Lewis passed the sales report to like it ant nothing.
"This is Mrs. Hale," he said calmly to the manager. "From now on, everything here goes through her."
The room went still.
The manager froze. His eyes flicked from Lewis to , clearly caught off guard. Our marriage wasn’t public yet, but Lewis spoke with the kind of certainty that made questions die before they were ford.
He straightened quickly, respect settling into his posture like instinct. "My apologies, Mrs. Hale," he said, bowing slightly. "I didn’t recognize you."
I smiled, slow and composed. "That’s fine. You may go."
Across the room, Lincy and Yenik stared at like I’d just torn the ground out from under their feet.
Lincy’s hand shook as she pointed. "You planned this!" she yelled. "You set us up to overspend!"
I blinked at her, all wide eyes and innocence. "Lincy, that’s a serious thing to say. You were the one who kept raising the bids. I even stepped aside a few tis for you. Didn’t you want those pieces?"
Yenik’s face went pale.
That was when it hit him.
It wasn’t the money. Two Grantion wouldn’t ruin him. But being outplayed like this, in front of everyone? That cut far deeper.
Instead of looking at , he turned on Lewis. "Mr. Hale," he said tightly, anger shaking his voice. "You’re respected in business. I never thought your success ca from trapping others."
Lewis finally looked up.
His gaze was steady. Cold. Unbothered.
He answered with one word.
"Idiot."
The room seed to exhale all at once.
Yenik couldn’t say a thing. Any response now would only humiliate him further.
I leaned forward, smiling sweetly. "Thank you, Ms. Ashbourne and Mr. Hudson, for your generous contribution of two Grantion. Lustre Jewels truly appreciates your support. We hope to see you again."
Lincy’s face twisted. She spun on her heel, fury radiating off her. "Riley, you’ll regret this!" she snapped before storming out.
I laughed so hard I had to grab Lewis’s arm to steady myself.
If Riley could see this, I hoped she was smiling.
This was only the beginning.
On the drive ho, I couldn’t stop grinning.
"You enjoyed that," Lewis said, amusent threading through his voice.
I leaned back, mories surfacing.
Riley had been invisible once. Quiet. Overlooked. Until Yenik noticed her and made her feel special. Chosen.
Then she walked in on him with Lincy.
Lincy hadn’t even flinched. Draped in silk, smug and calm. "You caught us," she’d said. "We’ve been together for a while."
That was the mont Riley broke.
And when Yenik later brushed it off called it a mistake, blad her for not giving him what he wanted sothing inside her went silent forever.
After Yenik left her, Riley fell into a darkness she never climbed out of.
I rember finding her once on the school rooftop. She was crouched by the railing, crying into her arms. Not quiet tears. Real ones. The kind that tear out of your chest and leave you empty.
Back then, I didn’t understand how pain could break soone like that. I didn’t know what kind of hurt could make a person want to vanish.
Later, I understood everything.
Riley had spent her whole life chasing warmth. She held on to the few soft monts she shared with her mother like they were precious. Like they might disappear if she loosened her grip.
She could have grown stronger. She could have found her way.
But Yenik crushed the last fragile hope she had left.
And he didn’t just leave.
He chose Lincy.
That alone was enough to destroy her.
Her life ended there. Quietly. Tragically.
But for , that was the beginning.
I promised myself I would live for her. I would turn every scar into strength. I would make her pain an sothing.
I looked at Lewis and smiled faintly. "I’m happy," I said.
A tear slipped down my cheek anyway.
He lifted his hand and brushed it away with his thumb. His touch was gentle, steady. Grounding.
"If you’re happy," he asked softly, "why are you crying?"
I didn’t know.
Maybe it was relief. Maybe grief. Maybe both had tangled together inside .
Once the tears started, they wouldn’t stop.
Were they for Riley?
Or for the soul who woke up inside her broken body?
Good people always seem to suffer the most. Cruel ones walk free.
That wasn’t right.
And I would change it.
Lewis pulled into his arms. His hold was warm, firm, protective. Like a place I belonged.
"Don’t cry," he murmured.
For the first ti, I let myself break. Really break. Quiet sobs against his chest.
He didn’t move. Didn’t pull away.
He only held tighter.
"It’s over," he said softly. "You survived."
I looked up. His eyes t mine. Deep. Serious. Honest.
"What?" I asked.
He brushed my hair behind my ear. "You’ve been through hell," he said. "But you’re not alone anymore."
He was right.
Later that night, back at the Hale estate, I sank into a hot bath. Steam filled the room. The weight on my chest slowly eased.
Today, I won. For Riley. For myself.
Feeling lighter, I called out playfully, "Mr. Hale, do you have wine?"
"Yes," he answered. "Want a glass?"
"Let’s share a bottle."
I poured two glasses and raised mine. "To you, Mr. Hale. Thank you for standing by ."
He smiled. "Always."
I lifted my glass again. "And to . Because I survived."
"You earned it," he said.
Then I poured a third glass and raised it quietly.
This one was for Riley.
Before I drank, Lewis caught my wrist gently. "Careful. It’s strong."
I laughed. "Relax. I can handle it."
I could not.
The mont I swallowed, the room tilted.
Oh no.
This body wasn’t used to alcohol.
I tried to stand. My legs failed .
The glass shattered as I fell straight into Lewis.
"M-Mr. Hale..." I slurred.
"You’re drunk," he said calmly, holding steady.
"I think there are two of you..."
I reached for his face. He caught my hand.
"Stop touching things," he muttered.
"Did I touch sothing?" I blinked, confused.
I leaned closer and pressed my palm to his cheek.
"You used to scare ," I murmured. "I thought you were so cold, dangerous man..."
He chuckled softly. "That bad?"
"Yes. I thought you’d eat alive." I squinted at him. "But your mouth isn’t even that big."
I poked his lips.
They were warm. Soft.
"Did you hide sharp teeth in there?" I teased, sliding my finger to the corner of his mouth.
To my surprise, he opened his mouth slightly.
I giggled. "Your ears are red. Are you so kind of shy bunny "
His lips crashed into mine.
I froze.
Then he pulled closer, holding firmly, not letting escape.
His voice was low, rough, pressed against my mouth.
"Elena," he whispered, "you’re wrong."
His breath was warm. Dangerous.
"I’ve always wanted to devour you whole."
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