Ch-38

•~•Solane’s POV

I held his gaze steadily, weighing whether I could trust him with the truth. “Revenge,” I said simply.

The silence stretched longer than before, heavy between us.

Then, he chuckled slowly, like I’d just made a joke. “What? Did Nathaniel, like… jilt you in the past?” His tone dripped with mockery.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice quiet but resolute.

His smile faltered, just slightly, as he stared at me, waiting for more—expecting an explanation. I didn’t give one. I wasn’t sure yet if telling him more would be the right move.

This keeps the weight of the moment and shows her hesitation in revealing more.

He cleared his throat, trying and failing to put on a serious expression. “So what? People get jilted all the time. But unlike you, they don’t—”

“I was pregnant, Davian.”

His eyes widened. “You were what?”

“I was pregnant, five years ago…” I repeated.

I took a steady breath, my voice softening. “All those times during our sessions... Did you ever stop to wonder how I ended up falling off that cliff?...”

“... Or did you just think it was some unfortunate accident—a rich girl carelessly standing at the edge, enjoying nature?”

“Don’t tell me Nathaniel—” he started, but I cut him off.

“He didn’t have the balls,” I said coldly. “So he let his mother do it for him.”

He stared at me, stunned, as if he couldn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth. 

“But why? That makes no sense. You’re Zane Lancaster’s only daughter—his fucking heir. Melissa should’ve been proud her son got you pregnant.”

“They didn’t know,” I said quietly.

“What?”

“I kept my identity a secret from Nathaniel. I made him believe it was just a coincidence that I shared the same last name as the Lancasters and that I wasn’t at all related to them.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as the puzzle pieces started to fit together. Then he inhaled sharply.

“Then it was your fault.” His tone was firm, there wasn't a trace of amusement or playfulness or mockery in it.

My brows furrowed into a deep frown. “Excuse me?!” I said, my voice rising higher than the level I had intended to speak at.

“Oh, please, Ms. Irene. Don’t play the victim card. If you had just told him who you really were, none of that would’ve happened to you.”

My voice was as hard as steel. “Are you saying it’s my fault my child was murdered?”

“Well… not exactly,” he said with a shrug. “But you can’t just pin everything on Melissa or Nathaniel. From their point of view, you were just a nobody.”

“So?” I snapped, my voice cutting through the air. “That was never a valid reason to push me off a cliff.”

He let out a sigh, suddenly grabbing me by the shoulders. “Look, Ms. Irene—”

“Stop calling me that,” I interrupted sharply, shoving his hands off me.

“Fine... Ms. Solane,” he said, clearly unbothered. “I’m not siding with them or saying what they did to you wasn’t evil. I’m just saying—”

“You say you’re not siding with them, but then you dump the blame for their evil actions on me.” I cut him off his words. 

“Tell me, how is that not siding with them?”

He sighed. “I didn’t mean it that way—”

“Then what did you mean?”

He stepped forward again, his voice lowering. “I mean this whole thing you’re doing, revenge, fake identity—it’s dangerous…”

“...Based on what you said Melissa did to you five years ago, you should know better than anyone that she’s not someone you want to cross. If she finds out who you really are…”

“She won’t,” I said tightly. “Not if I’m careful.”

He tilted his head, a calculating glint flashing across his eyes. “But what if I tell her?” His voice dropped a notch.

I froze. “But why… why would you do something like that?”

“Maybe I’m just feeling nostalgic,” he said with a smirk. “Or maybe…I want something in return. Nothing in this world is free, you know.”

I froze. His words sank in, slow and heavy. So this was it. He was blackmailing me—right here, right now.

I straightened slowly, forcing the rage in my chest to stay where it was. “How much?”

 His grin widened, pleased with himself. “Let’s start with fifty million.”

I let out a sharp breath and scoffed. “You’re a fucking asshole, just so you know.”

His smirk only deepened, like he enjoyed hearing it.

“Oh come on, Ms. Irene—I mean, Ms. Solane…” He said. “I get why you’d say that. I mean, you just shared something painful and personal, and here I am, not even pretending to care…”

“But you should know, everyone’s got a story, sweetheart. Some…even shitter than yours.”

“Still,” he continued without missing a beat, “nobody’s obligated to care. So… deal or no deal?”

I held his gaze, jaw tight, “I’ll have my father send the money by morning.”

I turned to leave, but he caught my arm.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I snapped, yanking it back.

He let go of my arm slowly. “Don’t be so feisty. I was just going to make another offer.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What offer?”

His eyes gleamed with something dark. “Is the sex good?”

I froze.

“With Nathaniel, I mean,” he continued, unfazed. “Given his situation… in case you’re not satisfied, I could help.”

“FUCK. YOU.” My voice was cold, venomous.

“Oh, darling…” He leaned in slightly, his tone dark and mocking. “It’s been four years, and I still wish you actually would. That’s why I’m making the offer.”

I didn’t respond. I just turned away, too disgusted to speak, nausea clawing up my throat. I reached for the door handle—just as a soft knock came from the other side.

“Davian?” Melissa’s voice drifted in, syrupy sweet. “Are you asleep? Open up.”

Panic bolted through me. I spun, locking the door in one swift twist, and turned to him, my voice a sharp whisper. “What the hell is she doing here?!”

He looked just as thrown, his brows creased. “I don’t know,” he muttered.

“She can’t see me here,” I hissed.

He nodded quickly. “I know, relax. I’ll handle it.” He started toward the door.

My eyes widened in alarm. I lunged forward, catching his arm. “You’re going to open it?! Are you insane?!”

“I’m just going to send her away,” he said, keeping his voice low. “Then you can go.”

I hesitated, then finally let him go. Ducking behind the door, I held my breath as he turned the knob.

He opened it.

“Took you long enough,” Melissa purred, her voice soft and laced with sweetness.

“Miss me?” Davian teased.

I stiffened behind the door.

What the hell?... Why were they speaking in such a flirty tone? 

There was a pause, then a soft, satisfied hum from her. “Let’s go to my room. My bed’s bigger.”

What?! I nearly gasped aloud but slapped a hand over my mouth just in time.

Without another word, Davian nodded and stepped out with her, shutting the door behind him.

I exhaled sharply, relief washing over me now that they were finally gone—but then the memory of what I had just uncovered hit me again.

I gagged in disgust. “Ew… seriously? They’re screwing each other?”

But then again… it was expected. A gigolo like Davian hiding behind his job as a physiatrist—and Melissa? Lonely and probably sex starved. Of course she’d let the first man who gave her a little attention screw her, even if he was young enough to be her son.

I scoffed at the thought, then pulled the door open.

Peeking my head out, I scanned the hallway—left, right. Empty. Good. I slipped out and hurried back to my room.

The door creaked slightly as I pushed it open. I stepped inside, careful to close it quietly—click.

But as I turned, I froze.

Nathaniel was sitting in his wheelchair, phone pressed to his ear, staring at me like he’d been waiting.

“Where were you?” he asked, voice calm, “I was about to call you.”

My brain short-circuited. “You’re awake. I… went for a stroll,” I laughed nervously.

His brow lifted. “A stroll? At 2:58 a.m.?”

“I had a nightmare,” I said quickly, the words slipping out more naturally than I expected. “Thought a walk might help me shake it off.”

His expression softened just a little. “You should’ve woken me.”

I let out a breathy scoff, trying to keep it light. “And what would you have done?”

He didn’t blink. “Petted you. Held you. Maybe even sang a lullaby to put you back to sleep.”

His words sounded cheesy, yet something tugged deep in my chest, tight and sudden.

Control yourself, Irene—I mean Solane… Ugh, just… fuck.

“Next time,” he said, quieter now, “wake me.” His tone wasn’t commanding. It was a plea wrapped in concern, offered like a fragile gift.

I nodded slowly, the words catching in my throat. “Okay.”

I cleared my throat, the words coming out shaky. “Let’s… let’s go back to bed.”

I turned and moved to the bed, dropping my phone on the nightstand before letting my body sink onto the mattress.

It felt like the weight of the world was on top of me, pressing down on my chest.

Maybe it was the tension from my conversation with Davian, or maybe it was everything else—the revenge I was chasing, the lies I was tangled in.

I just couldn’t escape the suffocating tightness around my ribs.

Slipping under the covers, I closed my eyes without another word.

A few moments later, I heard the soft hum of wheels rolling closer… then the gentle dip of the mattress as Nathaniel slid in beside me.

And then, I felt it.

His hand—warm, steady—settled on my waist.

“Just let me hold you like this until you fall back asleep.” He whispered near my ear, his voice low and comforting. “Okay?”