Mandy's POV "Did you hear what I said, Mandy?" He asked me, bringing me out of my frozen state.My expression hardened. "I heard you loud and clear, Lucas. "You think I'd marry you just to fulfill Grandma Claire’s wishes?"The last I remember you were the one who asked for a divorce," I said firmly.Lucas’s eyes narrowed. "Don't play dumb. We all know you want to be my wife again, desperately. No need to pretend."His voice dripped with arrogance. "A parasite like you can't survive without our family's support. You'd wither away without our resources." Lucas’s anger flared, but I continued, unbothered."Grandma Claire’s condition is critical. Every moment counts. Don't waste more time."My heart ached, remembering Grandma Claire’s warmth. But Lucas’s arrogance and manipulation got me really pissed. "I'm not a doll to be used for your convenience," I declared, with my voice firm. "I have my own life, my own work. I won't be swayed by your family's wealth or your insults."L
Lucas's POV I sat frozen in my seat, as if I had been enchanted with a spell by the mysterious dancer who was twisting and twirling her body around the stage.She was dancing to jazz music and she was doing it perfectly well, making me more interested in watching her.Her slender waist and perfect body shape had me entranced. It was almost as if my eyes were glued to her body.Forever.I visited the club with my friends, Ethan and Miles. I didn't want to come before as I wasn't interested, but they somehow managed to persuade me and made me come with them.Now I was somewhat grateful that they forced me to come. Because if they didn't, I wouldn't have been able to gaze my eyes upon this beauty.Although her eyes and part of her face were hidden, I could still see that she was a beauty.While my friends were busy having fun with other girls, I focused all my attention on this one dancer.There was something about her that drew me to her. I just couldn't place a finger on it. My f
Mandy's POV"What have I done?" I thought, as flashes of our sex life shadowed on me."I...just kissed him,""Did I?" I wondered as I felt skeptical of what to name it since it wasn't really a kiss.However, the thoughts of it all, triggered my memories of him.Especially our sex life.Gosh, it was one of the best things about our marriage.I know it's wrong for me to miss him as he was and still is a jackass.I know it is an emotion I can't pretend to myself but I need to forget him.I have to.He isn't worth any of my time, I.... Just have to.Having all of this thought swirling in me, I shook my head in agreement to my decision as I walked my way to change my outfit.Subsequently, after a long day at the club eclipse, I finally arrived at home.Trust me, I was so exhausted but I needed to continue house haunting on the app, that's the only way for me to avoid Lucas completely.At exactly an hour later, I suddenly felt my eyes closing bit by bit as I yawned afterward.This was evide
Mandy’s POVHowever, I made my way outside the house as I stood frozen, my eyes locked on Lucas as he emerged from the sleek Mercedes Benz. What was he doing here? I wondered, my mind racing.As he approached, his gaze met mine, and for a fleeting moment, his stare paused on my face. I sensed a flicker of surprise, but his expression swiftly returned to its usual composed mask."Ready?" he asked, his deep voice low and even.Though, I nodded, still perplexed by his sudden arrival.With that, Lucas opened the car door, gesturing for me to enter. "I came to pick you up," he explained, his tone matter-of-fact."Why?" I asked, my wariness evident."Why would you want to do that? You didn't have to put on these charades,"Lucas scoffed."Listen, we're attending Grandma's party together," he replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. "As husband and wife."Hearing this, my heart sank as the familiar weight of resentment settled in. Pretending to be married again? The memories I'd tried to sup
Lucas's POV10 minutes ago, I hung up the phone call, as I began scanning the room for Mandy. But she was nowhere to be found.Then, a flicker of concern crossed my mind as I remembered Mandy wasn't exactly the independent type. She might be scared, alone in this crowded party.I suppressed a scowl, unhappy with her disappearance. Yet, I couldn't shake off the urge to find her."Excuse me," I said to a passing waiter, "have you seen my wife?"Just then, I saw Mary approaching where I stood with her radiant smile calming my growing unease."Lucas," she called out my name. "Don't worry," her voice soothing. "Mandy might be overwhelmed or chatting with old friends. She didn't mean to disappear and upset you."Her words eased my tension, but I couldn't help comparing Mary's composed nature to Mandy's turbulent presence.Mary always prioritized others, never seeking to stir trouble. Even three years ago, when Mandy...terminated her pregnancy, Mary had defended her, suggesting Mandy might
Chapter 15Lucas’s POV I should’ve known the night wouldn’t end smoothly. It never does with Mandy. Grandma’s face twisted into a polite but unmistakable grimace when Mandy emerged from the bathroom wearing that ridiculous mini-skirt. My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might crack. What the hell was she thinking? “Mandy, dear,” Grandma began, her tone sharp enough to slice through the murmurs in the room. “This isn’t appropriate for the occasion. What happened to the dress you were wearing earlier?” Mandy’s eyes flitted to mine for a fraction of a second before lowering. Her voice was calm, steady even, which somehow made it worse. “I didn’t mean to cause offense, Grandma. This was all I had.” All she had? That was a lie. Mary had gone out of her way to lend Mandy a perfectly good dress just moments ago. Why she refused to wear it was beyond me. I stepped forward, my voice quieter but no less irritated. “Mandy, we talked about this.” Her gaze lifted to meet mine,
Mandy's POVThe morning light filtered through the curtains, but my chest felt heavy, like a storm cloud had settled over me. I couldn’t stop replaying Lucas’s expression from last night—the tension, the frustration, the way his eyes seemed to drill into me, looking for answers I wasn’t ready to give. Let him wonder. Let him stew in his own questions. I’d made my choice long before we started this arrangement. This wasn’t about him, and it never would be. My focus was on saving Grandma Claire, and once she was safe, I’d walk away from Lucas and everything he represented. Still, there was this tiny, infuriating tug in the back of my mind. The way his voice softened when he spoke to me last night lingered longer than I wanted it to. I shook my head and forced myself to focus. Whatever kindness he tried to show didn’t matter. I wouldn’t let it weaken my resolve. I was pulling my hair into a loose bun when my phone buzzed on the dresser. “Hello?” I answered, pinching the bridge
Lucas's POVThe hum of the club hit me the moment I stepped inside—a dim red glow cast long shadows across the room, while the low chatter, and the heavy bass of music thumping through the walls. I shouldn’t have been here. Hell, I knew it was wrong, especially with Mandy always looking at me like I was some kind of monster when it came to my choices. But I couldn’t stop myself. Suddenly, Ethan clapped a hand on my shoulder as we walked toward a table near the back. “You’ve got it bad, man. I’ve never seen you this hung up on someone.” “It’s not like that,” I muttered, my eyes already scanning the room, scoffs. I didn’t even believe my own words. “Sure,” Ethan said with a smirk, sinking into his chair. The truth was, I didn’t know what it was. This woman—the masked dancer—I couldn’t get her out of my head. She was a puzzle I couldn’t solve, and for some reason, that drove me insane. And not long, the lights dimmed suddenly as the music shifted, my attention snapped to the
Mandy’s POVThe room felt like it was closing in on me. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think straight. Lucas’s father had been involved with Horizon Enterprises, the very same Horizon that had been hunting us down for months. My mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of this new reality. The betrayal was overwhelming—Lucas’s own flesh and blood, the man who had always been the picture of integrity, had been part of the enemy all along. I could barely look at Lucas as the weight of the revelation hit me. His father. The man who had always been the foundation of his strength, the man Lucas had trusted above all others, had been secretly working with the very people who wanted to destroy us. It didn’t make sense. It couldn’t be true. But Ma'am Elizabeth's words echoed in my mind, and the look on her face had been one of utter fear. She wasn’t lying. “Lucas…” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Your father… he was working with them. He was part of Horizon.” He didn’t resp
Lucas’s POV The man stepped out of the shadows, his face partially illuminated by the dim streetlight. I froze, my hand instinctively tightening around Mandy’s arm. “Elliot,” I said, my voice cold. Elliot was a name I hadn’t spoken in years—a former business partner who had disappeared after a falling out that nearly cost me my company. Now, here he was, standing in front of me, looking far too comfortable in the chaos. “We need to talk,” he said, his tone calm but edged with urgency. I didn’t move. “Talk about what?” He glanced at Mandy, his gaze lingering for a moment before shifting back to me. “Not here. It’s not safe.” Mandy stiffened beside me, and I could feel the tension radiating off her. “Why should we trust you?” she asked, her voice sharp. Elliot’s lips curved into a faint smile, though there was no humor in it. “You don’t have to trust me. But if you want to survive, you’ll listen.” With that, I exchanged a look with Mandy, her unease mirroring my own. A
Mandy’s POVThe picture on Lucas’s phone was burned into my mind. As his family was unaware of the danger closing in.The tension in the room became much more suffocating as Lucas paced back and forth with his jaw clenched so tight I thought he might crack a tooth. His phone was still in his hand, the screen dark now, but the threat it carried lingered like a storm cloud. “We can’t stay here,” he said finally, his voice low and steady, though the fury behind it was unmistakable. “They know too much and they’re watching us.” I nodded, my heart thundering. “Where do we go?” Lucas stopped pacing, his sharp gaze locking on me. “Somewhere they can’t follow. But first, we need to figure out what they’re after.” I hesitated, my mind racing. The thought of leaving felt like admitting defeat, but staying was a risk we couldn’t afford. “I might have a lead,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. Lucas frowned. “What kind of lead?” “My dad had contacts,” I explained, my fingers twi
Lucas’s POVThe cryptic message sat on my phone screen like a ticking bomb. “‘The betrayal is closer than you think. Trust no one,’” I repeated, my voice grim. And Mandy sat across from me, her face pale and eyes shadowed with exhaustion. “What does that even mean? Who would send something like that?” I shook my head, the knot in my stomach tightening. “I don’t know, but whoever it is, they want us paranoid. And it’s working.” As the weight of the situation pressed down on us, the silence filled the room. So, I stood abruptly, pacing to the window overlooking the city. The lights below seemed distant, as a stark contrast to the chaos brewing in our lives. “We need answers,” I said, turning to Mandy. “And I think I know where to start.” Her brow furrowed. “Where?” she asked, as I grabbed my laptop from the desk and settled onto the couch.“Horizon Enterprises has always been a shadowy operation, but no one’s untouchable. If there’s a connection to us, it’ll be in their financ
Mandy’s POV The headlights tailing us didn’t feel like a coincidence. My stomach churned as Lucas glanced at the rearview mirror for the third time in under a minute, his jaw clenched. “Someone’s following us,” he muttered, his voice low but tense. Peter, slouched in the backseat, groaned. “They don’t give up, do they?” “Stay down,” Lucas ordered, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “Mandy, call Ethan. Tell him to prep the security team.” I fumbled for my phone, my fingers shaking as I dialed Ethan’s number. The car behind us stayed close, the headlights glaring through the rear windshield like a predator stalking its prey. “Ethan,” I said as soon as he answered. “We’re being followed. Get the team ready.” “On it,” Ethan replied, his tone sharp. “Are you okay?” “For now,” I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay calm. “Just be ready.” I hung up and looked at Lucas. “What do we do?” “We lose them,” he said simply, his voice steady even as he
Lucas’s POV However, the morning after the mysterious phone call, Mandy was quiet but focused as she’d barely slept, and I could see the weight of everything pressing down on her. I didn’t push her to talk. Instead, I focused on what needed to be done. Though we were meeting someone who could give us answers—a man who had once worked alongside her father at Horizon Enterprises but had managed to distance himself from the mess. It wasn’t easy tracking him down, but I had my resources. “Are you sure about this?” Mandy asked as we pulled into a secluded parking lot behind a rundown diner. I glanced at her, taking in the tension etched across her face. “No. But we don’t have many options.” She nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Let’s get this over with.” The diner was almost empty, save for a few regulars nursing their coffee. In the far corner sat our contact, a wiry man in his late fifties with sharp eyes that seemed to miss nothing. He looked up as we approached,
Mandy’s POVThe ride back to Lucas’s penthouse was silent, but the air between us was anything but calm. My mind replayed every word Uncle Henry had said, every bitter truth he’d laid bare. The pieces of my past, once scattered and jagged, were starting to fit together—but the picture they formed was uglier than I ever imagined. Lucas’s hand rested on my knee, his silent way of saying, "I’m here," Normally, it would’ve been comforting, but tonight, it felt like a lifeline. When we reached the penthouse, I kicked off my shoes and headed straight to the kitchen. The routine of making tea was the only thing that seemed to keep my hands from trembling. Lucas followed, leaning against the counter, watching me with those piercing eyes of his. “You’re too quiet,” he finally said, his voice breaking the heavy silence. I didn’t look at him as I poured hot water into a mug. “I’m just... processing.” Lucas stepped closer, his presence grounding me. “You don’t have to do it alone, you
Lucas’s POVHowever, as we stepped out of the car, Mandy’s hand trembled in mine. We were in a quiet, almost forgotten part of the city, the kind of neighborhood that whispered stories of better days gone by. The building in front of us was old, its brick facade worn and weathered. Mandy hadn’t said much on the drive over, but the look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. This wasn’t easy for her. “This is it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Are you sure about this?” She nodded, though the hesitation was clear. “If we’re going to get answers, this is where we start.” Then, we walked up the steps, the sound of our shoes echoing against the cracked concrete. Mandy hesitated at the door, her hand hovering over the buzzer. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the war between fear and determination. “You don’t have to do this alone,” I said softly. She looked at me, her gaze steadying. “I know. That’s why you’re
Mandy’s POVI sat across from Lucas, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. The tension between us was thick, more suffocating than I had anticipated. Ever since we learned that Horizon Enterprises was tied to my past, the air felt different. I could feel Lucas’s eyes on me, the same intensity I had seen when he was dealing with the threats to his business. But this time, it wasn’t just about the company. It was about me.“Are you sure about this?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to remain composed. “I mean, this... this whole thing, this connection to my past, it could be a lot more than you think.”Lucas didn’t respond immediately. He was always so calm under pressure, but I could tell he was wrestling with his own thoughts. His jaw tightened, and his eyes flickered with a mix of frustration and determination. I had seen that look before. And right now, I was the one standing in his way.“I’ve been digging into Horizon Enterprises,” he said, his v