Ch-32

•~•Third Person’s POV

Melissa slid into the passenger seat of her sleek black car, the door closing with a soft click.

The vehicle pulled away from the Lancaster estate, gliding smoothly onto the road. But inside, her emotions churned with turmoil.

Her fingers tightened into fists on her lap, nails biting into her palms as Celeste’s words rang in her ears.

A thief. She had called her a thief.

The nerve of that woman. If it weren’t for the fact that she needed the Lancaster family—needed their power to save her own crumbling empire, she would have put Celeste in her place right then and there. 

And then there was the DNA mess. Melissa’s teeth clenched, the anger bubbling just under the surface.

She had thought she had everything under control, that the test would be her ace in the hole to get Zane to do what she wanted. But now, with Celeste knowing, everything had fallen apart.

However, even if Celeste had seen her take Zane’s cup at dinner, how could she possibly know what it was all about? Someone must have tipped her off. But who?

Her mind raced, narrowing in on one person—Aziel. It couldn’t have been him, right? But then, he was the only one she had talked to about all of this.

With a sharp exhale, she grabbed her phone from her bag and dialed his number. It rang. And rang. And rang.

No answer.

Her grip tightened before she slammed the device onto the seat beside her, the sharp sound slicing through the car’s silence.

The driver, a man well-acquainted with Melissa’s moods, flinched slightly but stayed quiet. He had learned long ago that questioning her was a mistake.

The phone buzzed suddenly, making her flinch a little. Without thinking, she snatched it up, assuming it was Aziel.

“Why the hell didn’t you pick up?” she snapped.

Silence. Then a voice—lighter than Aziel’s, smooth and laced with amusement, spoke. “Uh… you called me?”

Melissa’s brows furrowed as she pulled the phone away to check the screen—Davian Foster.

She closed her eyes for a moment, exhaled slowly, then brought the phone back to her ear. “Sorry. Thought you were my son.”

Davian chuckled. “That son of yours sounds like a lot of work. Why don’t you let me take some of the stress off your hands?”

Melissa smirked, tilting her head back against the headrest. “Are you already in town?”

“I said I’d come as soon as I could, didn’t I? You wanted me back, so here I am. You know you’re always my number one, Melissa.”

Her lips curled in satisfaction. “Meet me at our usual spot.”

She ended the call and turned her gaze to the driver. “Change of plans. Take me to the hotel.”

—————————

The dim lighting of the hotel suite cast a warm, golden glow over the rumpled king-sized bed.

Melissa lay beneath the silk duvet, her bare skin still tingling, her body sinking into the mattress as she released a contented sigh.

At the foot of the bed, Davian stood completely naked, his golden skin slick with sweat.

His toned muscles shifted as he raked a hand through his damp blond hair, a cocky smirk playing on his lips.

His brown eyes, sharp and teasing, gleamed with amusement as he took her in.

“You look a hell of a lot better than when you walked in,” he said, stretching his arms lazily above his head.

“Guess I still got it after all these years. Thought you would have replaced me with someone younger by now.”

Melissa, still basking in the afterglow, let out a slow, satisfied hum. “Oh, I did.”

His brows arched in mock surprise. “Did you now?”

She rolled onto her side, propping herself up on one elbow. “Some your age, some younger… a few a little older. Some taller, some dark-skinned…”

“... I had my fun.” Her fingers lazily traced the crease in the sheets, her voice low and sultry. “But they were just… manageable.”

Davian laughed softly. “Manageable?”

She smirked. “They assumed that because I’m older, I’d want something slow. Safe. Predictable. A boring, lifeless missionary.”

Her gaze flicked up, sharp and heated. “But you… you’ve always known exactly how to handle me.”

His smirk deepened as he approached the bed, one knee sinking into the mattress. “Then I guess you won’t have to worry about boring missionary anymore. Now that I’m back, I’ll take all that stress off your hands.”

Melissa let out a soft laugh, then sat up, pulling the sheets over her chest.

“Speaking of stress,” Davian said, voice casual, “...which of your sons pissed you off earlier?”

She exhaled sharply. “Nathaniel.”

His face stayed relaxed, but something flickered in his eyes. “And the other one?”

She rubbed her temple with a sigh. “Aziel’s still in a coma.”

“Ah.” Davian leaned back against the headboard, his tone light. “So what did Nathaniel do? You sounded furious when you called.”

Melissa shifted, her expression tightening with irritation. “It wasn’t actually him who made me mad. I just needed someone to take it out on, and he didn’t pick up.”

Davian raised a brow. “Then who dared to anger my queen?”

She smirked at the nickname but hesitated before answering. “Celeste Lancaster.”

His relaxed posture tensed slightly, eyes widening. “Wait... Are you actually in-laws with the Lancasters?”

“There was news about it in the media,” he added, studying her carefully. “I thought it was one of those stunts you rich folks pull—or just another baseless rumor.”

“They’re not rumors,” Melissa said coolly. “I had my son marry Zane Lancaster’s niece.”

Davian narrowed his eyes. “Zane Lancaster has a niece?”

Melissa nodded slowly. “Yes, he does. And, believe it or not, he and Celeste also had a daughter—Irene Lancaster. But no one knows that. Not even the fact that she died five years ago is public knowledge. The family keeps their affairs tightly under wraps.”

Davian fell silent, absorbing the information. Melissa watched him closely, noting the way his expression shifted—brows slightly drawn, gaze distant.

“What?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

He blinked, then offered a quick smirk. “Nothing.”

She didn’t look convinced. He held her stare a second longer, then shrugged with a grin.

“It’s really nothing,” he said again. “I was just thinking…” He leaned in, voice dropping to a teasing murmur, “..If you want, I could help you get back at her.”

Melissa arched a brow. “You want to help me get back at Celeste Lancaster? Do you even know the kind of woman she is?”

Davian’s grin deepened. “Don’t worry about that and just trust me. My plan is simple.”

She folded her arms across her chest, unimpressed. “Oh really? And what ‘simple’ plan is that?”

“Seduction,” he said with a cocky grin. 

“Women have a hard time resisting me—you know that. Between the size of my dick and the way I use it? Please. I’ll find my way into her private dealings, get her alone, turn on the charm, give her a little taste…”

“... Maybe film a little something while we’re at it. A few pictures, a video or two. Nothing too crazy. Just enough for some good old-fashioned blackmail.”

Melissa scoffed, rolling her eyes. “So, you plan to pull the same stunt you did with your other sugar mummies?”

He rolled his eyes. “You know I’d never try that with you, if that’s what you’re hinting at.”

“Forget it,” Melissa said, her tone clipped.

“Celeste isn’t the type to fall for something like that. She’s strict, private, and fiercely protective of her family’s reputation. She wouldn’t let herself get tangled in a scandal or affair.”

Davian shrugged. “So, you’re just going to let her off the hook for whatever she did to make you so mad?”

Melissa smirked. “I handle my own problems. You just focus on why I brought you back.”

Davian’s grin deepened. “Ah, yes. To make your son walk again. The one other thing I’m best at.”

He leaned in, brushing his lips against her ear. “Well, aside from this.”

Melissa chuckled darkly, letting herself sink back into his embrace. “Of course.”