Finally, they pulled up to Lyle’s expansive, brightly lit estate. The driver escorted her inside, and Jania appeared to guide her through the grand entryway and the lit corridors.
"He’s waiting in his office," Jania whispered, giving Eira an encouraging nod before turning away.
Eira sighed, knocking on the door before slowly opening it and stepping inside, closing the door behind her.
She looked up to see Lyle standing by the window, silhouetted against the dim evening light. Dressed in all black, he stood with his back to her, staring out into the vast gardens as he swirled a drink in his hand.
"Sit," he said, his voice low and steady, though he didn’t turn to face her.
Eira pursed her lips and shrugged. "I’d prefer standing."
"Check if what’s on the table is everything you asked for."
She arched an eyebrow, montarily caught off guard. "What?"
"The table," he repeated, his tone unchanging. Her gaze shifted, following his direction to the ticulously arranged papers and folders that lay in perfect alignnt. Near her side of the table were two docunts placed side by side, along with a set of keys and a small card embossed with her na.
Curious, she moved closer. The docunts were a deed of ownership for a penthouse and a certificate of title for a Ferrari Portofino. Next to them lay a sleek set of car keys and a small card embossed with her na. Eira’s fingers traced the edge of the card, picking it up as she asked, "What’s this for?"
"A credit card," Lyle replied, finally turning to her, his gaze sharp. "With a fifty million dollar limit."
Her lips curved into a half-smile as she took the car keys and twirled them between her fingers. "You really are crazy rich, huh? I suppose that explains why you’re at the top of the business world." Dropping the keys and the card, she held up the docunts, glancing over the details. A wave of mories hit her—the luxury, the power, all things she had known as Eira Kingston, and now Ephyra Allen would have them too.
"Thank you," she said softly, a hint of genuine gratitude in her voice.
Lyle’s expression didn’t change. "You don’t have to thank . We had a deal—you’re fulfilling your part; I’m fulfilling mine. Have you handled your engagent?"
Eira crossed her arms, a shadow passing over her features. "You an, when am I going to deal with that bastard and my stepsister?" She sighed, her voice laced with irritation. "Simply leaking the videos online seems too easy now. I want the people who actually matter—their peers, the ones in their social circle—to see it. Those are the opinions that will hit hardest, the ones that could really hurt Myra and the Latham family. But as for how to pull it off... I’m still working on it."
"If you need anything, just let Jania know. And, Liam ntioned he’ll need a blood sample from you for so tests."
Eira rolled her eyes, sighing dramatically. "Sotis, I feel like so kind of lab rat. Or maybe like a dutiful wife trying to save her husband’s life." She chuckled. "And getting married to you only makes it stranger."
Lyle didn’t reply, his attention now seemingly absorbed by sothing on his phone. She studied him, irritation flaring as she felt dismissed. After a mont, she huffed, "You know, calling at this ti of night just for this? That’s not normal. It’s almost like you’re allergic to dayti conversations. I keep telling myself you’re not a normal human, and honestly, you just keep proving right."
Lyle finally looked up, his violet eyes darkening. His face was blank, but sothing in his gaze felt cold, even dangerous, and Eira’s confidence faltered.
She took a step back, pointing hastily towards the door. "Right, well... I think I’ll be going now. Thanks. Bye!"
Without another glance, she hurried out of the room and down the hall. Her heart raced as she nearly collided with Jania, who was waiting outside.
"Whoa, whoa," Jania laughed as she steadied her. "What happened?"
Eira shivered. "I think I said sothing that made him angry. He looked at like... like he was so kind of demon."
Jania stifled a laugh. "You say that now, but you’re going to be the demon’s bride soon enough. Co on, I have sothing for you."
"What is it?" Eira asked, falling into step beside her as they headed towards the stairs.
"I had Han investigate your stepmother while he was investigating you. I thought it was strange she knew soone like Rico. He uncovered so... interesting details."
"What did he find?"
Jania’s expression turned thoughtful. "Your stepmother was an orphan and grew up in an orphanage. By fourteen, she was taking on part-ti jobs, likely to save up and leave as soon as she could. By eighteen, she had moved out and was living in a small apartnt with a roommate. Marianna was clever, and one of her friends from the orphanage happened to be Rico."
Eira’s brow furrowed as she absorbed each piece of the story.
"Rico was a troublemaker and got noticed by a gang leader who eventually recruited him," Jania continued. "Not long after, Marianna left the shared apartnt and sohow moved into a much more upscale one. She wasn’t working during that ti and even had a pregnancy test done at a hospital. Within a year, she landed a job at an exclusive nightclub—one that your father often visited."
Eira raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."
"The night before your parents’ wedding, your father requested Marianna specifically to serve him and his friends. And even after he married your mother, he kept going back, always asking for her."
A smile tugged at the corner of Eira’s mouth. "Sounds like my father might not be Myra’s real father." She t Jania’s eyes. "Is Rico dead?"
Jania nodded. "Yes."
"Is there anyone from the local gang who was close to Marianna’s old boyfriend and is still alive?" Eira asked, her mind already racing with possibilities.
"We can find out," Jania replied.
"Please do. I have a few questions that need answers."
Jania tilted her head, giving her an appraising look. "Are you staying the night here?"
Eira crossed her arms, frowning. "Why?"
Jania raised her hands, chuckling. "No reason. Just thought you might be tired. Besides, you’ll be living here soon—might as well start getting used to it."
Eira sighed, the weight of the day finally settling on her. She yawned and stretched. "You might be right. I just need to text Elma, so she doesn’t worry when she finds my room empty."
Jania smiled as she guided Eira down a hallway. "Let show you to your room."
Eira followed, glancing around the grand house as they walked. "Is it the sa one I stayed in before?"
"Yes." Jania stopped in front of a familiar door and gave her a warm smile. "Goodnight, Eira."
"Goodnight." Eira stepped inside as Jania closed the door behind her. She pulled out her phone and typed a quick ssage to her maid.
Ephyra: Elma, I forgot to ntion that I’ll be out early tomorrow for the art project I told you about. Don’t worry if you don’t see in my room in the morning. Goodnight and sweet dreams.
With a sigh, she placed her phone on the nightstand, slipping under the covers as her eyes grew heavy. Just before sleep claid her, a thought surfaced, sparking a small smile:
Alan must have had quite a surprise.
|Half An Hour Earlier.|
Alan got out of his car, smiling all the way to to the entrance. He suddenly stopped, forgetting to take the gifts Myra’s mother gave him that he placed in the trunk.
He walked back and pressed the key. Imdiately, the trunk opened up and instead of the gifts, he saw three n, tied up and gagged.
Alan’s eyes widened as he stared at the bound n cramd into the trunk of his car. Shock, disbelief, and a creeping sense of dread flitted across his face as he staggered back, barely managing to keep his balance. His heart thundered in his chest, trying to process what he was seeing.
The three n were barely conscious, their faces battered and swollen, eyes half-open as they looked up at him with a mix of fear and pain. One of them mumbled sothing through his gag, his voice a muffled plea, but Alan caught enough to feel the heavy weight of dread settle deep in his gut.
"What... what is this?" he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. He glanced around the empty parking lot, hoping for soone—anyone—to appear and make sense of the bizarre scene, but he was utterly alone.
Swallowing hard, he fumbled for his phone, intending to call the person who had sent the n. But just as he unlocked the screen, a notification popped up—a new ssage.
The sender was an unknown number, but the words on the screen sent a chill through him: "Surprised, Alan? This is just a taste of what’s to co. Consider it a warning. Next ti, you won’t be so lucky. Neither you nor your fiancée."
Alan’s mouth went dry. He didn’t need to guess who was behind this. But... how?
The mory of his last encounter with Ephyra flashed before him. She’d seed fine earlier that evening, too fine. He had expected her to be broken, distraught, vulnerable. But tonight, she’d been calm, just as she’d been ever since her accident.. She was... different.
He had sent these n to her, certain she wouldn’t be able to resist them, let alone fight back. But he couldn’t have imagined this outco. This wasn’t the Ephyra he knew. She was soone else, soone new.
His gaze drifted back to the n lying in the trunk. Did she know that he had sent them? And if she did... what would she do now?
His blood ran cold as the implications sank in. No. He shook his head, trying to steady himself. No, she wouldn’t do that. She couldn’t.
But the question that lingered in his mind wouldn’t go away: How on earth had she done this? And, more urgently, What the hell was he supposed to do now?
"Fuck!" Alan hissed, kicking the side of the car and running his hands through his hair, disheveled and panicked. No one could know about this. Especially not his mother.
Desperation clawed at him as he stared at the n, his mind racing, knowing he was in way over his head.
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