**Chapter 72**Chloe couldn’t shake the unease bubbling within her. She had always admired her boss’s calm demeanor and sharp mind, but this time, things were different. Her boss was about to step back into the real world after the whole death incident, fully aware of the chaos that awaited her. The upcoming press conference would mark her role model's official return, and Chloe knew the impact would be seismic.As she reviewed the final preparations, Chloe's thoughts wandered. *My boss facing the world again will be epic.* The idea seemed almost surreal. For two months now, her boss had operated from the shadows, controlling everything with an iron grip while remaining out of the public eye. But now, everything was changing. And while Chloe trusted her boss’s judgment, a small part of her couldn’t help but worry about the storm that was sure to follow.Meanwhile, in another part of town, James Anderson sat in his study, brooding over the latest developments. The rumors Helena had pos
**Chapter 73**Lilly hung up the phone, her expression as blank as ever. Across the room, Ray Manchester observed her carefully, searching for any sign of what she might be thinking. He knew her well enough to understand that reading her emotions was almost impossible—her face remained impassive, her eyes cold and calculating. Still, he couldn’t help but try.“Lilly?” Ray ventured cautiously, hoping to gauge her mood. “Who was that?”“Well, it was my amazing father,” she answered sarcastically.Ray looked into her eyes, trying to make out her train of thought. It was always hard to pinpoint what each of her expressions meant, which made understanding her quite difficult. “What does he want?” he eventually asked.“Control,” she replied flatly, setting her phone down on the table with a soft click. “He always wants control.”Ray nodded, sensing there was more she hadn’t said. She seemed to be up to something, and he had overheard her earlier speaking to her assistant about a press confe
**Chapter 74**Helena’s eyes flicked over the screen of her phone, and her face twisted into a mask of rage as she read the latest news. Her manicured nails gripped the device tightly, her knuckles white with anger. The headlines screamed about Ray Manchester’s unexpected marriage to Liliana Anderson, and it was more than she could tolerate.“What the hell is this?” Helena screeched, her voice echoing through the opulent living room. She flung her phone onto the couch, sending it skittering across the cushions. “Liliana Anderson—married to Ray Manchester? How dare she!”Her voice rose in pitch as she tried to comprehend the reality before her. “How is that even possible? How in the world would he marry that… that piece of shit?”Helena’s rage boiled over, and suddenly, she snapped. Her hand shot out, grabbing the nearest object—a crystal vase sitting delicately on the coffee table. With a guttural scream, she hurled it across the room. The vase shattered against the wall, shards of gl
**Chapter 75**Helena’s fury was far from quelled as she paced through the wreckage of her living room. Her rage had simmered into a cold, dangerous intensity. As she glanced around at the shattered remnants of her possessions, a dark idea formed. She grabbed her phone from the floor where it had landed during her tantrum and dialed Ellen’s number, her fingers trembling with residual anger. Only Ellen could help her now—her mother wasn’t reliable.The call connected quickly, and Ellen’s calm, sweet voice greeted her. “Baby, what’s wrong?”“Ellen,” Helena snapped, her voice tight with frustration. “I need your help. Liliana is married to Ray, and I can’t stand it. I want her gone. I need you to take care of her.”Ellen’s voice, though steady, held a hint of something deeper. “I see. You want me to… take care of her?”“Yes!” Helena’s voice was sharp with desperation. “I want her out of my life. She’s made a fool of me, and I want her to pay.”There was a pause on the other end of the li
**Chapter 76**Words couldn't capture the whirlwind of emotions Ray was experiencing. The reality of Lilly being his, completely and irrevocably, was nothing short of fascinating."So, Mrs. Manchester," Ray murmured, his voice thick with affection, "what do we do now?"Lilly looked up into his eyes, her gaze meeting the warmth and love that radiated from him. It was a feeling so foreign to her, yet undeniable. She didn’t need anyone to tell her that the man standing before her was deeply in love. Maybe she had been wrong earlier to question his feelings for her—reading those relationship books was a good idea. Now she knows how a man in love behaves."Mr. Manchester, you tell me what you want," she replied softly.Ray’s grin widened. He was enjoying this playful exchange more than he anticipated. "Can I want anything?" he asked, his voice teasing as he moved closer, his arms itching to wrap around her, to merge their bodies and souls into one."Well, hubby," Lilly began, attempting a
A few hours later, Lilly’s estate was buzzing with an energy that hadn’t been felt in quite some time. Ray had called his closest friends, and true to their word, they arrived in no time, eager to meet the woman who had finally captured their friend’s heart. Lilly stood by the window, watching as cars pulled up the driveway. She felt a flutter of calmness in her chest. This was new—being surrounded by people who were close to Ray, who cared for him. It was daunting, yet she knew this was a necessary step. She had spent far too long isolating herself, keeping everyone at arm's length. It was time to let them in, even if it was just a little. This gathering was a new experience in her life, meeting people, and she was going to be drinking and laughing with them. Ray walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her temple. “You okay?” he asked, his excitement rising. Lilly nodded, leaning back into his embrace. “Yes… You are happy, right?” she aske
Chapter 78 Jerry was the first to recover, letting out a nervous laugh. “Well, I guess that makes two of you with a twisted sense of humor,” he said, trying to ease the tension. The others quickly followed suit, laughing along, though their eyes still lingered on Lilly with a mix of curiosity and wariness. The world really was right about her—she truly was an ice queen, frightening people with even the slightest hint of emotion. Ray, still beaming, looked at Lilly with a soft expression. “Why don’t we all sit down? We have plenty of catching up to do,” he suggested, guiding Lilly to the couch. As everyone settled in, Felix spoke up. “So, Miss Anderson, how does it feel being married to our Ray?” he asked, clearly curious about her thoughts on the matter. Lilly paused for a moment, considering the question. “It’s... the same, I guess. I don’t really know yet,” she said, tapping her finger on her cheek as she pondered the best answer. “It feels like before. But I suppose I’ll kno
Jerry blinked, utterly surprised by his brother's sudden display of jealousy and possessiveness. Ray was not the type to let his emotions show, especially not in front of an audience. Yet here he was, staking his claim on Lilly in a way that left no room for doubt. For a moment, Jerry wondered if he should be worried about how deeply Ray had fallen for his new wife.Ray’s friends were equally taken aback, their teasing expressions fading into ones of surprise and mild discomfort. Mark, who had always seen Ray as the composed, level-headed one in their group, found himself at a loss for words. He exchanged glances with Felix, whose usual confident demeanor faltered as well.Chloe, standing a few feet away, felt her cheeks flush at the intimate scene unfolding before her. Though she prided herself on maintaining a professional demeanor at all times, she couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered. Watching her boss in such a vulnerable, human moment was jarring, to say the least. She had nev
“She was poisoned. Now, who are you?” the voice answered before shooting back a question.Liliana’s thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of the voice’s revelation. Poisoned? Her? The concept didn’t fit the narrative she had assumed—this body, Liliana’s body, was supposed to be impervious to toxins.“She was poisoned by her family,” the voice repeated with cold certainty, as if the explanation were simple and unquestionable.Liliana’s fists clenched, anger surging. “That’s impossible,” she hissed aloud, her voice trembling. “This body has built-in resistances. It’s practically untouchable unless…”She trailed off, dread creeping in as the horrifying possibility dawned on her. “Unless it’s self-destruction,” she whispered. “The pill.”“What pill?” the voice asked sharply, curiosity lacing its tone.Liliana’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Just forget it,” she snapped, unwilling to give the voice more ammunition. She shifted the topic quickly. “Have you dealt with the Andersons yet
Ray gazed at her face, hoping to see his old Lily, but the one standing before him seemed guarded and unwilling to open up."I'm really okay," Lily said, though she couldn't convince him. It like seemed annoying or threaten him, triggering the body thief. She must truly love him.Ray nodded in understanding before asking. “Can I take my bath?“ he felt uncertain about his next move. If she didn't want him to bath, then so be it. What mattered most was her health, well-being, and safety. Even his own discomfort was insignificant and could be ignored at any time.Lilly couldn't help but smile hearing what he said: "You must really love her."‘Her’ what her, why is she referring to herself as a third person’ Ray thought.“I love you” he said Ever since their conversation at the hospital, he couldn't shake off the feeling that this woman might be different. It was as if she had some kind of personality disorder, like two people were living inside her or two personalities were at war.‘He
“Aww, cutie pie, you shouldn’t dare me like that. I dare—and I will.”The words left her lips with a teasing smirk, but before she could relish her triumph, a sharp, searing pain erupted in her head. Her body jolted violently, like an unseen force had reached into her core and seized control. She gasped, her eyes widening in panic as her limbs shook uncontrollably.It felt like her skull was being split apart.‘You need to know your limits and behave yourself, or I will send you back to wherever you came from,’ a cold, sinister voice boomed inside her mind. The sound reverberated like hammer blows, each word driving shards of pain deeper into her brain.“No!” Liliana choked out, clutching her head as her body convulsed.“Lilly—Lilly! Lilly, please look at me! Open your eyes! Are you okay?” Ray’s voice cracked, frantic as he knelt by the bed, gripping her trembling shoulders. His calm composure shattered like glass.One moment, she had been teasing him, and now she was violently shakin
It had been two hours since the heads of the kidnappers inexplicably exploded in the torture room—something impossible, something unimaginable to mankind.Like, how the hell do people’s heads just blow up like they’re firecrackers?Whoever was after his baby girl’s life wasn’t ordinary. Ray was sure of one thing: his wife knew more than she was letting on. Her psychologist was coming over tomorrow, and he could only hope she would open up to him. This new version of her was terrifying in ways he couldn’t put into words. She had taken down six hefty men as if they were toddlers.It didn’t add up.Looking at her past self—the woman she used to be—she had always seemed weak and harmless just emotionless, someone who didn’t even know how to throw a punch. The investigation into her past showed nothing about her having fighting skills. Nothing.Before leaving, Ray had instructed Damon to contact a team of forensic pathologist to perform an autopsy. He needed answers. Anything. With that do
Back in the Lab“This is bad. Very bad,” Grey muttered to himself, tapping frantically at the keys on his laptop.He stared at the monitor in disbelief. The system was back online.“What… how…?” he stammered, his eyes wide with horror. He had been trying to deactivate the radiation sequence—he was sure of it.The screen flickered. A new message appeared, bold and cold:“COMMAND OVERRIDDEN. OPERATION EXECUTED.”Grey’s breath hitched. His trembling fingers hovered uselessly over the keyboard. Whatever had happened, it was far beyond his comprehension. The hackers had reached into their system like ghosts.Before he could process the full extent of the failure, the lab door slammed open.Matt stormed in, his face flushed red with anger. “What the hell just happened, Grey?” he barked, his voice sharp enough to cut steel.“I—I disabled it!” Grey stammered, jabbing a finger at the monitor as if to defend himself. “I swear I deactivated the sequence! Someone else—” His voice broke off, his h
The warehouse was cloaked in darkness, its oppressive silence broken only by the steady drip of water from a corroded pipe. The stench of rust, mildew, and blood lingered in the air, a nauseating prelude to the carnage within.Six men sat bound to metal chairs in a grim row, their heads slumped forward in exhaustion. The metallic bands around their foreheads hummed faintly, the only sound betraying the deathtrap concealed within.Jerry paced the room, his boots clanking against the concrete floor as he barked orders to his underlings. “Clip their tongues,” he snarled, his voice sharp and commanding. “Make sure they can’t bite down and die on their terms. These bastards don’t deserve an easy way out.”A sinister grin played on his lips as he turned back toward the men. Their battered faces showed defiance even in their broken state. Jerry liked it when they resisted—it made breaking them all the more satisfying.But then, something changed.A faint flicker of red danced across the meta
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
“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
“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