Lustra 的作品

Chapter 76Rhett’s POVFive Years Later...If someone had told me five years ago that I’d be sitting cross-legged on the bed, a picture book balanced awkwardly in my hands, clearing my throat to do different voices while two small humans stared at me like tiny, merciless judges, I would’ve murdered someone in broad daylight.Yet here I was.“Daddy,” Brianna said sweetly, batting her lashes in a way that was criminal for a five-year-old, “you skipped the dragon part.”“I did not skip the dragon part,” I muttered, flipping the page back with a sigh. “The dragon is right here. See? Big. Scaly. Breathes fire and terrifying.”Aaron, a three years old was sprawled dramatically on his stomach, chin in his palms, frowned. “He’s not scary.”“He’s supposed to be scary,” I argued, rubbing my eyes. “Come on kids, it’s past your bedtime.”“It’s not,” Aaron said confidently. “You promised us one more story.”“I said one more chapter,” I corrected.These little demons. Argh.Brianna leaned closer, h

Chapter 75Rhett’s POVDave didn’t sit the moment the door slammed shut, Astrid and Rico giving us some privacy after so much hesitation.He stood at the foot of the hospital bed like a man deciding whether to pull the plug or pull the trigger, hands in his pockets, shoulders stiff. His eyes were tired in a way that had nothing to do with age and everything to do with loss. The room still smelled faintly of antiseptic and something that reminded me too much of the deck and the fire and the sound of Astrid's voice.I swallowed, my throat dry.“Dave,” I started, my voice rougher than I meant it to be. “I owe you an apology. For everything.”He lifted a brow, unimpressed.“For Micah,” I continued, the name scraping my insides. “For Astrid. For your family. For dragging all of you into a world that destroys anything it touches. I—” I exhaled, pressing my palm into the mattress. “I’m sorry.”Silence stretched between us. Not the awkward kind. It was the kind that weighs.Dave studied me f

Chapter 74Astrid’s POVA steady, rhythmic beeping, distant and close all at once, like it was echoing from the inside of my skull. I floated in and out of it, my thoughts thick and slow, my body heavy as if I were trapped beneath water.I tried to move. Something tugged at my arm.“Astrid,” a voice said urgently. “She’s waking up.”My lashes fluttered open, light slicing through my vision, too bright, too white. My head throbbed as the world slowly stitched itself together. The sterile smell of antiseptic that burned my nose.A hospital.Panic surged through me fast.I sucked in a breath and my chest tightened, my hand flying instinctively to my stomach. A sob clawed its way out of me before I could stop it.“My baby,” I croaked. My throat felt raw, scraped hollow. “My baby—”Hands were suddenly on me, warm and familiar, holding me down gently when I tried to sit up. “Easy, sweetheart,” my mother’s voice trembled. “Please, don’t move.”Mom.Her face hovered above mine, pale, eyes red

Chapter 73Rhett’s POVThe road blurred beneath my tires as I drove like hell was chasing me, because in a way, it was. My phone vibrated again on the seat beside me, Rico’s name lighting up the screen, then Mercedes’, one after the other, relentless. I ignored both, my eyes fixed on the stretch of asphalt cutting through the night.I couldn’t slow down.If I did, fear would catch up, and I didn’t have room for it.The deck loomed closer with every mile, that godforsaken place where blood had been spilled before, where deals were sealed with lies and bullets. My grip tightened on the wheel as the text replayed itself in my mind.If you want to see your precious love alive…My phone rang again. I finally answered without looking.“What?” I snapped.Rico’s voice burst through, laced with urgency. “Where the hell are you, Rhett?”“Finding her,” I said, my voice low, coiled tight. “I'm ending this. Someone took her.”“Slow down,” he warned. “You don’t even know if it’s real.”“It’s real,

Chapter 72Rhett’s POVThe phone rang once.I stared at it like it had personally wronged me, my jaw tight, chest already bracing for disappointment. It rang again insistent, slicing through the low hum of the room.I snatched it up.“Well?” I demanded before the voice on the other end could finish breathing.A pause. “No confirmed sightings, boss. Nothing solid.”My grip tightened until my knuckles burned. “So what the hell are you calling me for?”“Just thought you’d want to know we’re still searching—”I ended the call and flung the phone across the room. It hit the wall and clattered to the floor, the sound too loud in the silence that followed.Nothing. Still nothing!Rico sat across from me, a glass of whiskey in his hand, watching me like he’d been doing all day and he hadn’t said much.He finally spoke. “You’re going to drink yourself into a grave if you keep this up.”I laughed, humorless. “Good.”“That’s not funny.”“I’m not trying to be.”I dragged a hand down my face and

Chapter 72Rhett’s POVThe phone rang once.I stared at it like it had personally wronged me, my jaw tight, chest already bracing for disappointment. It rang again insistent, slicing through the low hum of the room.I snatched it up.“Well?” I demanded before the voice on the other end could finish breathing.A pause. “No confirmed sightings, boss. Nothing solid.”My grip tightened until my knuckles burned. “So what the hell are you calling me for?”“Just thought you’d want to know we’re still searching—”I ended the call and flung the phone across the room. It hit the wall and clattered to the floor, the sound too loud in the silence that followed.Nothing. Still nothing!Rico sat across from me, a glass of whiskey in his hand, watching me like he’d been doing all day and he hadn’t said much.He finally spoke. “You’re going to drink yourself into a grave if you keep this up.”I laughed, humorless. “Good.”“That’s not funny.”“I’m not trying to be.”I dragged a hand down my face and

Chapter 9Clover's POVMia’s jaw actually dropped when the front doors of the Rossi penthouse swung open.She stood frozen in the living room, her eyes wide, while two maids hurried past with fresh flowers and another adjusted the lighting on a massive abstract painting I had chosen before my arrival.“Holy… Clover,” she breathed, spinning slowly to look at me. “This isn’t a house. This is a freaking museum. Look at that chandelier!”I smiled, watching her touch the velvet couch. “Oh c'mon, stop being dramatic.”“Dramatic? I'm not!”I chuckled, pinching the bridge of my nose. “It’s home now. Come on, I’ll show you around later. First, we’re going shopping.”Mia blinked. “Shopping? Like… normal shopping?”“Like I’m spoiling my best friend who put up with methroughout the years. It's worth it, c'mon.” I linked my arm through hers and pulled her toward away.“Consider it payback.”Two hours later, Mia twirled in front of the mirror in a designer boutique, wearing a red dress that hugged

Chapter 8Clover's POVThe airplane door opened and bright sunlight hit my face. I slipped on my dark shades, adjusted the collar of my tailored black coat, and stepped onto the stairs. Cameras flashed in my direction instantly,as if waiting for my arrival. Paparazzi surged forward like a wave, security guards forming a tight wall around me.“Miss Rossi! Is it true you’re the lost heiress of the Rossi Empire?”“Are you back to expand business in Eldoria?”“Any comment on your divorce from Damian Hale four years ago?”“Will you be taking over other businesses next?”Questions flew at me from every direction. I kept my chin high, my lips pressed in a calm line, letting the bodyguards clear the path. One reporter shoved a microphone too close and a guard gently pushed it back. “Miss Rossi!”“Miss Rossi, we just need a moment!”“NEWS FLASH: After four years of silence, Clover Rossi—ex-wife of business tycoon Damian Hale has returned to Eldoria City. Once known as the woman who disappear

Chapter 7Clover's POV“You are our daughter, Eleanor. We have waited twenty-four years to say those words.”Elena’s voice cracked on the last syllable as she stood in the grand sitting room, one hand pressed to her chest like she might fall apart if I denied her again. She looked at the man next to her with tears in her eyes. “Tell her it's the truth, Matteo.”Matteo, I assumed was her husband, stood beside her, his shoulders rigid, eyes never leaving my face. “Yes.”I gripped the edge of the velvet chair so hard my knuckles turned white. “My name is Clover. Not Eleanor and not your daughter. I don’t know who you think I am, but this is insane.”Elena took a shaky step closer. “Clover, then. We will call you whatever you wish. But look at me, sweetheart. The eyes, the hair, the small scar on your left wrist from when you were two and tried to climb the fountain at our old estate. We have the photos. The DNA results came back the moment they scanned you at the airport. You are ours.”

Chapter 6Kyle's POV“Her name is Luna.” I muttered, my voice Iow and calm. “Auburn hair, hazel eyes and about this tall. Tell me everything you know about her. Now.”The manager of The Velvet Room who had been on his knees for quite some time gasped for air, his face turning an ugly shade of purple. Three of his co-workers knelt alongside with him.“Mr Moretti…please…we don't have any Luna. She isn't a regular here by name. I swear on my life.”I slammed him against the wall, bottles rattled on the shelves. “Then check your cameras, your guest list. Your fucking memory. She was here.”One of the bartenders whimpered. “Sir, we get hundreds of people every night. We can't–”“Boss, we ran her description through every feed we pulled. No one is named Luna and the woman you described doesn't exist in our records.” My second-in-command interrupted, trudging forward with a phone in hand.Rage boiled up so fast my vision tunneled. I released the manager and he slid down the wall, coughing. I

Chapter 5Clover's POV The words landed punches in my guts and I staggered back, my world tilting.“Clover, listen. I have a vacant apartment that you can move in temporarily while I fix things. Just give me time, baby.”Foolish. So damn foolish.Rage exploded my vision. I slapped him hard across the face, the force echoing through the foyer. My palm stung.Victoria lunged at me instantly, shrieking. “How dare you touch my son!” Her hand connected with my cheek in return.Pain filled behind my eyes as I crumpled to the floor, suitcase tipping beside me. I could swear I almost saw stars.“Just sign the papers, Damian. Let's be done with this.”I watched in horror as Damian hesitated, then walked to the side table where the courier envelope sat. He picked up the pen and scratched his signatures across it.Sophia snatched the papers from his hold and hurled them at me. They fluttered down, landing on my lap.“There. Go to hell with your divorce.”I pushed myself up from the cold marble

Chapter 4Clover's POV Morning light filtered through the floor to ceiling windows, painting the unfamiliar bedroom in soft gold and blues.My eyes fluttered open, my head pounding with migraine. I lay there for a second, staring at nothing in particular. Then the memories crashed in like waves.Kyle.I turned my head slowly. He slept on his stomach beside me, one muscular arm flung across the pillow, his face relaxed in a way that made my breath catch.God, he was beautiful. His long lashes cast faint shadows on high cheekbones, his broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist under the rumpled sheet.Who the hell was he? An escort? Some high-end guy who picked women in bars? The thought twisted my stomach.What had I done?I slipped out of bed as quietly as I couldn't, my legs shaky. Every moment sent a deep ache blooming between my thighs, a delicious soreness that made my cheeks burn.I could still feel him–thevway he'd thrust deep and relentless, the wild rhythm that had pulled c