OF HEIRS AND RUIN
“This time”, he said quietly “you won’t walk away untouched.” He walked away.
Two years after her father is convicted of murdering Holly Voss, Keira Reed arrives at Blackthorn University on a scholarship, hoping for a chance at a normal life. Instead, she is forced to confront the past she tried to escape when she comes face to face with Adrian Voss, the son of the woman her father was accused of killing.
As Keira struggles to navigate a world dominated by wealth and legacy, she begins receiving anonymous messages from a source known only as Judas. The information she receives suggests that her father may have been framed, and that the truth behind the murder was deliberately hidden.
Her search for answers leads her into a web of buried secrets tied to powerful families and a secret society that operates from the shadows. The deeper she investigates, the more she realizes that the case against her father was only part of something much larger.
Caught between suspicion, danger, and a growing connection with Adrian, Keira must decide how far she is willing to go to uncover the truth.
Because at Blackthorn, power protects its own.
And some secrets were never meant to be exposed.
Lire
Chapter: CHAPTER 47ADRIAN’S POV“How is that possible?” Adrian asked, his eyes scanning the screen before him.If he wasn’t seeing it for himself, he’d say Andrew was incapable, even though he knew his friend was anything but that.Pierce avenue. That was the name of street his mother had stood in that night, in the footage Judas had sent to Keira. It was also the same one her car had been found by the police. But those were two different points. The point at which her car was crashed into had no cameras.He’d requested Andrew forward him the footages of all the active cameras from that night. Starting from eight PM, extending to eleven PM.His dilemma now, was that the times which where stamped on the video he had seen yesterday which had contained his mother’s interaction with the unknown man, today showed an empty street, except for the lone streetlight illuminating it.He stared at the screen still listening to Andrew speak over the phone.“But…” Andrew said.“But what?” Adrian exchanged, impatience
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-05-02
Chapter: CHAPTER 46It was undeniable that the morning air here was as clean as it came. Standing outside outside the balcony of my room, I watched the soft wind dance through the leaves of garden plants and flowers below. Little birds hopped between trees and plants beneath them, hustling nectar.Most of the grounds could be seen from where I stood. In the morning light the acres of land were painted gold by the rising sun breaking through puffs of cloud.My eyes fell on the figure reclined under one of the gazebos. Adrian’s face was illuminated by specks of light dancing through the patterned brim of the structure. He looked lost in thought as his eyes stared into oblivion.He remained that way for quite a while, until as if pulled by my watching eyes, looked up to the balcony.His expression was devoid of anything telling of the previous day’s encounter. He stared unblinking, until I stepped out of view.I walked back into my room, shutting the balcony doors behind me. It must have been my reflection
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-05-02
Chapter: CHAPTER 45At the mansion. I stepped out of the car after Adrian. He approached the security manning the gates at that time. He demanded that more guards be placed on the grounds to watch every area of the compound. The guard nodded attentively.When he faced me, he gestured that we go in. We walked side by side into the house.It was quiet as usual. Just the ticking of the grand clock that stood in the hallway. We moved into the living room.“I’ll be hiring chefs and hands to help around the house and on the grounds.” He said. “A butler will be coming in today.”I nodded. “Paul, still with you guys?”His brows went up, surprised that I asked. Paul had been his family’s butler way before we were both born. He had been a huge part of our childhood and after.“Yeah. Still takes care of the Voss Mansion.” He replied.The Voss mansion. That was his family’s house. Growing up, I’d been over there enough times to know every corner of the building and the grounds. Adrian and I would play hide and seek
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-04-30
Chapter: CHAPTER 44The restaurant was one of those classy and expensive ones which were favourable for holding business meetings. The way Adrian was welcomed in, there was a familiarity between the attendants and him.He chose a table near the back, away from the hum of low conversations, cutlery clinking against dishes and the curious eyes of other diners.His eyes swept the room once before he sat. Mine followed the movement without thinking. Old habit now, or maybe survival.I slid into the seat across from him. Neither of us spoke immediately. A waiter approached. Adrian ordered without looking at the menu. I hadn’t even picked mine up yet, but when the waiter turned to me, I just said the first things that came to mind.“Same.”The waiter nodded and left. Silence slipped back. Adrian leaned back slightly, he looked at me. I couldn’t really read his eyes, but they had calmed from the raging storm I had earlier seen in them.“You’re quieter than usual.” He said.I felt a smile struggle to escape my l
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-04-30
Chapter: CHAPTER 43The message stayed open in my hand. Adrian was still parked by the roadside, one hand resting on the wheel, the other near the gearshift. His posture looked steady at first glance. But I was starting to notice the things control didn’t fully hide.The tightness of his whole body, like a coiled spring. The tension in his jaw. The way his eyes didn’t stay in one place for too long.There was a war waging inside him, even if he wouldn’t admit it.“Who is it?” He asked, his voice too, sounded slightly tense.I took my eyes away from him and stared at the phone I held.“It’s not someone you know.”It was true. Because Judas didn’t feel like someone you knew, they felt like someone who knew you instead.Another vibration came. His eyes dropped to it. I saw the quick Look, it was just as fast. He searched my face before speaking.“What does it say?” He asked.I almost smiled. Because it was new, Adrian didn’t ask questions, he mostly just demanded. Unless something had already started bother
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-04-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 42After our first class together, Adrian came with me to the Library. Occasionally I’d look up to see if he had gotten bored or tired of existing around me. He was intently focused on his laptop, I doubted whatever he was busy with had anything to do with academics. If he was bored, he hid it well.I was rounding up an assignment I had due for the end of the week.I was tapping away at keys, when a low rumbling sound broke my focus. I knew Adrian had heard it before I even looked up.Lifting my head, I slowly met his eye, embarrassed. My stomach as if answering to his questioning gaze and wanting to prove it’s point grumbled even louder this time. I felt my face grow hot.“You’re hungry.” He bluntly said, straight as always. Having no mercy for my slight embarrassment.“No, it’s nothing.” I blurted out, shifting my gaze back to my laptop.“You’ve had nothing today.” He said, getting up. The movement forced me to look up at him. “Pack up, you need to eat.”He announced it quietly like it
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-04-26
Se connecter
