not her biological parent. It was a shocking revelation, and she couldn't wrap her head around it. How could this be? How could her whole life be a fabrication?As she grappled with these questions, Lily's emotions were in turmoil. She felt like she was vibrating with anger and frustration, and she couldn't seem to calm down. Her existence, her identity, everything she thought she knew about herself was a lie.And to make matters more complicated, she had just discovered that she had a twin sister, who was somehow seven years older than her. It didn't make sense - how could two people be twins, yet be born at different times? It was a mind-bending concept, and Lily was desperate for answers.She hoped that the explanation she was about to receive would be
Evelyn’s voice broke as she began, her trembling hands gripping the edges of the chair she sat on. She couldn’t meet Liliana’s eyes. Her gaze seemed fixed somewhere in the distance, as if reliving the memories she was about to unveil.“When I found out I was pregnant, I was overjoyed,” she began, her tone soft and uneven, every word weighted with emotion. “It felt like my whole world had fallen into place. I was carrying a piece of the love I shared with your father—your father, Liliana. He was my anchor, my safe haven.”Her lips quivered as a small, bittersweet smile appeared, only to disappear almost immediately. “I still remember the tears on his face when I told him. He held me so tightly, like he was trying to hold on to the moment forever. We had so many dreams, plans to build a home, a family. We talked about the little things—what color the nursery would be, what names we’d pick. Life felt… perfect.”Her voice cracked, and she brought a trembling hand to her face, swiping away
Evelyn walked slower when she saw her daughter’s figure from a distance, her voice carrying over, deeper with hurt. “You said you wanted to talk, right?” Liliana’s voice wavered, the tremble betraying the anger she tried to keep steady. She turned slightly, her hands clenched at her sides. “What do you want to talk about? Or are you here just to make sure I’m unhappy?” She laughed bitterly, her gaze falling to the ground for a moment before meeting Evelyn’s. “You know, Mother, if you really care as much as you claim, if you’re really here to make amends like you say, you wouldn’t have done what you did.” Evelyn stayed silent, her chest tightening as she watched Liliana brush at her cheeks roughly, trying to hold herself together. “Even if Ray had done something wrong,” Liliana continued, her voice sharp but trembling, “as a mother, you could have at least tried to hide it. Tried to make it seem like nothing was wrong. Do you know what I did, Mother?” She laughed again, this time s
Ray’s protective instincts flared, his jaw tightening as he turned to Evelyn. “You what?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. Evelyn raised a hand, her expression placating. “Relax, Ray. That’s all in the past now. I came here to make amends, not to dredge up old wounds.” Liliana scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. “Amends? Is that what you’re calling this little stunt?” Evelyn smiled serenely, ignoring her daughter’s hostility. “Yes, darling. I’m here to make things right. You’ll see.” She turned her gaze back to Ray. “And as for you, young man, you seem like a good match for my daughter. I’m pleased she found someone who can handle her fire. But why are you cheating on her though.” Ray didn’t respond, his mind racing with questions and suspicions. He could feel Liliana trembling beside him, her emotions barely contained. He placed a reassuring hand on her back, silently promising her that he wouldn’t let this woman cause her any more pain. And that he didn’t cheat
Finally, she swung the door open. There she was. Evelyn Altee stood on the doorstep, her radiant smile as poised as ever, her eyes sparkling with an unsettling calm. She looked utterly at ease, as though she had every right to be there, as though she hadn’t faked her own death or threatened Lilly just weeks ago. “Hello, darling,” Evelyn said sweetly, her voice as smooth as silk. Lilly stared at her, unable to form words. Her mother looked almost exactly as she remembered from the few weeks back, only that this time she looked better and emotional state seems balanced and the guilt and fear from weeks ago was gone. Evelyn’s smile widened, and she tilted her head slightly. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Lilly’s lips parted, but no sound came out. A wave of emotions crashed over her—shock, anger, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. “Why…?” she finally managed to choke out, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Why are you here? After everything? You—” She broke o
As they walked toward the dining room, Mitchell slowed her pace just enough to fall in step beside Ray, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. When she was sure Liliana wasn’t looking, she tilted her head slightly toward him and mouthed, “Have you told her? Or has she seen the news?”The weight of her question hit Ray like a ton of bricks. His smile faltered briefly before he quickly composed himself, shaking his head subtly in response. No.Mitchell’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing for a moment before she returned her attention to Liliana, who was inspecting a vase of fresh flowers near the dining room entrance.Ray inhaled deeply, forcing a smile back onto his face as he guided Liliana to her chair at the head of the table. “Here you go, baby girl. Sit tight, and I’ll get you settled.”But the moment he stepped back, Liliana’s gaze pinned him. Her eyes were sharp now, missing nothing. “What are you two hiding from me?” she asked, her voice cool and measured, devo