55Lilian POVGrace, always the curious one, asked, "So, what's on the menu for tonight?"I couldn't hide the worry that crept into my voice as I replied, "Well, this evening, I decided to cooked The Truffle Risotto with Edible Gold Flakes."Yeah ultimately I decided to keep this dish, I wasn't going to live according to Lucas or avoid cooking his preferences, ever in life! Lucas raised an eyebrow in intrigue, his eyes darting towards the kitchen. "Oh, really? That sounds interesting. I'm excited to try it." He said, a hint of excitement in his voice. Then he looked at me as if to say, 'you prepared it because you knew it was my favorite food, right?' I quickly looked away embarrassed.But my heart fluttered at his genuine interest, even though I tried to hide it. After all, he was my ex-crush and nobody knew the conflicted emotions I still harbored.I finally nodded, feeling a mixture of pride and nervousness. "Yes, really. I thought it would be a nice treat for tonight."Cooking h
56Lilian POVAs if sensing the need to break the oppressive atmosphere, Damien cleared his throat and turned to Grace, his thoughtful expression evident. "You know, Grace, I think you are right. But, there's something more urgent at the moment," he said, eyes darting between her and me.Curiosity piqued, I glanced up from my glass, waiting for Damien to continue.Leaning forward, Damien's voice lowered, a sense of urgency creeping into his words. "After hearing about how someone tried to kill Lilian the same way they tried to kill you, Grace, an idea occurred to me," he revealed, his eyes flickering with a newfound determination.Grace's eyes widened, her demeanor shifting from combative to intrigued. "What idea, Damien?""Well," he began, his voice taking on a more grave tone, "I was thinking of installing cameras in the hospital. That way, we might be able to catch whoever is responsible for these attempts on both your lives."That damn idea of cameras again? I thought we agreed
57Lilian POVWhen I woke up the next morning, I immediately noticed that the bed was empty. Damien hadn't slept next to me. Not that I was surprised after our nasty argument yesterday. Determined to clear the air, I quickly brushed my teeth, changed my clothes, and went in search of him.I made my way to the guest room, but he wasn't there. Seeking him out, I descended the stairs and entered the living room, only to find Damien lying on the couch fast asleep. Quietly, I settled myself beside him and gently shook him awake.He opened his eyes, and his expression was filled with anger. I contemplated my next words carefully before launching into the conversation. "We need to seriously talk, Damien," I said softly, hoping to convey my sincerity.He groaned and rubbed his face, clearly not thrilled about having this discussion. "What is it now?" he muttered, clearly still upset from last night's events.Taking a deep breath, I began to explain. "I understand that I went too far with the
58Lilian POVHer response caught me completely off guard, and I couldn't help but burst into laughter. "A nurse-turned-mechanic, huh? That's quite a shift! But I can see how your attention to detail would come in handy in that field."Lisa immediately held her mouth as if she regretted her answer. Intrigued by her reaction, I asked her if there was a problem. "Is something wrong, Lisa?"She hesitated for a moment before answering, "I'm sorry, Lilian. I'm afraid my answer may have upset you."I chuckled, trying to hide my confusion. "Upset me? Why would it upset me?"She lowered her gaze, hesitating once again, and then finally spoke, "Well, you see, I work at your fiancé hospital where we first met, and I thought you'd have a certain image of me being fully dedicated to nursing. I didn't mean to disappoint you."I couldn't help but be amused by her concern. "Oh, Lisa! Don't you worry. I think it's amazing how you followed your passion and found new interests. It shows how versatile a
59Lilian POVLater, as I was engrossed in my work, a sudden knock interrupted my concentration. Irritated, I was about to called out to the person to enter, only to be taken aback as the door swung open to reveal Lucas striding in with his trademark arrogance. "Couldn't you wait until I gave you permission to enter? What if i was naked?" I snapped, my annoyance evident in my tone. But Lucas simply smirked in response, his handsome face betraying a hint of mischief. "Come on, Lilian. As far as I know, this won't be the first or last time I see you naked," he chuckled, his self-assurance oozing from every pore. My cheeks flushed at his audacious remark, a mix of embarrassment and frustration filling me."Enough!" I exclaimed, my anger bubbling to the surface. "It was a mistake for both of us that night." But Lucas only laughed dismissively, seemingly unperturbed by my words."Oh, yes. Let's console ourselves with that," he retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Suddenly, his expre
60Lilian POVAt home, as we sat down to dinner, I looked at Damien and couldn't contain my fake excitement. "Guess what, Damien?" I exclaimed. "Logan has progressed with his investigations! He has a date with Lisa tonight and plans to use the opportunity to gather evidence."Damien paused, mid-bite of his delicious chicken parmigiana, and raised an eyebrow. "Lisa? Do you think she fits the profile of our culprit?" he asked, clearly curious.I carefully placed my fork down on my plate and rested both elbows on the table, crossing my hands. Thinking for a moment, I replied, "From my point of view, no, I don't believe Lisa is our culprit. But of course, I could be wrong. However, I have this gut feeling that tells me the real culprit is watching us from a distance, almost enjoying our confusion."Damien took a sip of his rich, full-bodied red wine and confidently stated, "I trust Logan's judgment. If he suspects Lisa, there must be a reason for it."Letting out a sigh, unsure of which d
61Lucas POV After paying the bill at the restaurant, I insisted on treating Lisa and we hailed a taxi to her apartment, where my investigation would begin.As we arrived at her cozy and inviting apartment, I couldn't help but be drawn to the warm and homely atmosphere. Soft lighting and tasteful decorations created a pleasant ambiance that put me at ease, at least momentarily.The walls were adorned with framed photographs, capturing precious moments and memories. The living room had a comfortable sofa and a large television, inviting relaxation. It had a warm and inviting ambiance.But my mind was preoccupied with the task at hand."Thanks for tonight, Logan. I had a wonderful time," Lisa said with a smile as we stood inside her apartment.Returning her smile, I replied, "The pleasure was all mine, Lisa. I'm glad we got to spend this time together."But behind that smile, I couldn't shake off my suspicions. I knew I had to act on them, even if it meant invading Lisa's privacy. So,
62Lilian POVInfuriated by Lucas behavior, I couldn't help but retort, "And by behaving this way, how exactly do you expect me to join your pack of my own free will? I am not some puppet to be forced into a role."With a stern expression, he coldly informed me," Lilian listen to me very well,” he began, his voice firm, “I would resort to force if necessary and make you my Luna." The threat hung heavily in the air, causing a mix of disappointment, annoyance, and anger to surge within me. Shaking my head, I decided to abruptly change the subject, trying to divert his attention."Is it possible that someone knew about your date with Lisa and purposefully placed the photo to frame her?" I questioned, my tone sharp with accusation. He let out a mocking laugh, his gaze piercing into me as though I were a fool. "Lilian, you always make these crazy assumptions," he scoffed. Just as his words echoed through the room, a sudden knock at the door interrupted us.Before we could give permission