From the very beginning, Vanessa had been lying to him–manipulating him into tormenting Celeste.
One lie led to another. Then another. And maybe… maybe she had never told him the truth. Not once.
The fury of betrayal crashed over Lucian like a tidal wave. He bit down hard on his tongue, tasting blood, as if punishing himself could snap him out of it.
“Did you find anything else? What else did Vanessa do to Celeste? What other lies has she told me?!”
Connor flinched at the harsh tone, but quickly composed himself and continued his report.
“Actually… there’s a recording. One of Miss Clarke’s classmates recorded her conversation with Mrs. Sullivan in the
restroom. I think once you hear it… everything will make sense.”
The file arrived seconds later.
Lucian hit play. Vanessa’s smug voice echoed from the phone.
“Guys like Lucian have women throwing themselves at them every damn day. You can’t just give in–you’ve gotta keep them chasing, keep it hot and cold. That’s the only way to stay on top of their mind.”
“I’m not trying to be some sugar baby. I want the title. I want to be his wife.”
The sound of Vanessa slapping herself–fake crying, fake bruises–was loud and clear. Each hit sounded like it landed
straight across Lucian’s own face.
His brain went completely numb.
Then he laughed–low, bitter, hollow.
“I’m a damn fool. Played like a puppet by a woman like that.”
In a moment of self–punishment, he swung his arm and slapped himself across the face. Hard.
A red mark bloomed instantly, his lip splitting slightly at the corner.
But he didn’t even flinch. Instead, he turned to Celeste’s photo and whispered, again and again-
“I’m sorry, Celeste. I was wrong. I was so wrong. I hurt you so many times. I punished you so many times. I’m sorry. I’m
sorry…”
“I get it now. I really do. Please come back, okay? I’ll make it all up to you–every bit of pain, every tear. I don’t want Vanessa. I don’t want anything. I just want you to come back.”
His voice cracked. His eyes were bloodshot, his body trembling with regret and heartbreak.
Just then, Vanessa–still clueless–sent another message.
Lucian didn’t even bother reading it. He simply typed one line.
“Come over. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
That was all it took. Vanessa, giddy beyond reason, even missed the cold edge in his words completely.
Chapter 14
14
Her lips curled in delight as she read the message. She even did a little hop before replying with a coy: Okay.
Her roommates looked at her with complicated expressions, but Vanessa paid them no mind. She hummed a tune as she rifled through her closet, picking out the perfect outfit.
This was it–Lucian was finally going to propose.
Celeste was out of the picture. He hadn’t responded for days–he must’ve been busy planning the perfect surprise.
And now, at his house? That had to mean one thing: she was about to become the lady of the house.
She spent hours getting ready. Every curl was perfect, every inch flawless. She even sprayed on Lucian’s favorite perfume, grabbed her designer purse, and stepped into the waiting Rolls–Royce.
Not once did she sense anything was off.
As the car wound its way up the hillside toward the sprawling villa, she smiled to herself, already imagining how she’d
redecorate the place.
Everything Celeste had ever picked out? Gone. Every trace of her? Erased.
The moment they passed through the gate–clank–the heavy iron doors shut behind her with a metallic snap, followed by
a faint electric buzz.
The house was dead silent. The air carried a strange, almost ominous chill.
Vanessa felt a flicker of unease. But she quickly brushed it off, telling herself–it’s just part of the surprise. Lucian’s finally
going to make me his.
