Lyra's POVThe distance between us was quite more than enough to ensure my escape if I turned around and started running, but for some reason, I took two steps away from him, having heard what he had said to me.It was impossible that he had read my mind; it could just be a very good guess. Of course, I would want to call on Philip at such an occasion. I was in trouble and I was helpless. Unfortunately for me, the training session Philip planned out for me was constantly pushed away by me, as if I had anything to do.I mostly made excuses when he brought the conversation up, and it circled around the children. The reason why I was delaying was that I was lazy, and no other reason. But now, this was my reward for such laziness; I had to face the man who surely wanted me dead. Or as he claimed, wanted to own me."I'm not a monster, Lyra," he addressed my action of lengthening the distance between us."If you aren't, then why are you threatening to kill Philip?" I asked him, "he was your
Asher's POV"I had fun."AWe were standing by her car, and one of her bodyguards held the door open for her. This bodyguard wasn't wearing a face mask; he wore a suit and looked very professional.The kids that had been calling her name, apparently, did not disappear; it had been my senses playing tricks on me. They were behind us and kept looking at her.We figured that they must've seen her promoting some brands for children and then took a liking to her. In most of her interviews, she has always addressed her utter and complete love for children.And as a ruler, a well-known ruler, the children sitting in front of the screen became her biggest fans.My attention came back to her when I felt her rub her hand on mine, "you zone out a lot, is it because of the poison or the heartbreak?"I cleared my throat; those topics were two very sensitive things I hated to indulge in.I have always been one to zone out, but surely it could've gotten more intense ever since Lyra left with Philip,
Philip's POVThe knot in my stomach felt too heavy, and no matter how many times I tried any form of movements to make its presence more ignorable, it was simply impossible.My legs felt like they were on fire. My knees were weak, and my whole body seemed as if it wasn't owned by me.This was because I was looking at the last family member of mine that was still within arm's reach. But what essence was that?They all betrayed me. They all moved over to Emily's side for reasons unknown.What could she have promised them?Did she hold something important to them like she did to Beatrice?What were they even after?Though I had tried hard to bury the reality of my situation, sometimes it was impossible to keep its head from sprouting up like a crop germinating for the first time. No matter how deep I dug into the soil, no matter how reluctant I was to water it. It was still buried under the sun, and the rain still poured, and no matter my feelings towards it, I couldn't actually shake it
Lyra's POVI felt my whole body sink into the tempting xkaws of fear. My body ached, my legs went weak as I stared at thw door watching Tristan and thw sky smile on hia face.I kmew better than to assume that hebwas only bluffing because inhave exoreinced first hand how he kept tonhis words. There was nothing that woukd keep him from doing what he intended to do. And with this smile on his face thia deathky grin that he wore; a smile that showed his perfect teeth structure, the charming white color od his teeth anf the beautufual vurvature of hia lips.Though he possesed these features that woykd make him an undeniabke beauty, but when one glanced at him, all I coykd see was the atrocities he poured to the world, the pain he caused people around him and how eveil he was in his heart."I know you believe me when I say something like that" he said, "I've never been one to lie and you know it"."Tristan!" I cried, tears flowing from my eyes, "what donyou wabt drom me? Why are you so inte
Philip's POVIt stunned me that Eunice agreed to what Tessa had said. It seemed like her children were the only thing important to her. They were the only ones that she needed. She didn't care if she was banished or made to walk around naked; all she wanted was her children.She thoughtlessly agreed with the words: "I'll find Tristan for you, and you must get me my child," she said with authority, as if aiming to show she had power over anyone here.She wasn't even more powerful than Tessa; the only reason that, of course, Tessa would hold her in high regard was that she had practically been his mother when the real one left. Tessa also respected her for her age. She always marveled at how that woman who was this old could still look so young.But now everything was ruined. Everything, every form of respect she held for Eunice, it had turned into a war zone in her head as everything was being set ablaze.I saw Tessa walk toward me, and although I saw her already making her way to wher
Asher's POV:Why would Tristan save me?Although I had no reason to believe this man standing in front of me, seeing as his plan had been ruined by Tristan, and Tristan had not been the one who poisoned me nor paid him to do it, I was compelled to believe his words. Surely he possessed some level of contempt for the person who ruined his mission. When I looked into his eyes and saw how angry he looked, how dark his eyes were as he recollected all that had happened that day, I could say for certain that he actually did hate Tristan.Well, there were many other blonde men, and I couldn't jump to the possibility that the person who saved me from him was Tristan. Other than the fact that he was blonde, I needed a little bit more than his hair color. I needed to know something else that was specific."What else can you tell me other than the color of his hair?" I asked with stern, narrowed eyes, trying to make sure I looked imposing enough.From the way he reacted, which was actually nothi
Asher's POV:The advice wasn't that helpful, especially when I had already come to the realization about who he was talking about.A few days ago, I was sure that he wouldn't have been able to afford such an assassin, but looking at it from another angle and hearing those words from the assassin himself, I figured out the reason why I had been in the dark for this long.It was Kaden. It had to be him.There wasn't another person who hates me so much that could have wanted me dead. He was the only one with the means to be able to escape from me like a snake slithering through my fingers. Having lived in the mansion with me, grown up there, he surely knew some secret doors that most servants were clueless about, and with that knowledge, such Kaden must've gotten someone to poison me.However, I had been poisoned outside; it hadn't been in this house.But did that mean that the suspect list had changed?Definitely not. Kaden was still up the list, or rather, he was the only one there.I
Asher's POV:Everything in me was screaming not to believe his words. Kaden had a proclivity to tell lies. Just like Tristan, there was nothing in him that would testify that he was telling the truth, nothing in him could even speak the truth. Instead, his tongue was made only to tell lies.And though the expression on his face mirrored one of confusion; with his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes darting around as if anyone around could give him a befitting explanation. But I knew it was a farce; everything about Kaden was a farce from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, he was carved in lies.As the seconds turned to minutes, so did my patience start to disappear and metamorphose into rage. The more he kept up with this act of not knowing anything, I was simply getting angry. I was getting so outraged I needed to punch something.So I grabbed his shirt.I was taller than him even prior to this, and I was probably only by a few inches. But somehow, it felt as if I had gained