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Chapter 44 : A Father's Promise

Penulis: Mary Gilliam
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-01-14 03:16:53

Lucas’s POV

The sound of tiny footsteps echoed through the house, and I couldn’t help but smile as Emily darted past me, her little giggle filling the air. It had been a few weeks since I started making more of an effort to connect with her.

The last thing I wanted was to remain a stranger in her life. I was her father, whether she understood that yet or not, and I needed to be there for her in ways I hadn’t been before.

Today was different. Today, I had planned something special—just the two of us. Mandy had agreed to give us some space, and as much as it pained me to be away from her, this was about Emily. She needed me and I needed to be the father she deserved.

"Emily!" I called out as she zipped past me. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yes, Lucas?" she asked, her voice bright with innocence.

I smiled, kneeling down to her level. "How about we go out today? Just you and me?"

Her face lit up, and she bounced on her toes. "Really? Where are we going?"

I g
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  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 45 : Unspoken Truth

    Mandy's POVReaching home, I didn’t know how I had gotten to this point. One moment, I was walking away with Emily, trying to shield her from the heavy conversation that Lucas had started, and the next, I was standing in the kitchen, my hands shaking as I stared at the empty coffee cup in front of me. I had wanted to protect Emily from all of this—the pain, the confusion, the weight of the truth. But Lucas... Lucas had opened a door that couldn’t be closed again. And now, I had to figure out how to handle it and how to handle him.Then, I heard the door open behind me and tensed. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was him. I could feel his presence, the pull of his energy, even if he wasn’t saying a word."Mandy," Lucas said, his voice low. "We need to talk."I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. "What is there to talk about, Lucas?" I finally asked, my voice tight. "You’ve already said enough."He walked closer, his foot

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-14
  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 46 : Secrets Unveiled

    Lucas’s POVThe weight of Mandy’s words still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating. She wasn’t the only one who made mistakes, she said. And in that moment, I realized that maybe I had been too focused on my own guilt to see hers. Maybe, we had both been wrong. But there was more to the story, something I wasn’t seeing—something that had been hidden from me all these years.I leaned back against the couch, my mind racing. I needed to understand. I needed to know why Mandy had really walked away, why she had kept Emily from me for so long. There had to be more to it than just her shutting me out. There had to be a reason why she’d kept me in the dark about Emily’s existence. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that maybe it wasn’t just her choice.The sound of my phone vibrating on the coffee table broke my thoughts. I glanced at the screen—an unknown number. Hesitantly, I picked it up."Hello?" I answered, trying to shake off the lingering tension in my chest.

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-15
  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 47 : The Missing Piece

    Lucas’s POVThe letter still clutched in my hand, my heart raced as I paced the living room, the weight of the revelation pressing down on me. Mandy had written it. She had been pregnant, and I had no idea. All these years, I had blamed her for shutting me out, for keeping Emily from me. But now, I understand. I understood the fear, the hesitation, the uncertainty that had driven her decisions. And it hit me hard—too hard.I needed answers. There was no way I could keep going without knowing the full truth. I had to confront Grandma Claire. She was the one who had kept me from Emily, the one who had kept me in the dark for so long. She had to know something more. She had to.I grabbed my coat and stormed out of the apartment, my mind already racing through the possibilities. What had she known? Why hadn’t she told me about Emily? Why had she let me believe that everything was fine when it was anything but?Grandma Claire’s house was quiet when I arrived. The tall, ivy-covered house l

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17
  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 48: Emily’s Curiosity

    Emily’s POV I sat on the soft rug in our living room, my favorite stuffed bunny clutched tightly in my arms. Mommy was sitting on the couch, her eyes glued to the TV, but I wasn’t paying attention to the show. My mind was full of questions, and I had to ask her. I had been thinking about it for days, and now, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. "Mommy?" I said, my voice small but curious. She turned her head, giving me a soft smile. "Yes, sweetie?" I looked at her, trying to find the right words. "Who is Lucas?" Mommy’s smile faltered just for a second, and she shifted uncomfortably on the couch. I could tell she didn’t like it when I asked about him. But I didn’t understand why. I liked him. He was nice to me when we saw him, and I liked the way he talked to me, like I was important. But sometimes, when we were at his house, Mommy didn’t seem happy. She would look at him like she was mad, but also sad, like she wanted to cry. I didn’t understand why. "Lucas is... someone Mommy us

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17
  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 49: The Growing Rift

    Writer’s POVHowever, the air in the room was thick with tension, each word that passed between Lucas and Mandy only adding to the weight. They stood on opposite sides of the living room, both frustrated, both unwilling to back down, yet neither truly understanding the other’s pain. The distance between them wasn’t just physical—it was emotional, and it seemed to grow with each passing day.Lucas’s jaw was clenched as he crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes, usually so calm and collected, now blazed with frustration. "You still don’t trust me, do you?" he asked, his voice low but sharp.Mandy stood near the kitchen counter, her hands gripping the edge as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded. She looked at him, her face a mixture of exhaustion and exasperation. "It’s not about trust, Lucas," she snapped. "It’s about reality. You think everything can be fixed with a smile and a nice gesture, but it’s not that simple. We’ve both made mistakes, and there’s no easy way to

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18
  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 50 : A Dangerous Revelation

    Lucas’s POVThe tension in the air was palpable, the kind that settles in your chest and refuses to let go. It had been days since the argument with Mandy, and though the words had been said, the weight of them still lingered, heavy and unresolved. But there was something else now, something that gnawed at the back of my mind. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was at play, something that had been lurking in the shadows for far too long.I sat at my desk, the dim light of the office flickering in the late hours of the night. My fingers hovered over the keys of my laptop, but I couldn’t focus on the reports in front of me. My mind kept drifting back to Damian—my half-brother, the one person I could never fully trust. There had always been something about him, something off, but I’d never been able to put my finger on it. Until now.The phone rang, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the caller ID, and my stomach dropped. It was an unknown number. My first instin

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-19
  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 51 : A New Threat

    Lucas’s POVMeanwhile, on the next day, the weight of the files on my desk felt heavier than usual, and the air in my office seemed thicker as I sifted through the documents. Every page I turned revealed more lies, more betrayals. The deeper I dug into Damian’s involvement in my family’s business, the more it became clear: he had orchestrated so much of the chaos that had plagued my life.I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong—something bigger than just business deals or power struggles. Damian’s reach extended far beyond the boardrooms and into the very heart of my family. He had manipulated everyone, even me. I slammed the folder shut, frustration bubbling up inside me. I had to confront him. I couldn’t let this go any longer. I needed answers, and I needed them now. But I couldn’t do this alone. I had to be smart. Damian was dangerous, and if I was going to take him down, I had to be prepared.Picking up my phone, I dialed a number I had avoided for months. Grandma

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-19
  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 52 : Protecting Emily

    Lucas’s POVNotwithstanding, the tension between Mandy and me was still palpable as we stood in the living room, both of us watching Emily play with her toys on the floor. The weight of the situation hung in the air, a silent understanding between us that things were escalating, and we had no choice but to put aside our differences for her sake. "Lucas, I don’t know what to do anymore," Mandy’s voice was strained, barely above a whisper, but I could hear the panic in it. I didn’t know what to say. There were no words that could make this easier. Emily’s safety was at risk, and that was all that mattered. "We’ll figure this out," I said, my voice steady, but inside, I was anything but calm. Damian’s presence loomed over us like a dark cloud, and every second felt like we were running out of time.Mandy’s eyes met mine, searching for some sign that I wasn’t as lost as I felt. "You don’t get it, do you? I’ve kept Emily safe from all of this for so long, and now… now I have to rely on

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-19

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  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 109 : Checkmate

    Lucas’s POVIvan’s smirk was a razor slicing through my control. He stood there, holding Emily, his grip just tight enough to send my pulse into overdrive. My daughter whimpered, her big, frightened eyes darting between me and Mandy. “Let her go, Ivan,” I said, my voice low, even. Controlled. Because if I let the rage take over now, I’d lose her. Ivan chuckled, shifting Emily slightly in his arms. “You think it’s that easy?” His gaze flicked to Mandy. “You’ve always been so predictable, Lucas. Always acting like you’re the one in control. But look at you now.” He tilted his head. “Powerless.” Mandy stood frozen beside me, her hand gripping my arm like it was the only thing keeping her upright. I could feel her shaking, but she didn’t break. She didn’t scream or lunge at him. She trusted me. And she should. I forced a slow breath. I couldn’t make a mistake. Not with Emily in his hands. “What do you want?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. “Money? Territory?” I knew what his

  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 108 : The Calm Before the Storm

    Lucas’s POVMy hands shook as I put the phone back in my pocket. The words burned in my mind, like an acid that wouldn’t stop eating away at everything I’d fought for.So, I turned to Mandy, her face pale, eyes wide with fear. Her breath was shallow, and for a split second, I saw everything I’d worked to protect hanging by a thread. Emily. Her daughter. My child, too, whether we’d ever said the words out loud or not.“Lucas…” Mandy whispered my name like it was a plea, but I didn’t have an answer. There was nothing to say because I felt it too—everything we’d been through, everything we’d fought for, now felt like it was slipping through my fingers.I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “We’ll fix this, Mandy. I promise you.” But even as the words left my mouth, I wasn’t sure if I believed them.Her eyes locked onto mine, but her voice cracked as she spoke. “How? How do we fix this when he has Emily?”I didn’t have an answer. Not yet.But I knew one thing for sure: Ivan had c

  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 107 – Into the Lion’s Den

    Lucas’s POVThe moment Viktor’s voice crackled over the radio, my stomach dropped. “Ivan knows we’re coming.” The air in the van grew heavy, like we were all holding our breath at the same time. Mandy’s hand tightened around mine, her nails digging into my skin, but I didn’t care. Her fear was my fear, and it was all too real. “What do you mean he knows?” James’s voice came sharp and fast over the comms. “He’s moved his men,” Viktor replied, his tone clipped. “The hub isn’t empty. It’s crawling with guards. This isn’t going to be the surgical strike we planned.” My jaw clenched, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “Then we adapt,” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos brewing inside me. “We didn’t come this far to turn back now.” Viktor’s silence was answer enough. He wasn’t going to argue, but he wasn’t happy about it either. “Stay sharp,” he said finally. “And for God’s sake, don’t get yourselves killed.” The radio went dead, leaving us in a suffocating sile

  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 106 : Shadows Closing In

    Mandy’s POVThe dust from the van’s tires still hung in the air, gritty and suffocating. My hands were trembling as I clung to Lucas, the warmth of his body grounding me in the chaos around us. But Viktor’s words rang in my ears like a death knell. *This was just the beginning.* “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice shaky. “What beginning?” Viktor crouched beside us, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Ivan isn’t the kind of man who lets go of his prey. He wanted to make a statement tonight, and he succeeded. But this? This was just his opening move.” I looked down at Lucas, his face battered and bloodied but alive. Relief warred with terror in my chest. “Then we need to stop him. We can’t just wait for him to come after us again.” James appeared at my side, his jaw tight. “She’s right. We can’t keep playing defense. If we don’t take the fight to Ivan, he’ll keep coming until there’s nothing left of us.” Viktor let out a dry laugh. “And what exactly do you propose, James? Marc

  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 105 : The Clock is Ticking

    Mandy’s POVThe bloodied man collapsed to the floor, his words echoing in the tense silence. Ivan’s men were here. The weight of those words hit me like a punch to the gut. Viktor didn’t flinch. He leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze flicking to the man crumpled on the floor. “So, it begins,” he said calmly, as though he’d been expecting this all along. James, however, wasn’t so composed. He grabbed my arm, pulling me back toward the door. “We need to leave. Now.” But Viktor’s voice cut through the panic. “Running will only get you killed. Ivan doesn’t leave loose ends.” James turned, his hand already reaching for his weapon. “Then maybe it’s time someone took care of Ivan.” Viktor chuckled, slow and deliberate. “Ah, the bravado of the unprepared. You think you can waltz into Ivan’s world and take him down? He’s been playing this game longer than you’ve been alive.” I stepped forward, my voice shaking but firm. “Then tell us what to do. If you know how to stop him, te

  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 104 : Into the Lion’s Den

    Mandy’s POVJames’s hand hovered near his jacket, ready to draw whatever weapon he had stashed there. But the man standing by the car didn’t even flinch. His calmness was unnerving, like he knew he had all the power in the world. “I said,” the man repeated, his voice sharp, “get in the car if you want to save Lucas. This isn’t a request.” I glanced at James, my heart pounding in my chest. “What do we do?” I whispered. James’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. “We don’t trust him, that’s for damn sure.” The man smirked, as if he could hear us. “You don’t have to trust me. But you don’t have time to argue. Lucas’s life is ticking away with every second you waste.” Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist. He wasn’t bluffing. Whoever this man was, he knew exactly what was happening, and he wasn’t here to play games. “We don’t have a choice,” I said, my voice trembling. “If there’s even a chance he’s telling the truth, we have to take it.” James hesitated, hi

  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 103 : A Debt in Blood

    Mandy’s POVThe room erupted into chaos. People screamed, chairs toppled, and glass shattered as the armed men pushed through the crowd. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst. Lucas moved instantly, stepping in front of me like a shield. His hand gripped my arm, pulling me closer. “Stay behind me,” he growled, his voice low and commanding. The man who had barked Lucas’s name stepped forward, his gun aimed directly at us. He was tall, broad, and radiated an air of menace. “Mr. Vanderbilt, you’ve been a hard man to find. But you know how this works. You can’t run forever.” Lucas’s jaw tightened, his body coiled like a spring. “I don’t owe you anything.” The man smirked. “Oh, but you do. Ivan doesn’t forget, and he doesn’t forgive. You know that better than anyone.” “Ivan’s beef is with me,” Lucas said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. “Leave her out of this.” The man’s gaze shifted to me, and I felt ice crawl up my spine. “Her? Oh, Lucas, you don

  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 102 : A War on Two Fronts

    Mandy’s POVDeliberate. The word echoed in my head like a gunshot, deafening and disorienting. Someone had intentionally hurt Emily. I felt Lucas’s hand tighten around mine, but I couldn’t look at him. My gaze was locked on the doctor, who stood there with an expression that teetered between pity and professional detachment. “What do you mean... deliberate?” My voice sounded foreign to my own ears—shaky, distant. The doctor hesitated, clearly choosing his words carefully. “The type of toxin we suspect—based on her symptoms—isn’t something one would encounter in everyday life. It’s... rare, and it would require deliberate exposure.” “Deliberate exposure?” Lucas’s voice was low, deadly. “Are you saying someone poisoned her?” The doctor nodded slowly. “That’s what we’re investigating. I’ve already informed the authorities. They’ll need to speak with you both as soon as possible.” Authorities. Police. Poison. I couldn’t process it. My daughter—my innocent, bright, beautiful

  • The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back   Chapter 101 : The Thin Line Between Hope and Despair

    Mandy’s POVThe room erupted into chaos. Nurses and doctors flooded in, their movements quick and precise, but to me, it felt like slow motion. I couldn’t move, couldn’t think—my feet rooted to the spot as I watched them surround Emily’s bed. “Clear the room!” one of the nurses barked, her voice sharp and commanding. “No!” I screamed, trying to push past Lucas, but his arms locked around me, holding me back. “Mandy, let them work,” he said, his voice firm but trembling. “I can’t leave her!” I cried, clawing at his chest, desperate to break free. “Lucas, let me go! She needs me!” His grip tightened, his face inches from mine. “She needs them to save her. Please, Mandy, don’t make this harder for her—or for yourself.” I sagged against him, my strength gone, and he guided me out of the room. The door shut behind us with a heavy thud, cutting me off from my baby. The hallway was eerily quiet compared to the chaos inside. My knees gave out, and I sank to the floor, my hands t

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