جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 120

Lina's POVBy the time we got home, I was completely disheveled.My clothes. My hair. My heart.This man had thoroughly wrecked all of it.I leaned against his chest, still trying to catch my breath."I can't believe Mrs. Morrison's 'ungrateful grandson' is actually you."Now that I thought about it, so many details she'd mentioned matched Adrian perfectly.Adrian's fingers traced lazy circles along my jaw. "Of course she does. She used her maiden name, not Storm. How would you have known? And my grandmother adores you. She's already convinced you're her granddaughter-in-law.""Does she know we're actually married?""If she knew, you wouldn't be able to handle the consequences."I tilted my head up to look at him properly. "What consequences?""She'd throw the most extravagant wedding this city has ever seen. She'd empty her entire fortune for dowries and gifts. And she'd start demanding great-grandchildren immediately."I'd been worried Luna Gloria might disapprove of me. Turns out A

Adrian's POVI sat in my car, my jaw clenched so tight I could feel the muscle ticking beneath my skin. The shadows from the streetlights cut across my face, making the interior feel like a cage.A green sports car came roaring down the street, pulling off a perfect drift that ended just inches from my front bumper."Adrian!" Ethan practically tumbled out of his car, his usual swagger replaced with urgency. "What's with all the cloak-and-dagger? Feel like I'm in some spy movie!"I jerked my chin toward the passenger seat. He needed to get in. Now.He slid in beside me, and I didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Ward Hardware is in trouble."Ethan's cocky grin faltered as he caught the severity in my tone. He ran a hand through his hair, confusion creasing his brow. "I've been monitoring it like you asked! Wasn't that the plan? Let the company's fate depend on how the Luna feels about it later?"He'd even made a trip to Silvertree Valley for this, wined and dined that bastard Morgan w

Lina's POVUncle Morgan's voice cut through the tense silence like a blade. "Alpha Linus, the wealthiest man in Silvertree Valley, has taken an interest in you. If you agree to marry him, he'll help Ward Hardware through this crisis."My blood ran cold. Not just help—Uncle Morgan painted it like some fairy tale."You want to sell me off again?" The words came out sharper than I intended, but I was past caring about diplomacy.Something in my tone must have struck a nerve—hit some buried guilt or shame Uncle Morgan kept locked away. His hand flew up, ready to strike. "You ungrateful little bitch! I'll teach you some respect if it's the last thing I do!""Morgan, no!" Aunt Camille lunged forward, grabbing his arm with surprising strength. Her eyes were wild, calculating. "You can't! Not before tomorrow! Not before Alpha Linus sees her!"The implication hung in the air like poison. Can't damage the merchandise before the sale.Uncle Morgan's arm trembled with barely restrained violence,

Author's POV"You did this," he'd told her flatly. "You were playing with matches, being careless, and you started a fire. Do you understand?"Sonya had tried to protest, but Camille had quickly silenced her with a sharp gesture."He's protecting you," her mother had whispered urgently. "If you played with fire accidentally, you'll be punished but not prosecuted. But if someone suspects arson, suspects you *wanted* to hurt Lina... you could face serious legal consequences. Just say it was an accident. Cry. Be remorseful. Your father will handle everything."And he had. Morgan Ward had spun a narrative about his troubled daughter's tragic mistake, about how Sonya had been traumatized by the whole event, about how the family would ensure nothing like this ever happened again.Sonya had knelt in the garden all night as penance, her knees bruised and bleeding, while inside the house doctors fought to save Lina's life from smoke inhalation.She'd been terrified that Lina would die. Had alm

Adrian's POV"Adrian, your rival's at the Ward estate too." Ethan's voice came through my earpiece, amusement coloring every word. "Think he's trying to get close to your Luna?"I stared at the security feed on my tablet, watching the infrared signatures inside the Ward house. Two figures in the studio. Close together. Too close."He moves fast," I said, my voice flat despite the rage building in my chest.Ethan laughed. "Your wife's about to be forced into marriage with some old bastard, and your rival just made the first move. Situation's not looking great for you."A storm of possessive fury churned in my gut. Raze was pacing restlessly, snarling for blood.*Kill him. Rip out his throat. He has no right to touch what's ours.*"Mmm," I said noncommittally."What the hell does 'mmm' mean?" Ethan sputtered."Watch the car."I was already out the door, moving through the shadows toward the Ward estate with predatory grace.Behind me, I heard Ethan's exasperated curse. "Arrogant bastard