All Chapters of Tied to the Ruthless Three: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

ALEXEI POVThe growing pressure from other syndicates was starting to give me headaches. My recent meetings with other Nightshade leaders left me uneasy. We had to resolve this quickly because Nightshade had never faced a real threat before.Lately, however, Nightshade had been rotting from the inside, ready to collapse at any moment.I predicted this years ago, but Alistair chose to turn a blind eye. He even skipped multiple critical meetings. The funny thing was that he showed up at something as ridiculous as his daughter’s ex-fiancé’s engagement party.I went there myself just to confirm what I already knew: Alistair was no longer reliable. I handed the proof over to the other Nightshade leaders, though God knows when they’ll finally take action.In my opinion, Alistair has been incompetent ever since his first wife died. He’d been limping along ever since, yet he convinced himself that he could still lead. After remarrying, I watched him play the role of a “perfect husband.”Compl

Alexei’s words echoed in my head. My anxiety made my whole body tremble, down to my fingertips. I looked at Alexei, but not into his eyes; I looked at his chest. I didn’t dare look him in the eye. I was terrified.“Should we go to the archives room to confirm what you’re looking for, Anna? So we can search for it together.”Alexei stepped closer; each stride felt like death itself was approaching. He sat beside me, and I couldn’t tell if he was watching me. I didn’t dare turn my head."Are you looking for ghosts, Anna?" he asked quietly. His tone was flat and calm.There was no point in pretending anymore—I’d been caught red-handed. Lying would only make things worse. I lowered my head and clasped my trembling fingers together tightly."I'm looking for the truth," I whispered.I sounded uncertain, even though the truth is meant to be spoken loudly and clearly. Instead, I sank deeper into my own purpose. It was a purpose I didn’t know where it would lead me."The truth is the most dang

"Oh, God!" I gasped the moment I entered my room and shut the door.Isolde was sitting on the edge of her bed. Her anxious face gave everything away. The second she looked at me, she jumped to her feet. She rushed toward me, her eyes glistening as if she were about to cry."Are you okay? What did Alexei do to you?" she asked, her voice trembling."Nothing happened." After saying those heavy, pressuring words, Alexei told me to take the dress to my room. I walked out in disbelief, dragging my feet down the long corridor. I felt like I’d been pulled too far into Alexei’s game."He bought me a dress," I said, showing Isolde the black shopping bag."A dress? For tomorrow’s event?”I nodded. "A white one. He said...” I hesitated. "He said it suits me."I didn’t want Isolde to know the truth. Just remembering it made my skin crawl.Isolde frowned. "Weird.""I know."I walked to the wardrobe and shoved the bag inside more out of frustration than care. I didn’t know what impression I’d make

“Why, Anna? Why are you testing me like this?”Gabriel suddenly grabbed my arm. He looked devastated. What had I done, exactly? Especially to him. Weren’t he and Nathaniel the ones who kept hurting me all this time?And now that I’d fallen into Alexei’s game, had they lost their favorite toy? I’d rather be Alexei’s puppet than Gabriel and Nathaniel’s plaything.“Let me go, Gabriel!” I snapped.“I’m trying to protect you!”His voice carried something raw—sincere, even. But hearing kindness from him felt wrong. “I don’t want to hear anything from you, okay?” I hissed. “You’re scaring me with that talk.”I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. I flinched, feeling pain shoot through my arm.“Let her go.”That deep, commanding voice echoed down the corridor.We both turned toward the sound, and Gabriel instantly released me. His face went pale as soon as he realized Alexei was striding toward us.Just as Gabriel was about to leave, Alexei caught his arm. I couldn’t see Gabriel

Maybe I really had gone insane. I didn’t even know what to do anymore, how to keep Alexei from letting me go. Perhaps I’d become like Nina, consumed by ambition. Though Nina longed for power, I wasn’t so different. My ambition was Alexei himself.Imagine that—a puppet craving the heart of her master. That’s impossible, isn’t it?Alexei tilted my chin upward, forcing our eyes to meet. He cocked his head slightly and gave me a faint smile. I drew in a shaky breath when his thumb brushed away the tear slipping from the corner of my eye.“Now, now… don’t cry, my Anna,” he murmured, his voice low and gentle.I should’ve realized that kindness was another trap. I swallowed hard and clutched at his leg tightly. Was I really this desperate, begging like this before him?“Please, sir,” I whispered, my voice trembling.“I asked one simple thing of you, something for your own growth. And yet, you refused.” Alexei’s gaze locked on mine, steady and unyielding. “So tell me, what should I do if you