جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 70

Christie’s POVOkay, Lyon went out and sorted out what it was. Nothing serious. I breathed a sigh of relief.The hum of the mainframe was the only sound left in the room. I had finished the sequence, but I couldn't move. I stayed seated at the stool, my back to Lyon, feeling the heat of his gaze like a physical weight on my skin. The fear I had was suddenly replaced by a deep, pulsing awareness that I was alone in a locked room with a predator who had just claimed my soul.I turned the stool around. Lyon was still sitting by the door, but his posture had changed. He wasn't guarding me anymore; he was devouring me with his eyes. "The work is done," I whispered.Lyon stood up. He didn't say a word as he crossed the room. His movements were fluid and silent. When he reached me, he didn't stop until his thighs were pressed against my knees. He reached down, his large hands cupping my face, his thumbs stroking the line of my cheekbones."I’ve been waiting all night to do this," he said

Christie's POV “Are you sure you want me to take you back to that house?” Lyon asked one last time. I nodded. “This is important. Richard is the only one who ever treated me like a real human being.”The screech of the tires against the asphalt was the only sound that dared to break the tension. Lyon didn't argue further, but the way he swung the heavy truck into a sharp U-turn told me everything I needed to know about his frustration. “Let's get going. The last thing I want is to do anything that would displease you.”The engine roared, pushing us back toward the city skyline we had just escaped.I sat with my hands clenched in my lap, my eyes fixed on the road ahead. Every second felt like an hour. I kept seeing my step father’s face—the way he had looked at me at the gala, tired and defeated, yet offering that small nod of respect. Why did he find himself in the company of Diane and Anna?These people simply did things that suited their interests. They didn't really care abou

Christie's POV Richard lay in the center of the massive bed, looking small beneath the heavy velvet quilt. His skin was the color of wet parchment, and his breathing was shallow—a rattling sound that made my chest tighten with every exhale.Lyon closed the door softly behind us, but he didn't move away from it. He stood like a silent guardian, his eyes fixed on the man in the bed."Dad?" I whispered, rushing to the bedside.Richard’s eyes fluttered open. They were bloodshot and unfocused, but when they finally settled on me, a small, pained flicker of relief crossed his face. He tried to sit up, but his hand shook so violently he fell back against the pillows."Christie," he wheezed. "You... you really did come back home."I nodded. "Diane said she was going to call to inform you—""Don't talk," I interrupted, my medical instincts taking over. I reached for his wrist, checking his pulse. It was thready and irr

Unknown POV The crystal chandeliers of the Don’s ballroom cast a blinding light over the assembled elite. For Diane and Anna, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of expensive lilies and the desperate hope of a social resurrection. They moved through the crowd like a single, shimmering unit, their smiles fixed and practiced, though their eyes scanned the room with the predatory focus of hunters.Diane adjusted the silk stole on her shoulder, her gaze landing on a group of young men standing near the champagne fountain. They were the sons of the city’s most powerful banking dynasties—exactly the kind of bloodline Anna needed to secure."Remember, Anna," Diane whispered, her voice barely moving her lips. "Be charming. Mention the new research foundation your father is 'planning.' Do not mention Christie, and certainly do not mention that man she is with. Tonight is about shifting the narrative."Anna nodded, her gold gown catching the light as she glided toward the first target. It

Unknown POV Diane’s hand remained like a vice on Anna’s wrist as they stood up from the secluded table. She didn't let go until they were halfway across the marble floor, weaving through the thinning crowd toward the buffet. Rickon Rutledge stood there, awkwardly holding a plate of appetizers as if he weren't quite sure what to do with them. Up close, he was exactly as Diane had described. His teeth were noticeably large, pushing forward against his upper lip, and his eyes were wide and bulgy, giving him a look of permanent surprise. However, the watch on his wrist was a rare masterpiece, and the heavy signet ring on his finger bore the crest of a family that owned more land than the Graves ever had in generations. At thirty-five, he was in his prime—and most importantly, he was looking at the room like a man who was lonely."Mr. Rutledge," Diane chirped, her voice smooth and melodic. "What a delightful surprise to see you here. I was just telling my daughter, Anna, that it has bee