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CHAPTER 71 - Empire of Shadows

Author: Lila Williams
last update Last Updated: 2026-01-04 20:00:37

Damien survived surgery.

Barely. ICU for eight days. Coma for three. When he woke—different. Harder. Colder.

"How long until I can fight?" First words. Not I love you. Not Is Hope safe. Just that.

"Weeks. Maybe months. Vera says—"

"Vera says a lot. Ask the doctor."

Doctor said six weeks minimum. Damien said one week. Started physical therapy immediately. Against orders. Against logic. Against everything except desperation.

"You are going to kill yourself," I said. Watching him collapse after twenty pushups. Coughing blood. Trying again.

"Better than watching you die alone. Eight targets. One night. You need backup."

"I need you alive. That matters more—"

"Nothing matters more than Hope. And Hope needs both parents. So I heal. Fast. Or I die trying."

Stubborn. Stupid. Exactly like me.

While Damien recovered—Vera dropped bombs.

"I lied," she said. Day ten. Morning briefing. "About timeline. About targets. About everything."

"What?"

"There are not eight people coming for Hope. There are
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  • THE BIKER'S ACCIDENTAL LADY   CHAPTER 80 - Breaking Point

    Three months later, Marcus collapsed during breakfast.Blood everywhere. Coughing. Convulsing. Dying.Hope watched. Calm. Clinical. Eight years old."Should we call doctors, Flora?""Yes. Call them now."But the drugs made me move slowly. Made me hesitate. Made me—want to watch him suffer. Just for a moment. Just to see—Pain. Real pain. In the man who caused so much.Hope noticed. "You are delaying. You want him to die. I can see it.""Call the doctors, Hope."She did. They arrived within minutes. Marcus's personal team. Always ready. Always close.They stabilized him. Barely. Moved him to medical wing of the penthouse. Machines. Monitors. Life support.The head doctor pulled me aside. "Weeks. Maybe days. The cancer spread everywhere. His organs are failing. He is—dying. Finally. Really."I should have felt relief. Should have felt hope. Should have felt—Something good. But the drugs would not allow it. Instead—Terror. Pure terror. Master dying. World ending. Everything collapsing.

  • THE BIKER'S ACCIDENTAL LADY   CHAPTER 79 - The Empire of Ashes

    The UN speech was flawless.Two thousand delegates. Forty-seven heads of state. Cameras broadcasting to one hundred ninety-three countries.I stood at the podium. Perfect posture. Perfect smile. Perfect—lies."Children are our future. The Ashford Foundation commits ten billion dollars to global childhood development. Education. Healthcare. Protection. Every child deserves safety. Every child deserves—love."Standing ovation. Tears. Gratitude. They believed every word.Hope stood beside the Secretary-General. Photo opportunity. Eight years old. Symbol of—everything good. Everything pure.She smiled for cameras. Dead eyes. Programmed responses. Perfect monster wearing child's face.Nobody saw. Nobody suspected. They saw innocence. Saw hope. Saw—Lie we performed flawlessly.After the speech—private meetings. Presidents. Prime Ministers. Billionaires. All wanting access. All offering—Everything. Money. Resources. Political support. Intelligence. Military assets.Marcus's plan working pe

  • THE BIKER'S ACCIDENTAL LADY   CHAPTER 78 - The Assassination

    Torres chose the meeting location.Abandoned warehouse. Industrial district. Clichéd but practical. Multiple exits. Clear sightlines. Isolated.She was smart. Always had been.Not smart enough.I arrived at midnight. Hope beside me. Both armed. Both programmed. Both—ready.Torres emerged from shadows. Thinner. Harder. Three weeks on the run showing."Flora. Thank god. I was not sure you would come. Not sure if you were—" She stopped. Studied my face. My posture. My—emptiness. "What did he do to you?""He made me better. Stronger. Perfect." My voice. Marcus's words. His programming speaking."No. No no no—" Torres backed up. Saw Hope. Eight years old. Armed. Emotionless. "Hope? Baby what—""I am not baby. I am Ashford. I am weapon. I am here to kill you." Hope raised her gun. Steady. Professional. Eight years old."Flora stop this. Fight it. Whatever drugs—whatever programming—you are stronger than this. I know you are—""You know nothing." I moved. Cutting off her escape. "You abandon

  • THE BIKER'S ACCIDENTAL LADY   CHAPTER 77 - The Perfect Puppet

    Three weeks later.I stood on stage in Geneva. Thousand people watching. Cameras broadcasting worldwide. Smile perfect. Posture perfect. Words perfect."The Ashford Foundation is committed to helping children worldwide. Education. Healthcare. Opportunity. My daughter Hope and I are honored to lead this initiative—"Applause. Adoration. They loved me.They had no idea.Marcus watched from backstage. Smiling. Proud. Controlling every word through earpiece. Every gesture. Every breath."Turn left. Wave. Smile wider. Good. Perfect."I obeyed. Automatically. The drugs made disobedience—impossible. Made his voice—law.Hope stood beside me. Eight years old now. Four years of Marcus's "training" showing. Beautiful. Poised. Empty.She spoke next. Flawless speech. Written by Marcus. Performed perfectly."My grandfather taught me that power means responsibility. That Ashfords must give back. Must help others. Must make the world—better."More applause. Hope smiled. Practiced smile. Doll smile. D

  • THE BIKER'S ACCIDENTAL LADY   CHAPTER 76 - Descent Into Hell

    Marcus returned three hours later.Not alone.He brought Hope."Surprise." He held her hand. She looked—different. Dressed in expensive clothes. Hair styled. Face—blank. Empty. Wrong."Hope!" I lunged. Marcus pressed button. Damien's heart monitor flatlined. Alarms screaming."Stop or he dies. Permanently this time."I froze. Damien's body seizing. Marcus waited. Five seconds. Ten. Fifteen.Then restarted the machine. Damien gasped. Alive. Barely."Good. You learn consequences quickly. Now. Sit. Watch. Learn what happens when you defy me."Hope walked to me. Mechanical. Programmed. She hugged me. No warmth. Just motion."Hello, Mama. Grandfather brought me. Said you needed me. Said we are family now.""Baby what did he do to you—""Nothing yet." Marcus smiled. "But I will. Starting now. Hope—show Mama what you learned."Hope pulled out knife. Small. Child-sized. Sharp."Grandfather taught me. Proper grip. Proper angle. Proper—force." She demonstrated on air. Professional. Practiced. P

  • THE BIKER'S ACCIDENTAL LADY   CHAPTER 75 - Captive

    Marcus locked the door.Electronic. Biometric. Impossible to breach from inside."Scream if you want. Soundproof. Fight if you want. I have twenty guards outside. Run if you want. Fortieth floor. No exits." He sat beside Damien's bed. Gun casual in his lap. "You are trapped. Completely. Helpfully. Perfectly.""What do you want?""Same thing I always wanted. Legacy. Empire. Dynasty. But—" He gestured at Damien. "But your husband complicated things. Survived when he should have died. Created—attachment. Emotional liability. So now—we fix that."He pressed gun against Damien's temple."No!" I moved. Too slow. Marcus faster.He grabbed my throat. Slammed me against wall. Strength impossible for his age. Enhanced. Augmented. Something."Rule one. You do not move without permission. Understand?"I nodded. No air. No choice.He released. I collapsed. Gasping."Good. Learning already. Faster than expected." He returned to Damien. "Now. Here is situation. Damien lives or dies based on your coo

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