All Chapters of He Never Claimed Me: Chapter 91 - Chapter 97

By late afternoon, the estate no longer resembled a family home; it had been transformed into a gilded fortress. Luxury cars rolled through the gates one after another, their polished exteriors reflecting the golden light of the setting sun. Men in tailored suits and women draped in designer gowns stepped onto the red-carpeted entrance, welcomed by attendants who greeted them with practiced, vacant smiles. The cameras never stopped flashing. From the second-floor window, Ava watched every arrival in silence. She had never seen so much wealth gathered in one place, yet she had never felt more like an intruder. A soft knock broke the silence. “Come in.” It was Isabella. She stepped inside wearing a floor-length champagne gown that seemed to weigh her down. Her makeup was flawless and her hair was perfectly styled, yet the expression in her eyes carried none of the excitement expected from a bride-to-be. For several seconds, neither woman spoke. Finally, Isabella broke the silence.

No one dared move. The white lily swayed gently beneath the massive crystal chandelier, its petals glowing in the emergency lights. Tied to its stem, the black envelope hung motionless, drawing every eye in the ballroom. The stranger’s voice was gone. Only silence remained. Noah took a slow step forward. “Nobody touches it,” he ordered. His command cut through the panic. The guards immediately raised their hands, stopping guests who had tried to bolt for the exits. Daniel moved to Noah’s side. “Bomb squad?” Noah never looked away from the chandelier. “No.” “You don’t think it’s explosive?” “I think that’s exactly what he wants us to believe.” Noah knew the hunter’s game. Every message and every lily had been a lure, designed to force a mistake. This was no different. Noah handed his jacket to Daniel. “I’m going up.” Daniel’s eyes widened. “Sir, absolutely not.” “If there’s a trap, I won’t send another man into it.” Noah walked toward the grand staircase leading t

No one dared to move. The white lily rested on Lydia Volkov’s chair like a funeral offering, and the black envelope beneath it drew every eye in the ballroom. The orchestra had fallen silent. Even the distant, muffled sound of the reporters outside seemed a world away. Lydia stared at the envelope without speaking. For the first time in years, the woman who commanded empires looked completely unprepared. Noah crossed the room in long, measured strides, his hand hovering near his side. “Don’t touch it.” Lydia slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. “You think it’s meant for me.” “I know it is.” She gave a faint, bitter smile. “Then perhaps I should be the one to read it.” Before Noah could stop her, Lydia reached down and picked up the envelope. Daniel stepped forward, his hand out, but Lydia ignored him. With fingers that were surprisingly steady, she broke the black seal and unfolded the single sheet of paper inside. Her expression remained unreadable as she read the firs

The last of the guests had barely cleared the front steps when the gates of the Volkov estate closed with a heavy clang. Silence settled over the mansion as the music faded and the laughter disappeared, leaving behind abandoned champagne glasses and crushed white lilies scattered across the ballroom like the remains of a celebration that had never truly existed. Noah stood alone near the stage with his hands buried in his pockets, staring at the empty room. Months of planning, countless preparations, and one carefully orchestrated evening had collapsed in less than twenty minutes. Daniel approached quietly. “The press is refusing to leave.” “They won’t,” Noah replied without turning around. “We’ve increased security around the perimeter.” “They’re not who I’m worried about.” Daniel hesitated before asking, “You think he’s still here?” “I know he isn’t.” “Then why do I feel like we’re the ones being watched?” Noah finally turned to face him. “Because we are.” Daniel lowered h