Chapter 22I couldn't help but wonder what game Lucas was playing. His sudden closeness and words of admiration had left me intrigued, yet wary. I had always been drawn to his mysterious aura, but this encounter felt different.I hesitantly made my way outside, my senses still on high alert. Lucas had a way of making me feel both mesmerized and unsure of myself, and it was a combination that both fascinated and frightened me.As I crossed a room, a soft breeze rustled the curtains, leaving a chill in the air. I shivered, unable to shake off the lingering presence of Lucas. The way he had studied me, as if trying to unravel the depths of my soul, sent shivers down my spine.Arriving at Selena's place, I knocked repeatedly, but received no answer. Frustration creeping in, I even called out her name, but there was still no response. I turned and saw Selena's neighbor , a woman , I noticed her friendly smile and decided to strike up a conversation. "Hey there, how's your day going?" I as

Chapter 24:Lucas POV:I woke up the next morning, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. My hand instinctively reached out to find Lilian beside me, but my fingers met only empty sheets. Confusion clouded my thoughts as I sat up, scanning the room for any sign of her presence. "Lilian?" I called out, my voice filled with concern.There was no response, and a knot of worry formed in my chest. I quickly got out of bed, my footsteps echoing through the empty room as I searched for her. "Lilian, where are you?" I called out again, my voice tinged with a mix of frustration and anxiety. I dressed quickly and went out .As I made my way through the palace, I could feel the eyes of my men on me, their questioning gazes mirroring my own confusion. "Find her. Search every corner of this palace," I commanded, my voice firm but tinged with urgency.Just as I was about to lose hope, Lilian's maid, Marisol, approached me with a look of concern etched on her face. She handed me a le

The next day, while I slept peacefully, Damien, my fiancé, gently shook me awake in our cozy room. I groggily rubbed my eyes and glanced at him, confused. "Lilian, wake up. There's a policeman here to see you." He said .My eyes widened in shock and anger. How dare he let someone into our private space without even asking me first? I furrowed my brows and sat up in bed, glaring at Damien."What?! Damien, how could you? You should've at least consulted me before inviting a stranger into our room!" I snapped.Damien's face softened, and he held his hands up in a pleading gesture."Lilian, I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything. The police needed to be informed about your return. I couldn't keep it a secret." He defended himself.My anger slowly ebbed away as I saw the worry and regret etched on Damien's face. I let out a deep sigh, feeling a mix of frustration and understanding."Fine, I forgive you, but next time, please remember to ask me first." I said.With a relieved smile, Damien nod

28Saturday arrived, and I found myself busily preparing a sumptuous meal for our guest.As I set the table and rushed around the house, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nerves.We have a special dinner with our neighbor Logan Parker, and I wanted to make it perfect. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness. I hoped to have enough time to dress up before our neighbor arrived, but before I knew it, the doorbell rang."Oh no! I'm not ready yet," I whispered to myself, feeling a wave of panic wash over me. Taking a deep breath, I hurried towards the front door, hoping it was just a delivery or something.As I opened the door, my heart skipped a beat. To my surprise, standing in front of me was Lucas. Memories of the time we spent together, and the warning I gave him before leaving, flooded my mind. I had told him not to follow me, to stay away from me."Lucas? What are you doing here?" I managed to muster, my voice filled with shock and disbelief.Lucas smiled b

Chapter 30:Lilian POVAs I sat at the table with Damien and Lucas, my unease grew stronger. Lucas kept trying to make eye contact with me, winking whenever he had the chance. It made me incredibly uncomfortable, and I couldn't understand why he was behaving like that. Damien, oblivious to my discomfort, asked Lucas to place his order. "Logan, my friend, why don't you go ahead and tell the waiter what you'd like?" Lucas smiled and replied, "Thank you, Damien. I'll have the steak, cooked medium-rare, please." Damien nodded approvingly and turned his attention to the wine list. "To celebrate your hiring, Logan, I think we should have something special. How about that expensive bottle of wine? It's a perfect choice for tonight." Lucas, showing reasonable judgment, declined the offer. "Thank you, Damien, but I think I'll pass. I want to be in good shape for my first day of work tomorrow. It's important to start with a clear mind and full energy." Surprised by the quick start, I spoke