Maria's eyes flashed at him as her gaze narrowed. "I'm not obsessed. I just know how things work in this world. Tasha doesn't stand a chance against someone like me. I know his weaknesses. I know what he needs.""Is that why you're trying to bring her down? Because you think you can step in and show him what a real partner looks like?" Lucas asked, intrigued.Maria shrugged, and much of her confidence returned. "Exactly, I'm just helping him see the light. Tasha is just a pretty face, a distraction. I'll make sure he realizes that."Lucas watched her, impressed yet cautious. "You know this could backfire, right? If you push too hard, you might end up pushing him away for good."Not a chance," Maria shot back. "I know how to play my cards right. While Tasha's busy playing the perfect wife, I'll be working behind the scenes, turning his head. I will make Fabian remember who he is truly meant to be with."Lucas shook his head, feeling a mix of admiration and trepidation in his chest. "Ju
At the accusation, Edward's face darkened as his mind raced to concoct this verbal assault by Lucas. "And what exactly do you think I did? I was trying to protect my family, just like you should be."Lucas tightened his fists in growing frustration. "Protecting your family? By disappearing? If you knew something about Loretta's whereabouts, you should have come forward. You have no idea what I've gone through trying to find her!Believe me, I know precisely what it's like to be helpless," Edward replied in a low-intense voice. "But you don't know the whole story. I couldn't come forward. Not yet."Lucas stepped closer, his eyes locked on Edward's. "Then tell me the story. What's going on? Where's Loretta?Edward cast a look backward toward the house as if to weigh in his mind just how much he wanted to involve Lucas with the fact. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and spoke. "I was taken captive, but I was able to escape. Those who abducted Loretta are still on the loose, keeping my ev
As he walked down the streets of the city, he felt a surge of invincibility take over his body. He felt that no one could touch him after all, he had eliminated one of his major threats. Edward's absence would leave a huge hole, and Lucas intended to fill this vacuum with his ambition.He reached a secluded area, parked his car, and sat for a minute or so to collect his thoughts. He had to think now. Edward was out of the way; next came keeping Loretta in his grasp. She was the only way he could use both Fabian and Tasha to his advantage, and he wasn't going to let her get away from him.He whipped out his cell phone and sent a text to Maria. "Let's meet. We need to discuss the next move." In a second, he received a response: "Where?""The warehouse. I'll be there in 20."Lucas wheeled the car around and headed in the direction of the warehouse, his mind racing with possibilities. Loretta, he thought, considering how they might use her in their scheme. To be sure, she was a chip to be
As he rode, memories came flooding his mind and brought him back to that time when all he was was Maria's assistant lingering in the shadows of her ambitions. He could remember how he would sit for hours on end and watch her enchant and flirt with Fabian; hear her laughter echo down the halls of their office.He had seen the moment of fate when Maria was wrapped in Fabian's arms, her eyes sparkling with delight, accepting him as her boyfriend. In that instant, Lucas felt jealousy mixed with frustration; how could she not see what Fabian was? He knew there was something wrong with the man she idolized depth of darkness behind the polished surface.Maria, you need to be careful," Lucas had warned her, his voice edged with concern as he faced her the next day. "I've seen the way he operates. He's not who he seems."But she had brushed him off, dismissing his worries with a wave of her hand. "You're just jealous because you're not in the spotlight, Lucas. Fabian is a powerful man. You can
Chapter 163Weeks filled with anxiety and unsolved conundrums, deception, and intrigues had passed. The search for Loretta however had shifted into overdrive for Fabian in a dangerously obsessive manner. Each piece of information brought him closer to a revelation but still, every single one of them failed to prepare him for what would come.On a chilly autumn day, Fabian received a telephone call from an unknown caller. His heart raced as he picked up the call, fully aware that this could be the call he had been anxiously waiting for.“Fabian”, the voice on the other end sounded slightly familiar. It was the detective that he had hired to help him after Edward went missing. “We have a situation. We have located Loretta.”Fabian felt his heart race when a small house at the edge of the city came through after the address had been given. Without thinking, he took his keys and dashed to the door. The trip was a haze, all of it filled with thoughts of Loretta. What did they do to her? Wh
"Lorry!" Loretta groaned aloud and tried to open her eyes but it felt so heavily as if she had the whole weight of the world weighing on her eyes lid."Lorry!" The low and almost inaudible voice became louder and clearer, forcing her to look beside her with her eyes opened a little.Of course, her father. They were both taken away and brought to a desolate room that had no window nor was the door visible enough as all she saw was a stairway leading to who knows where.Her head hurt so much and it was due to the rod that was used to make them go unconscious. She couldn't remember much as her memory was still not clear, but she knew they were dragged to a car after they were attacked, and the rest of what happened, was a mystery to her.Her father adjusted in his seat, trying to give himself some relief from the chains used to tie him down, but instead, he whimpered. He got hurt doing that. Giving up on trying to make himself comfortable, he took his gaze to Loretta. "I am sorry Lorry
Did she just scream at the one who has her life on the tip of his palm? People tell her that she was being too stubborn for a girl and it would lead her to a lot of trouble. Guess what they all said was coming true. She was in a bigger trouble. She expected to hear a big bang and then wake up in heaven or hell but felt nothing.Slowly, she opened her eyes and caught his gaze on her with the gun away from her father's head. He didn't kill him?The man looked at her from head to toe for the first time and drew his brows together. He was only focused on his traitor and never bothered about the daughter as he planned to kill them both anyway but she got his attention.A girl so daring that she dared yell at him and call him an asshole when she was at the point of being gunned down?He curled up the corner of his lips in amusement and faced her completely. "Guess you want to trade sides with him since you are so daring." "Please don't. Please don't touch her!" It was Edward's turn to pani
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" She yelled out loud, breathing heavily as her heart crept to her mouth and her body went numb. What should she do? Even though her father was a scum, she wouldn't want to lose him. He was a great father to her when her mother was still alive and he was the only family she had. She loves her father so much and wouldn't want to see him dead. The man before her is Hades himself. "Please give me some time to think. I promise I will bring an answer to you. I will find a way to get your money."Fabian laughed and she knew his answer. He wasn't going to give her some time to think about his request."I said, I don't bargain. You can only give out your answer right this very moment or you will get the privilege to see your father's brain on the floor.""Please forgive him! Please!" She cried but it fell on deaf ears. He was going to do it. He was going to kill the only family she had left.What choice does she have? It would be six months anyway. Six months and everythi