All Chapters of Captive To The Ruthless Heirs: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Liora's POVBy evening, the ointment and an entire day of lying flat had done enough that I could walk without wincing every other step, even if my legs still stayed slightly apart out of habit more than actual necessity.I found the three of them already at the table when I made it downstairs, and Declan noticed me first, standing and pulling out the chair across from him before I'd even reached the table."Look who's vertical." He gestured at the seat. "Sit before you prove me wrong.""I'm fine." I lowered myself down carefully anyway, grateful for the assist even if I wasn't about to say so out loud."You're walking better." Jasper studied me across the table, some quiet relief in his expression. "The ointment helped?""Enough." I reached for the water pitcher. "I can function like a normal person again, so, progress."Silas smirked into his glass, watching me with an amusement he didn't bother hiding, and for a second the whole table just sat there, the four of us caught in some s

Jasper's POVThe summons came the way it always did, a single text from our father's assistant instructing all three of us to be in his office by six, no explanation attached, which meant it was serious enough that he didn't trust any of us to hear the reason secondhand.Declan met me in the elevator, tie already straightened, jaw tight in the particular way it got whenever our father called us in like this."Any idea what this is about?""None." He checked his watch. "Silas is meeting us there."Our father's office took up the entire top floor of the building downtown, glass walls looking out over the city, a desk large enough that it always felt more like a throne than furniture. He didn't look up when we walked in, finishing whatever email had his attention, and the three of us stood there in silence until he finally set his phone down and studied us like we were a problem he was deciding how much time to spend solving."Sit."We sat. Silas had already claimed the middle chair, and

Liora's POVI was halfway to the cafeteria when I nearly walked straight into Elijah coming the other way, both of us laughing at the near collision before either of us said a word."Sorry." He steadied me with a hand on my arm, quick, casual. "In a hurry?""Just hungry. Long class.""Perfect timing, then." He fell into step beside me like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Have lunch with me? We can actually talk instead of texting.""Sure."We walked into the cafeteria together, and he steered me toward a stand near the back I'd never actually tried, some grilled sandwich place that always had a line."You have to try this." He was already ordering two before I could protest. "Best thing on this entire campus. I will not be taking questions.""I'm not really a fan of grilled cheese.""You haven't had this grilled cheese." He handed me the tray like he was presenting evidence in a trial. "One bite. If you hate it, I'll never mention it again."I took a bite mostly to humor

Silas"Okay, walk me through it again. What's the derivative of this function?"Declan stared at the whiteboard like it had personally wronged him. Jasper didn't even bother pretending to think, already scrolling something on his phone under the table."I don't know," Declan said finally. "Something with the exponent?""Something with the exponent?” Liora set the marker down slowly, the kind of calm that meant she was nowhere close to calm at all. "We covered this exact problem yesterday. And the day before that.""It's a lot of information." Declan shrugs, nonchalantly."It's the same information, Declan. Repeated. For two weeks." She turned to look at all three of us, and I felt the temperature in the room drop several degrees. "Jasper. Put the phone down and tell me what the power rule is."Jasper glanced up, caught off guard. "The power rule?”"That wasn't a question I was asking you to repeat back to me."Silence.She pressed both hands flat against the table and exhale

JasperLiora was still at the dining table when Silas and I walked in, laptop glow reflecting off her glasses, a mug of coffee gone cold beside her, papers scattered across the surface in a mess that only made sense to her."Hey. You still up?"She pulled the glasses off, rubbing her eyes. "Yeah. Told Silas I'd wait up. Also I've got an assignment due tomorrow."She glanced between us, then toward the door, waiting."Where's Declan?" she asked. "You three left together.""Dad called him over." Silas dropped his jacket over a chair, dragging a hand through his hair."Coffee?" She was already standing."Thank fuck. I really need one."She moved to the counter, and I watched her go, watched the way her tiny sleep dress rode up over her hips while she reached for the mugs, and cursed under my breath low enough that only I heard it."Any idea why your Dad wants Declan alone?" she asked, pulling down two mugs."No idea. We'll find out when he gets back."She crossed the kitchen