Chapter 16:Lilian POV:I conducted chemical tests on the nitrate and observed that it had been tampered with. Based on this evidence, I concluded that it was undoubtedly a criminal act. Drew, the unpleasant individual, had previously vowed to make my life miserable. Thus, I strongly suspected his involvement. To ensure the safety of the remaining medication I had available for Eli-Dad, I disposed of it, as it was highly probable that it too had been sabotaged. Following that, I proceeded to Lucas' apartment to discuss the matter with him.Furious at Drew's actions, I decided to confront Lucas about it. Determined, I disposed of the remaining medication intended for Eli-Dad in case it had also been sabotaged, which was probably the case , and I headed straight to Lucas' apartment. As I arrived, I noticed that his door was wide open and without hesitation, I entered without knocking.Lucas was completely absorbed in his TV show, completely oblivious to my presence. I cleared my throat
Chapter 17:Lilian POV:I felt really bad, I just wanted to disappear.Taking a moment to collect myself, I retreated to my room and reached for the package of makeup that I had bought from Cassandra's parents. I hadn't even used it yet. Carefully opening it, I examined the array of colors available to me.With a determined expression, I picked up the deep red lipstick and applied it, adding a touch of mystery and power to my look. Next, I chose a smoky eyeshadow palette, blending the dark grays and shimmering blacks. It enhanced my eyes, giving them an intensity that matched my resolve. Finally, I brushed a touch of blush on my cheeks, adding a subtle hint of color to my otherwise pale complexion.Feeling transformed yet ready to face whatever lay ahead, I looked at myself in the mirror. The result was quite good. With a final adjustment to my hair, I left my room, still donning my new fierce appearance, and made my way to Selena's , my only friend and ally here. I needed some comfor
Chapter 18:Without warning, the guards burst into my room and grasped onto me, their strong hands dragging me out forcefully.I was alarmed and confused. "What's going on?" I quizzed the guards haltingly, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand. "Where are you taking me?""Quiet, woman," one of the six guards barked sternly, grabbing me by the arm. "You'll find out soon enough."I tried to resist, but it was futile. They were too strong and too numerous."What's happening?!" I cried in confusion, my voice trembling with fear."Stay quiet and come with us," one of the guards commanded, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.I frantically looked around, still in my pajamas, a transparent pink robe, feeling exposed and vulnerable. Panic raced through my mind as I futilely attempted to resist their overpowering strength."Please, tell me where you're taking me!" I pleaded, my voice desperate and filled with uncertainty.The guards exchanged a glance, their faces remaining stoic. They ign
Chapter 19:Lilian POV:The guards came forward to escort me away, their presence only further fueling my helplessness. As they led me away, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of despair. Tears flowed from my eyes like a river, uncontrollably. I knew I looked like nothing, as a mess at that moment as the guards led me away. I looked back one last time, hoping he would reconsider, my eyes met Lucas's eyes, and for a few seconds, I thought I saw guilt in his eyes. Then his face transformed into a hard, closed and cold expression that I had seen before when he was guilty. The guards immediately directed me towards Eli-Dad's room, but just as I was about to enter, Drew interrupted, insisting that he needed to talk to me alone."What an idiot and asshole," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes and swiftly wiping away my tears when the guards lowered me to the ground. By now, I desperately wanted to escape, but what was the point? Where could I possibly hide? It would onl
Chapter 20:Lilian POV:I was completely disconnected from the outside world, fully focused on my mission. Eli-Dad had miraculously regained his ability to stand and was considering leaving. Gently, I assisted him in getting up and encouraged him to take a few steps, but to our amusement, he tumbled back onto his bed. We couldn't help but burst into laughter, relieved that he hadn't hurt himself.As we joyfully chuckled, Eli-Dad started a conversation, and my heart swelled with happiness knowing that his recovery meant my freedom. Finally, I would be able to leave Moonlit Groves Pack and return to the human world and reunite with my triplets and my fiancé Damien. It was a moment of pure bliss.But suddenly, the door abruptly swung open, and Lucas stormed in with a grave expression etched across his face. My instincts immediately told me that something was terribly wrong. Suppressing my hatred for him, I set it aside and mustered the courage to ask him, "Lucas, what's happened?"Much t
Chapter 21:Lilian POV"Ooh," I began, caught off guard by his sudden display of affection, "what are you doing?"With a mischievous grin, he replied, "Just giving you a big bear hug!"I couldn't help but chuckle as he lifted me off the ground, my laughter escaping uncontrollably of my mouth. "Stop it!" I managed to say between giggles. "You can't just sweep me off my feet like this."Ignoring my plea, he held me tightly against him. "Come on, don't be mad, it's all in good fun."But as reality returned, I reminded myself to stay angry with him, not to laugh. My laughter turned into frustration. "No, seriously, put me down!" I demanded.He shook his head, a stubborn glint in his eyes. "Not until you forgive me."His defiance only fueled my annoyance. I let out a scream of exasperation, hoping he would finally comply. "Fine, if that's what it takes!"Reluctantly, he released his grip, and I found myself back on solid ground. As the world spun briefly, dizziness taking over, I took a mo
Chapter 22I couldn't help but wonder what game Lucas was playing. His sudden closeness and words of admiration had left me intrigued, yet wary. I had always been drawn to his mysterious aura, but this encounter felt different.I hesitantly made my way outside, my senses still on high alert. Lucas had a way of making me feel both mesmerized and unsure of myself, and it was a combination that both fascinated and frightened me.As I crossed a room, a soft breeze rustled the curtains, leaving a chill in the air. I shivered, unable to shake off the lingering presence of Lucas. The way he had studied me, as if trying to unravel the depths of my soul, sent shivers down my spine.Arriving at Selena's place, I knocked repeatedly, but received no answer. Frustration creeping in, I even called out her name, but there was still no response. I turned and saw Selena's neighbor , a woman , I noticed her friendly smile and decided to strike up a conversation. "Hey there, how's your day going?" I as
Chapter 23Lilian POV:I stood frozen for a moment, the exhaustion and unease intertwining within me. The fact that he was sitting uninvited in my room only heightened my apprehension."What do you mean we need to talk?" I asked cautiously, trying to mask my vulnerability. "It's late, and I've had a long day. Can't this wait?"Lucas let out a low chuckle, He met my gaze with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine . "No, it can't wait," he replied, his voice laced with a mix of determination and secrecy. "There are things you need to know, things that can't be ignored any longer. We need to address things now."I crossed my arms, feeling a mixture of anger and frustration. "Address what exactly? And how did you even get into my room?" He took a deep breath, his eyes searching for the right words. "I found your spare keys, tucked away in that drawer by the entrance. I never intended to invade your privacy, believe me." I stared at him, stunned by his confession. "So you just
98Lilian My heart sank at his words, but I forced myself to stay calm, though every part of me wanted to lash out. “Why?” I asked, my voice almost breaking. “Why would you do that, Lucas?”He gave me a look of exaggerated disbelief. “What? A guy like me can’t settle down?”“You and I both know this isn’t about settling down,” I said bitterly, trying to keep the anger from spilling over. “You’re playing a game, as always.”Lucas shrugged, completely unbothered by my accusation. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. What does it matter? Grace is head over heels for me, and I thought, why not? Might as well have a little fun.”“Fun?” I repeated, my voice rising despite my best efforts to keep it steady. “You’re talking about someone’s life, Lucas! Grace actually believes this is real!”“And whose fault is that?” he shot back, his smirk fading just slightly. “She chose to believe what she wanted. I never promised her a fairy tale.”“You proposed to her!” I spat, unable to contain my frustration a
97Lilian I stood there, frozen for a moment after Grace left, her excitement lingering in the air while I was trapped in a whirlpool of my own thoughts. Damien hadn’t said a word since she left, but I could feel the storm brewing inside him. His shoulders were tense, and he kept running a hand through his hair, something he only did when he was stressed beyond measure.I cleared my throat, trying to ease the tension in the room. "Damien, what’s going on?" I asked softly, stepping closer to him. "You’re clearly not fine."He stopped pacing, his eyes meeting mine, and I could see the frustration brewing behind them. "Lilian, we need to talk," he said, his voice low but sharp. My stomach clenched. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what was coming next."What’s wrong?" I pressed, hoping to keep the conversation calm.He took a deep breath, rubbing his temples like he was trying to gather the right words. "It’s about the money."I blinked, confused. "The money? What about it?""You’ve been
96Lilian A few days later, I sat on the sofa, half-watching a TV show that I wasn’t really invested in. My mind kept drifting back to Lisa’s situation and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness that had gripped me since my conversation with Rebecca. The tension in the house was palpable, but I was trying to distract myself, anything to escape the weight of reality for a little while.Suddenly, I heard a loud knock at the door, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone letting themselves in. Before I could even process what was happening, Grace came barreling into the living room like a whirlwind."Lilian!" she shouted, her voice brimming with excitement as she practically leapt at me. I barely had time to react before she was hugging me tightly, her energy infectious. “Grace, what—?” I started, trying to get a word in as she pulled back and thrust her hand in front of my face. I blinked, trying to focus on what she was showing me.Her eyes were practically glowing with joy as
95Lilian As I pulled into my driveway, I was surprised to see Damien’s car parked outside. It took me a moment to remember that today was Wednesday, his usual day to come home early. I entered the house and found Damien in the living room, lounging on the sofa with a book. He looked up as I walked in, his eyes narrowing slightly with concern. “Hey, Lilian,” he said, setting the book aside. “You’re home early. Everything alright?”I hesitated, trying to concoct a believable excuse. “Oh, um, I wasn’t feeling well, so I decided to come back early,” I said, forcing a weak smile.Damien’s expression softened, but there was a note of reproach in his voice. “I told you not to push yourself too hard. You should really take it easy. If you’re not feeling well, it’s better to rest up for a few days.”“I’m fine,” I insisted, though I knew it was a lie. “I didn’t think it was that serious.”“No, Lilian,” Damien said firmly, rising from the sofa and walking over to me. “You need to stay home a
94Lilian Once I was in my car, I pulled out my phone and quickly searched for the best private detective agency in town. After a few rings, a calm, professional voice answered.“Good afternoon, Zenith Investigations. How can we assist you today?”“Hi, this is Dr. Lilian Grey,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I need to hire a private detective to investigate someone. It’s urgent.”“Certainly, Dr. Grey,” the receptionist replied smoothly. “May I ask for some details? Who is the subject of the investigation, and what exactly are you looking for?”I hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “Her name is Grace Walters. I suspect she might be involved in something... illegal. I need someone to dig into her background, her recent activities, everything.”“Understood,” the receptionist said. “We’ll assign one of our best detectives to your case. When would you be available for a meeting to discuss this further?”“Right now,” I said, not wanting to waste any more t
93My jaw tightened as I struggled to keep my composure. “That’s great to hear, Grace.”Lucas looked at me with a mixture of surprise and unease. “Lilian, I didn’t expect to see you here.”“Apparently,” I said, my tone sharper than I intended, “neither did I.”Grace’s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. “Well, Logan and I have been working through things. He’s taking responsibility now, and I really believe we have a future together.”I fought to keep my eyes from rolling. “I’m glad you think so.”Lucas shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting between Grace and me. “Lilian, I—”“Don’t,” I interrupted, my voice cold. “I don’t want to hear it.”Grace’s eyes widened, her enthusiasm dimming as she sensed the tension. “Is everything okay, Lilian?”“No,” I said, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “Everything is not okay.”Grace looked between us, her confusion evident. “What’s wrong?”I took a deep breath, trying to control my emotions. “Lisa Hackerman is in jail, and yo
92**Lilian’s POV**I sat in my car, the engine humming softly, and stared at the police station. The building loomed in front of me, a cold reminder of the mess everything had become. I took a deep breath and forced myself to get out of the car. I needed to see Lisa, to understand what was happening from her perspective. With a determined stride, I walked to the entrance and was met by a stern-faced officer.“I’m here to see Lisa Hackerman,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the knot of anxiety in my chest.The officer raised an eyebrow, his gaze scrutinizing. “You’re allowed five minutes. Follow me.”My heart pounded as he led me through the maze of corridors. I tried to ignore the gnawing worry that threatened to overwhelm me. Finally, he stopped in front of a cell and unlocked the door. As it swung open, Lisa looked up, her face lighting up with a mixture of surprise and hope.“Lilian!” she exclaimed, her voice cracking slightly. She rushed to the bars, her eyes wide
91I stood there, staring at Lucas, feeling the frustration and anger boiling inside me. The tension between us was thick, and I struggled to keep my voice calm as I asked, "So, you’re still with her?"Lucas nodded, avoiding my gaze, and that small movement made my blood boil. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. "Yeah... for now. I need to figure things out, Lilian. Everything’s so messed up right now."I clenched my fists so tight that my nails dug into my palms, trying to control the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. "Lucas, this isn’t just about you figuring things out. Grace deserves to know the truth, and so does Lisa. You can’t keep stringing everyone along like this."“I know,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. His eyes met mine briefly, filled with guilt and weariness, before he looked away again. "I know," he whispered again, almost like he was ashamed to admit it. "But I’m stuck, Lilian. I don’t know how to make this right."I could feel the frustration a
90Lilian's POVThe next day, Damien left early for work, his usual confidence masking the tension that still lingered between us. I felt a knot of frustration tighten in my chest as I watched him go, his words from the night before still echoing in my mind. I couldn't shake the doubt he’d planted, but I also couldn't let go of my belief in Lisa's innocence. I needed to talk to someone who might understand, or at least help me see things more clearly. I decided to visit Lucas. I had to know what he thought about Lisa’s arrest. Maybe he could offer a perspective that would ease my troubled mind. As I walked to his apartment, my heart pounded with a mix of anxiety and determination. I wasn't sure what I was hoping to hear, but I knew I needed to talk to him.When I reached Lucas’s door, I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering just inches from the wood. Finally, I knocked, the sound echoing through the hallway. A few seconds later, the door creaked open, and there he was, looking a l