Semua Bab The CEO's Fake Girlfriend : Bab 111 - Bab 120

Lucien's POVI paced the waiting room, hands shoved deep in my pockets because if I didn't anchor them somewhere, they'd shake. My brother was back there, probably hooked up to machines. His body was failing him in ways I couldn't control or fix or throw money at.The automatic doors hissed open. Camila ran in first, eyes wild and searching. When she spotted me, something in me cracked open.I crossed the space between us and pulled her into my arms, burying my face in her hair. She smelled like flowers, and it calmed my heart only a little to breathe in something different from the smell of antiseptic and fear that had been in this hospital."Is he okay?" she whispered.I couldn't answer yet, only held her tighter while Maya appeared behind her. She wrapped her arms around herself, chin high but eyes screaming everything she was trying to hide."They haven't told us anything," I managed finally, pulling back just enough to look at Camila. "He collapsed during a meeting. He just... h

I watched the video for the fifth time. Maybe the sixth. I'd lost count.Lucien's arm around me on the Ashford couch. My head tucked against his shoulder. The way he looked at me when I laughed at something Damon said. I remember that particular story from Damon.We looked happy. Our love was so real, anyone could feel it through the screens.Then Hayes Corp's statement flashed in my head again. It was released barely minutes ago, but some lines had stuck to my memory."Several months ago.""Before Mr. Hayes's current engagement."The words stung like a slap every single time."This is bullshit," Maya said from beside me on the couch. She'd been the one to show me the video in the first place, bursting into my room with her phone thrust in my face. "How can they just erase you like that? Pretend you don't exist?""It's necessary to protect me from public scrutiny, and also for company optics. You have to understand him, Maya." The irony, when I hadn't even read HIS texts nor answered

"You're right."The words stopped me mid-breath. I stared at him, not sure I'd heard correctly."What?""You're right. About all of it." He dragged both hands through his hair, making it stand in dark peaks. "I'm asking you to hide while I figure out how to untangle myself from this nightmare I created. And it's killing you. I can see it." His voice was strained, each word dragged out with effort."Every time I deny us publicly, I tell myself it's to protect you. From Ronan, from the media circus, from everything toxic that comes with being connected to me. But that doesn't make it hurt less, does it?" "No," barely a whisper. "It doesn't.""I see how hard this is. How much it costs you every time I have to pretend we're nothing." He closed the distance between us, hands coming up to frame my face. "Your feelings aren't wrong. You're not pathetic for wanting to be chosen. I'm the bastard who keeps putting you in impossible positions."A tear slipped free. He caught it with his thumb.

She melted back against me, head falling to my shoulder. I took advantage, teeth finding her earlobe, tongue tracing the shell of her ear while my hand played with her nipple.Her breathing had turned ragged. How I loved every sound she made.Then she twisted free, dancing away with a grin. "Bad boy.""Very bad." I followed her. My arousal strained against my pants, impossible to hide. I bit my lower lip, watching her retreat and adjust her dress. 'When I catch you, Fiera, I'm tearing that dress off your body... and we'll be in this office for hours.'She circled my desk, laughing at my prowling. Finally, she dropped into my CEO chair, leaning back with her hands behind her head."How does it feel?" she asked. "Sitting here every day with the weight of an empire on your shoulders?"I moved behind the chair, spinning it to face the floor-to-ceiling windows. Then I pressed the button that cleared the smart glass, revealing the Manhattan skyline in all its glory."I missed this view," s

The door was already slightly ajar. Ronan had positioned it that way as a trap waiting to spring.Lucien pushed it open slowly. His eyes swept the room in one bloody glance—Maya and me huddled on the floor, blood streaking down her face, five armed men, scattered destruction, Ronan standing over us with a gun.His face went cold. Not angry nor panicked, but cold and deadly.Two of Ronan's men moved to grab him, but Lucien stepped inside willingly."Let them go, Ronan.""Search him," Ronan ordered.The men patted Lucien down roughly, pulling his phone from his pocket and tossing it across the room. It skittered under a cabinet. He didn't have any weapons, or wore a wire. Just Lucien in his expensive suit, looking at his brother with absolute contempt."You really thought you could build a case against me?" Ronan laughed, gesturing at the destruction around us. "Look at this. I destroyed everything. You can't win against me, br