The Protector

The second day of their captivity dawned as the sun rose over the city, painting the sky in shades of fire and gold. Light spilled into the penthouse, lighting up dust motes dancing in the air—and finding Ivy curled on a large sofa. A book lay open in her lap, but her eyes were not on the words. They were fixed on the man across the room.Lucian was a storm contained in a suit. He paced, phone pressed to his ear, his voice a low, angry hum—a dangerous sound, like a hive of disturbed bees.“I do not pay you for excuses,” he snapped. The words were sharp, cutting the quiet morning. “Find the weakness. Exploit it. I do not care how. Just get it done.”He listened for a moment. His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking—a tiny clock of fury.“No. That is a pathetic offer. They will laugh at us. Go back. Double the pressure. I want their signature by noon.”He ended the call, threw the phone onto a chair—a gesture of pure frustration—then ran both hands through his hair. He looked tired: the kin

Last Updated : 2025-12-19

10. Shadows of Truth

The city lights blurred into streaks of neon as Lucian's sleek black sedan tore through the streets. Ivy sat rigid in the passenger seat, her hands clenched in her lap, knuckles white against the dark leather. The engine's low hum was the only sound at first, a mechanical heartbeat underscoring the chaos in her mind. Calla. Her little girl. The one secret she'd guarded like a fortress, now crumbling under the weight of this emergency. Lucian gripped the steering wheel, his jaw set in a hard line. He glanced at her sideways, his gray eyes no longer cold but stormy with unspoken questions. "How long?" he asked, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "How long have you been hiding this from me—from everyone?" Ivy swallowed hard, tears stinging her eyes. She stared out the window, watching the skyscrapers whip by. "Since the beginning. Calla... she's five. Theo knew. He was the only one who did. He helped me keep her safe, away from the spotlight, from the Thorne family d

Last Updated : 2025-12-22

11. Shadows of Truth 2

Calla's eyelids fluttered slightly, but she didn't wake. Lucian stood at the foot of the bed, his face etched with a vulnerability Ivy had never seen. "She's beautiful," he said softly. "Looks just like you." Ivy nodded, choking back a sob. "She has Theo's spirit, though. Always curious, always pushing boundaries. He used to visit her in secret, bring her stories about far-off places. He'd say, 'Calla, one day you'll conquer the world.'" Lucian moved closer, his hand hovering near Ivy's shoulder before settling there gently. "Why didn't he tell me? We were brothers—blood. I could have helped." "Because he knew your world," Ivy replied, her voice trembling. "The Thorne empire, the cutthroat deals, the endless scrutiny. He wanted to protect her from it. From you, maybe. He said you were too driven, too focused on the legacy to see the human cost." Lucian's jaw tightened, but he didn't pull away. "He wasn't wrong. I've built walls around myself, Ivy. After our parents died, Theo

Last Updated : 2025-12-22

All Chapters of The IronClad Vow: Chapter 11 - Chapter 13

The Protector

10. Shadows of Truth

11. Shadows of Truth 2