Ch: 4 THE DEAL.

Seraphina's POV

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything. I sat quietly, trying to control my breathing.

I had just agreed to marry Lucius Thorne. The man everyone called the Devil of Wall Street.

The same man Julian had spent years trying to defeat.

And somehow, I wasn't afraid. Maybe because I had already lost everything once. There was

nothing worse than death.

Lucius leaned back in his seat and studied me. “You're serious.”

It wasn't a question.

I nodded. “Very serious.”

“You expect me to believe that a woman who was supposed to get married today suddenly

decides to marry me instead?”

“Yes.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That easily?”

I almost laughed. “It wasn't easy.”

“Then why me?”

I looked at him. “Because you're the only person I know who can stand against Julian.”

His expression remained calm. “You could have gone to your father.”

“I could.”

“And yet you didn't.”

“My father trusts Julian.”

Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly. “You're saying your father would believe him over you?”

“No.” I looked down at my torn dress. “My father would believe me. But he doesn't know

what Julian is planning.”

“And you do?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

The question hung between us. I knew this would come. I had expected it.I looked back at him. “I've seen enough.”

It wasn't the complete truth. But it was enough.

Lucius didn't push. Instead, he asked, “What exactly do you know?”

I took a slow breath. “Julian is planning a merger.”

“I know.”

“He needs control of several board members before the final approval.”

Lucius's eyes sharpened. “Go on.”

“There are three board members he has already bought.”

He said nothing.

“There's also a contract between his company and a construction firm. The numbers on that

contract were changed.”

Lucius leaned forward slightly. “Which contract?”

I told him. His expression changed. Only a little. But I noticed.

“That information isn't public,” he said.

“I know.”

“How do you know it?”

I didn't answer. His eyes stayed on me. For a moment, I wondered if he would throw me out

of the car.

Instead, he asked, “What else?”

I continued. I gave him the names of two people Julian had been working with. I told him

about the regulatory approval he needed and the people who were helping him get it.

I didn't tell him everything. Not yet. I needed to know if I could trust him.

Lucius listened without interrupting. When I finally stopped talking, the car became quiet

again. He looked out of the window.

Then he said, “You weren't lying.”

“No.”

“You really do know his plans.”

“Yes.”He turned back to me. “Why didn't you use this information against him yourself?”

I smiled bitterly. “Because I need someone with power.”

“And you think I have enough?”

“I know you do.”

That faint smile appeared on his lips again. “You've done your research.”

“I've known him for years.”

He didn't say anything. I looked away.

After a moment, Lucius spoke. “Where do you plan to go?”

I frowned. “What?”

“You walked out of your wedding in a torn dress. You can't go back to the estate.”

“I wasn't planning to.”

“Do you have somewhere else to stay?”

I hesitated. “No.”

He nodded as if he had expected that answer. “Then you're coming with me.”

I looked at him. “To your house?”

“Yes.”

My heart skipped. Not because of anything romantic. Because everything was happening so

fast. I had gone from being Julian's bride to sitting inside Lucius Thorne's car and agreeing

to marry him.

It felt unreal.

“People will start talking,” I said.

“They already are.”

I looked out the window. He was right. By now, everyone at the wedding venue probably

knew I was gone. My father would be worried. Julian would be confused. And Lillian...

I clenched my hands. She would be celebrating. At least for now. She thought she had finally

won. She had no idea what was coming.

Lucius looked at me. “Your father will come looking for you.”

“I know.”“Will you tell him about our agreement?”

“Not yet.”

“Why?”

“Because I don't know who around him is loyal to Julian.”

Lucius nodded. “That is a good answer.”

I looked at him. “Are you always this calm?”

“Yes.”

“Even when a woman jumps in front of your car wearing a destroyed wedding dress?”

He glanced at the scissors beside me. “Especially then.”

I laughed before I could stop myself. It was the first real laugh I had given since waking up.

Lucius looked at me for a second. Then he looked away.

The car continued moving. After a few minutes, he spoke again. “We need rules.”

I turned toward him. “Rules?”

“If we're going to do this, we need to understand what we're getting into.”

I nodded. “Fine.”

“First, you don't lie to me.”

“I won't.”

“Second, you don't make dangerous decisions without telling me.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You mean like stepping in front of your car?”

“Exactly.”

A small smile touched my lips. “Fine.”

“Third, anything involving Julian goes through me.”

I shook my head. “No.”

His eyes narrowed. “No?”

“I won't give you control over my revenge.”

The car became quiet. Lucius stared at me. I held his gaze.“I asked you to marry me because I need an ally. Not because I need another man to control

my life.”

Something changed in his expression. He looked almost amused. “Fair enough.”

I relaxed slightly. “We work together,” I said. “That's the deal.”

Lucius nodded. “Then that's the deal.” He reached for his phone. “Send me everything you

know.”

“I will.”

“And Seraphina?”

“Yes?”

“Don't hold anything back when it comes to Julian.”

I looked at him. “I won't.”

I had already lost my life once because I trusted the wrong people. I wouldn't make that

mistake again.

By the time we reached Lucius's house, my phone was filled with missed calls. My father's

name appeared again and again.

I stared at the screen. Guilt filled my chest. He must have been worried. I wanted to call him.

But I didn't know what to say.

Dad, I died five years from now. Your future son-in-law is planning to destroy you. And I just

agreed to mary his greatest enemy.

He would think something was wrong with me. So I typed a simple message.

I'm safe. I'll explain everything soon. Please trust me.

I sent it. Then I put my phone down.

Lucius noticed. “You're not going to tell him?”

“Not yet.”

He nodded. “Take your time.”

I looked at him. “Why are you really helping me?”

He didn't answer immediately. Then he said, “You came to me.”

“That isn't an answer.”

“It is for now.”I studied his face. There was something about him I couldn't understand. He didn't question

how I knew things I shouldn't know. He simply listened.

That made me nervous. But for some reason, I felt safer with him.

The thought surprised me. I pushed it away. I wasn't here to fall in love. I was here to

survive. And to destroy Julian.

Lucius opened the car door. I stepped outside.

The large house stood in front of me. For a moment, I stared at it.

This wasn't my home. Not yet. Maybe it never would be. But it was the place where my

second life was about to begin.

Lucius walked ahead. I followed him. Then he stopped.

“Seraphina.”

I looked at him.

“If you're going to marry me, you need to understand something.”

“What?”

His dark eyes met mine. “I don't lose.”

I smiled. “Neither do I.”