Chapter 6 - The Viper’s Kiss
When I returned to my apartment, Lucas was already waiting for me.
He was standing on the balcony, leaning against the railing with a glass of scotch in his hand, looking like a prince straight out of high society royalty. The late afternoon sun caught the golden flecks in his hair and the chiseled perfection of his jawline. For two years, that face had made my heart race. Now, looking at him, all I felt was the icy, calculated thrill of a hunter watching a stag step into the crosshairs.
*Trigger warning: Toxic narcissist detected,* a neon yellow comment flashed.
*Lucas came here to check why Derek ended up in the ICU. He thinks Derek got drugged by someone else at the club.*
*Look at his pocket—he bought her a cheap Cartier bracelet to keep her pacified.*
"Sophia," Lucas said, turning around with a gentle, disarming smile. He set his glass down and walked toward me, opening his arms. "Where have you been? I was worried sick. Derek had some kind of seizure last night, and when I couldn't reach you this morning, I almost lost my mind."
I stepped into his embrace, letting him wrap his arms around me. His scent—expensive sandalwood and tobacco—used to feel like home. Now, it smelled like rot.
"I was running errands for my father, Lucas," I said, burying my face into his chest, letting out a small, trembling sigh. "Everything is falling apart. My father's ships... Derek getting sick... I feel like I'm losing my grip."
Lucas rubbed my back soothingly, but through the glass reflection behind him, I could see his eyes—cold, distant, and thoroughly satisfied.
"Don't worry about your father's business, darling," Lucas whispered into my hair. "You know Vance Capital can handle anything. Once we're married, all your family's problems will disappear."
*Liar,* the comments scrolled furiously.
*He already instructed the family trust to liquidate her father's assets the day after the engagement is broken!*
*Emma lands tomorrow night! Her private jet touches down at 8:00 PM at Terminal 2!*
I pulled back slightly, looking up into his eyes with fabricated adoration. "You're always so good to me, Lucas. What would I ever do without you?"
Lucas smiled, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a red velvet jewelry box. "I saw this and thought of you. A little reminder that no matter how stressful things get, you belong to me."
He opened the box to reveal a gold diamond-encrusted bangle.
"It's beautiful," I breathed, letting him slide it onto my wrist.
"Keep it on for the Vance Foundation Gala this Saturday," Lucas murmured, kissing my forehead. "The entire board will be there. The press, the city council... everyone. I want the whole world to see how stunning my fiancé looks before we finalize the wedding date."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," I replied softly.
He kissed me on the cheek, whispered a few more empty promises about dinner tomorrow, and finally left, satisfied that his compliant little songbird was still trapped securely in her cage.
The moment the front door clicked shut, I pulled out a jeweler’s magnifying glass from my drawer and inspected the clasp of the Cartier bracelet.
May you like
*There it is,* a translucent arrow pointed directly to the microscopic seam near the hinge. *Audio tracker and GPS. Lucas wanted to make sure he could track her location when Ryan or Derek took her to a hotel.*
I didn't take the bracelet off. Instead, I smiled coldly into the vanity mirror. If Lucas wanted to track a scandal, I was going to give him a show that would bring his entire dynasty down to ashes.
