Chapter 8

**Isabella's POV**

 I took a sip of my coffee, feeling the warm liquid slide down my throat. Lucian and I were sitting at a small table by the window, enjoying a rare moment of peace after a chaotic day at work. Kayla, our friend and barista, had offered us free drinks, but Lucian had politely declined, insisting on paying.

  "Thanks, Kayla, but we've got this," Lucian said with a little smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

  Kayla beamed and patted Lucian on the back. "You're a lifesaver, Lucian. I'll make sure to put it on the house."

  As Kayla walked away, I turned to Lucian and asked, "So, what's your story? You always seem so...mysterious."

  Lucian raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "After you," he said, his voice low and smooth.

  "ugh...you always do this " I groaned at him 

  He was quiet, still staring at me. That's not new

  I took another sip of my coffee, feeling a little self-conscious. "Okay...well, I'm from a middle-class family. My parents are nice,not until now that I publicly disgraced them. They've always supported me. I graduated with an accounting degree at Santa Monica college and...and in my final year as an accounting student, I met Alexander."

  As I mentioned Alexander's name, Lucian's eyes went cold. I could feel it, like a chill running down my spine. His gaze seemed to bore into mine, as if he was searching for something.

  "Go on," Lucian said, his voice still neutral.

  I shrugged, feeling a little uneasy. "There's not much more to tell. Alexander and I started dating, We've been together for three years and...well, you know how that ended."

  Lucian nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I think I do," he said, his voice dripping with skepticism. "But I'm sure there's more to the story. You don't strike me as the type of person who gets involved with someone like Alexander without a reason."

  I frowned, feeling a little defensive. "What do you mean?"

  Lucian leaned in, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "I mean, Alexander is... complicated. He's got a lot of baggage, and I suspect he's not the easiest person to be around."

  I laughed, feeling a little irony. "You think?"

  Lucian's eyes crinkled at the corners. "So, what drew you to him?"

  I shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "I don't know, I guess I was just caught up in the romance of it all. He was charming, charismatic... and he made me feel like I was the only person in the world."

  Lucian's expression turned thoughtful. "I see," he said, his voice low and contemplative. "And what did you get out of it?"

  I felt a pang of sadness, but I pushed it aside. "I learned a lot about myself, I guess. I learned that I'm stronger than I thought, and that I deserve better than someone who doesn't treat me right."

  Lucian nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm glad you figured that out," he said, his voice sincere.

  As we sat there, lost in our own thoughts, A shadow fell accross out table and Alexander stood there, his eyes blazing with intensity.

  "Well, well, well," Alexander said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look what we have here."

  Lucian smiled with ease, exposing his white set of teeth. That has to be the widest smile I've ever seen of him. His eyes locked on Alexander's. "Alexander," he said, his voice smooth as silk.

  Alexander's gaze narrowed. "And who the fuck do you think your are Voss?" he spat, his eyes flashing with anger. "What gives you the guts to come after my fiancée?"

  Lucian's smile grew wider, his teeth gleaming in the light. " First things first, Ex fiancee and I'm someone who's been waiting a long time," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

  The air was electric with tension as Alexander took a step closer to Lucian. "You're someone who's made a big mistake," he snarled.

  The coffee shop patrons began to take notice, their faces lighting up with excitement. Cameras started to flash, and I felt my face heat up with embarrassment.

  "Oh no, not again," I muttered, feeling like I was going viral for the second time in two weeks.

  Lucian stared so long at Alexander, the mind of stare that if he had a gun at that moment, he would've shot him. 

  "You still don't remember, do you?" 

  Alexander tilted his head in confusion, "speak plainly friend... if you dare" 

  "You don't, well that's a shame. The threads of fate are woven thus" Lucian said with a sense of finality. 

  His eyes never left Alexander's. "I think I've heard enough from you Alexander," he said, his voice cold and detached.

  He reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me so we could head towards the door. But Alexander was too quick. He grabbed my other hand, his grip like a vice.

  "You're not going anywhere, Isabella," he said, his eyes blazing with intensity. "Not until you give me answers."

  I felt like I was being pulled in two different directions, my heart racing with anxiety.

  "Let me go, Alexander," I said, trying to sound firm.

  But Alexander just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You think you can just walk away from me?" he spat. "You think you can just forget about us?"

  Lucian's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, I thought he was going to explode.

  "Let her go," Lucian said, his voice low and menacing.

  But Alexander just sneered. "Or what? You'll hurt me? You're just a petty little man, Lucian. You think you can take on someone like me?"

  The tension between them was palpable, and I could feel the air thickening with anticipation.

  Suddenly, Lucian's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement. "Oh, Alexander," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."

  And with that, Lucian squeezed my hand, and I felt a surge of electricity run through my body.

  The cameras were flashing, the crowd was cheering, and I was frozen in the middle of it all, unsure of what was going to happen next.

  "Lucian, stop this," I said, trying to sound calm.

  But Lucian just smiled, his eyes never leaving Alexander's. "I'm just getting started," he said, his voice low and menacing.

  As the drama escalated, I knew that this was just the beginning. 

  And I was right in the middle of it.