Chapter 15

Lucien’s POV 

The Silent Trap

The morning after the party, I sat in my office and the city stretched in front of me, bright and calm, but my head was not. Daniel’s calls from last night wouldn’t stop replaying.

The ransom money came from Madelina’s foundation account.

I still couldn’t believe it. Madelina was my step mother, she was like my mother.

But Daniel’s report sat open on my desk and every number matched and every transfer led back to her charity.

I pressed my fingers against my forehead and exhaled slowly. “No,” I whispered, “It has to be a mistake.”

My phone buzzed and it was Daniel again.

“Lucien,” he said quickly, “I checked twice. It was real, the same line, the same amount. Someone used the foundation to move the ransom money.”

I closed my eyes. “Don’t tell anyone. Not the finance team, not even the board. Keep digging quietly.”

“Got it,” Daniel said. “What do you want me to do next?”

“Follow the movement,” I answered, “If the money moves again, I want to know before anyone else.”

When I hung up, my phone rang again almost immediately and looked at the screen, Madelina.

For a second, I just stared at her name and then I picked it up.

“Lucien,” her voice sounded warm, calm, like always. “You left the party early last night. Is everything alright?”

“Yes,” I said shortly. She chuckled softly. “I wanted to see you for lunch today. We need to talk about… family matters.”

Family mattered and the words sounded heavier than they should.

“Fine,” I said, “Text me the place.”

She chose a quiet restaurant and when I arrived, she was already there, elegant, composed, smiling faintly as if nothing could ever shake her.

“Lucien,” she said, standing to greet me. “You look tired.”

“Busy,” I replied, sitting down.

She talked first, mostly about the party, how Elena looked upset, how people whispered, how my “wife” might be hiding something.

“She’s young, Lucien,” Madelina said softly, and touched her wine glass. “Easily swayed by emotions. You should be careful.”

I kept my eyes on her and I didn’t answer.

Her tone was sweet, but there was something else beneath it, a hint of poison.

When she finished talking about Elena, I changed the topic. “Your foundation,” I said, “You have  been expanding the donations lately.”

She smiled faintly. “Charity money is the one thing I keep honest, Lucien.”

Her hand trembled slightly as she lifted her cup. It was small, almost unnoticeable, but I saw it.

I leaned back “Good. I’m glad.”

We finished lunch without another word about it. She smiled again before leaving, but my mind was already made up.

After she walked out, I took out my phone and called Daniel.  “Put surveillance on her assistant and driver,” I said quietly. “Don’t let her know. I want eyes everywhere she goes.”

“Yes, sir.”

I stayed seated for a long time after she left, staring at the door she just walked through.

“If you are lying to me,” I whispered under my breath, “I will find out.”

Night fell, I returned home, still thinking about her smile, about that small shake in her hand.

Then my phone buzzed again and a message from Daniel.

“The money moved again. Someone is trying to hide the trail.”

My jaw tightened and the room felt colder.

Someone was playing a very dangerous game.

Madelina pov

The afternoon sun rested on the marble floor of my villa and everything was quiet, too quiet and I sat in the sunroom, and flipped  through files when my phone rang.

It was Valeria, the young beautiful lady I wanted Lucien to marry instead of getting married to that low life.

“Hi maám, I am on my way to your place now, I need to see you urgently.”

“Ofcourse, you are welcome my dear” I responded.

An hour later, Valeria walked in, wearing a soft smile and perfume too strong for this heat.

“Madelina,” she said sweetly, “it’s been too long.”

I gestured to the chair across from me. “Sit. I supposed you didn’t come here for tea.”

She laughed softly and crossed her legs. “You know me too well. I came to talk about Lucien… and his wife.”

An hour later, Valeria walked in, wearing a soft smile and perfume too strong for this heat.

“Madelina,” she said sweetly, “it’s been too long.”

I gestured to the chair across from me. “Sit. I supposed you didn’t come here for tea.”

She laughed softly and crossed her legs. “You know me too well. I came to talk about Lucien… and his wife.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Elena?”

“Yes.” Her voice dropped  low. “I think she’s hiding something, a child. One she had before marrying him.”

I stopped stirring my tea and the spoon clinked against the glass.

“A child?” I asked quietly.

She nodded “I’ve heard whispers. Someone saw her at a hospital years ago. I don’t have proof yet, but I thought you should know.”

My expression didn’t change, but my mind started working fast.

I always knew Elena had secrets. I just didn’t think they were this big.

“If Lucien finds out she’s been lying to him,” I said slowly, “the marriage will end itself.”

Valeria smiles like a snake. “Then we’ll make sure he finds out.”

I study her face. She enjoys this too much.

“Be careful,” I warn. “Lucien is sharp. One wrong move and we both burn.”

She nodded and pretended to agree.

“Of course,” she said softly. “I only want to help.”

We sit in silence for a moment, the air between us heavy with schemes.

Then I spoke again. “Stone Enterprise, needs to be fully mine, we need to find a way to separate Elena and Lucian”

Valeria tilted her head. “Then we just have to break them.”

I called my assistant and said calmly, “Find those old photos of Elena with a man. The one from years ago. Leak them online. Make them spread fast.”

“Yes, madam.”