MasukOn the other end of the line, Gerald Knight's breathing grew heavy.He didn't immediately cut her off.Lila Bennett knew she had him.The old fox was more paranoid than anyone she had ever met.She struck while the iron was hot, her voice dripping with a calculated, exhausted sincerity."I know you don't trust me. You probably think I'm just stirring the pot, looking for a little payback.""Believe whatever you want.""But I was the one you planted in his shadow. I might have been useless as a spy, but I kept my eyes open.""You know how Alexander moves better than I do.""When he finally decides to strike, he won't leave anything standing.""Not even you."She paused, letting her voice drop into a weary, raspy whisper."That's all I have to say, Sir Gerald.""If you don't believe me, just pretend I had a mental breakdown tonight and ruined your sleep."There was a long, suffocating silence on the other end.
Lila rolled her eyes. Her mind was a mess of disbelief."Plant seeds of doubt? You want me to drive a wedge between them now?"She thought about what she'd heard in that office. Hours of it.The way that man needed her. Craved her. Like he couldn't breathe without her."System, wake up. Alexander Knight's eyes? His heart? They belong to Lisa White.""Plant doubt? With what? My face? My nonexistent game?""They're a married power couple, buffs stacked to the max. And I'm supposed to walk into that? I'm a bronze player asking to get farmed in a pro match.""Going near them now? What, I don't have enough death wishes? Their slaps not loud enough yet?"The system was quiet for a moment.[Host. Negative emotions hinder mission execution.][Based on current plot trajectory and target's psychological profile, standard romantic approach now has a success rate below 10%.]"Oh. 10%. There's a number."Lila laughed at herself."T
"System..."She screamed into the void. Her voice was raw."I'm done. I can't do this anymore."[Host, please stabilize your emotions. Mission not yet failed. Correction still possible—]"Correction? What's there to correct!"Lila's mind was a scream. She was coming apart."Listen! Just listen! He's in there doing God knows what with another woman!""Alexander Knight? He's basically used goods! His body, his heart—none of it's clean!""Even if I follow the plot and 'win' him back? What's that? A sweet romance?"She imagined it.Years of suffering. Finally, Alexander breaks free from Lisa. Comes to her.Then what?His heart belongs to Lisa. His body's been branded by her.What does that make her?The woman who picks up someone else's leftovers?This wasn't destiny. This wasn't a sweet romance.This was tragedy.Her playing second lead. Watching her man pine for someone else. Forever.
My heart felt as though it had been seized by a violent hand, then suddenly released, sending wave after wave of heat through my chest.It was like a firework show going off inside my skull, leaving nothing but a high pitched, electric hum.Alexander Knight was finally speaking like a real human being.I actually lived to see this day.It was the first time I had ever heard him say he loved me.Not liked. Loved.It was so raw, so stripped of his usual armor, that it made my ears burn and my entire body go weak.This man, who usually hid behind ice and cold logic, had finally shredded his mask of restraint.A flood of bittersweet relief and pure, unadulterated joy crashed over me, making my eyes sting with heat.I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but my throat was tight and dry.I blinked hard, forcing back the tears.I wouldn't let him see me cry, even if my heart was screaming."Oh."I managed to let out th
I stared at his frozen hand. Bubbles of hurt and bitterness rose in my chest.On any other day, I would have melted. Leaned into him. Let him recharge.But today? His need just made the fire inside me burn hotter.My brain knew Lila was full of shit.But that old fear. The one the original plot left behind. It was a hand in the water. Reaching up. Grabbing my ankle.What if the book's power was strong enough to twist even Alexander?What if he held me. Kissed me. And thought of her?I'd been there. Chasing Ethan like a puppet on strings.I wasn't scared of much. But that pull? That mindless, scripted force? That scared me.I'd broken free. I knew how sick it was.I was smart. Rational. But I was also twenty-two.My man? I'd fought for him. Well. We'd found each other.But knowing he could be pulled away by some stupid story? Could I pretend that didn't terrify me?This was my first real love. I'd never been so unsure.
I paused.Something was off.This wasn't just jealousy. This girl knew things.I studied Lila carefully.Wrong. Very wrong.The way she spoke wasn't like an NPC following a script. It was like someone who knew how the story ended. Someone sure she would win.A wild thought hit me.Was the original female lead awake too?---"Taken back?"I raised an eyebrow.I stepped closer. My eyes traced her innocent face."What exactly are you, Miss Bennett? Coming to me with that tone.""Pretending to be sweet. Pulling cheap tricks. Yapping at the real wife like a stray dog.""Best case? Delusional. Worst case? Trashy.""You—"Lila shook with anger. Her face went red, then white."Don't pretend. We both know.""You're just a bug. A glitch. A thief who stole someone else's story.""Alexander Knight was supposed to be mine. You took my place. You took my man. Feel g
The sun dipped toward the horizon, bathing the small courtyard in a warm, amber glow.With our flight scheduled for eight that evening, Alexander and I were getting ready to head to the airport.Sir Arthur stood at the gate, his rough, calloused palm landing on Alexander's shoulder with
I tossed my words out lightly, slicing through the thin, delicate tension between the two Knight men.Alexander Knight turned slowly.A cold, mocking smile tugged at his lips."Always finding ways to put me to work, Miss White.""What’s your advice? Go on.""It&rsqu
Alexander's palm closed around hers, steadying the fishing rod firmly between her fingers."Mermaid?""Not in this sea."His voice brushed her ear, laced with quiet amusement."But there's a disobedient one on this boat."I opened my mouth to reply.The warm pad of h
The white yacht sliced through the azure sea, its engines humming a steady, low purr. A briny wind, sharp with the tang of the open sea, swept into the cabin.I leaned against the porthole, watching the pier shrink into a cluster of colorful blocks in the distance.Alexander sat opposit







