Liana's Office – Noon
Lucas stared at Liana's face, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.
He could tell something was off—her voice, her smile, even the way she avoided meeting his eyes.
"Liana…" his voice was lower this time, gentle but firm.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Her fingers clenched slightly beneath the desk, but she forced her lips into a practiced smile.
"I'm fine, Lucas. Just tired."
But Lucas wasn't convinced.
His gaze lingered on her face, noting the slight tension around her eyes, the faint tightness in her jaw.
He took a slow step closer, his hands resting on the edge of her desk.
"You're lying," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper.
Liana's breath caught slightly.
Her fingers curled into a fist beneath the desk, the ghost of Adrian's touch still tingling on her skin.
She felt trapped—caught between the piercing concern in Lucas' eyes and the suffocating weight of Adrian's presence still clinging to her.
Before she could say anything, Lucas reached out.
His fingers gently brushed against her wrist—the same wrist Adrian had gripped the night before.
Liana flinched ever so slightly.
It was barely noticeable.
But Lucas caught it.
His eyes immediately dropped to her wrist.
She stiffened slightly, pulling her hand back.
"It's nothing," she mumbled quickly, tucking her hands into her lap.
But Lucas' eyes darkened, his gaze sharp and calculating.
His jaw clenched slightly.
"Who did this?" his voice was low, but there was a dangerous edge to it.
Protective.
Furious.
Liana's chest tightened.
She tried to pull her wrist back, but Lucas gently caught her hand.
His fingers brushed over the faint, barely visible bruise on her skin.
Her heart pounded painfully in her chest.
"It's not what you think," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
But Lucas wasn't convinced.
His eyes narrowed slightly, his grip just firm enough to keep her from pulling away.
"Liana…" his voice was dangerously calm.
"Tell me who did this."
For a brief moment, she almost broke.
Almost told him everything.
But then she saw it—
The slight tremor in his fingers.
The flicker of cold fury in his eyes.
If she told him, he would go after Adrian.
And Adrian… Adrian would destroy him.
She couldn't let that happen.
Her fingers gently slipped out of his grasp.
She forced a smile—the same fake one she had perfected over the years.
"I hit my wrist on the doorframe last night," she lied smoothly.
She let out a small, dismissive chuckle.
"Clumsy, as always."
Lucas' eyes narrowed slightly, studying her face carefully.
He didn't believe her.
Not for a second.
But he didn't press.
Not yet.
Instead, he gave her a small, tight smile and nodded slowly.
"Okay," he said softly.
But his eyes were still hard.
And she knew—
He wasn't going to let this go.
---
Elsewhere – Adrian's Penthouse
Adrian stood by the window, holding a glass of scotch loosely in his hand.
His eyes were cold, his gaze distant and unreadable as he stared out over the city.
The memory of Liana's defiance from last night still burned in his mind.
Her trembling lips.
Her angry, tear-filled eyes.
And the way she had still shivered when he had touched her.
His lips curved into a slow, predatory smirk.
She was still fighting him.
Still running.
But she wouldn't get far.
Because he knew her.
Knew her weaknesses.
Knew how to break her defenses.
The phone on his desk buzzed softly, breaking his thoughts.
He turned slowly and picked it up.
"Mr. Knight," his assistant's voice came through the line.
"The file on Lucas Harper has been delivered to your inbox."
Adrian's eyes darkened slightly, his grip tightening around the phone.
A slow, satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Perfect," he murmured.
His voice was low and laced with something lethal.
He hung up and strode toward his desk.
The sleek, black laptop flickered to life as he opened the email.
He clicked on the attachment.
The file opened.
For the next ten minutes, Adrian's eyes scanned every detail.
Offshore accounts.
Hidden transactions.
Underground connections.
Lucas was hiding far more than he let on.
A low, dangerous chuckle rumbled in Adrian's chest.
He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking softly beneath him.
"You're not so clean after all, are you, Lucas?" he muttered darkly.
He stared at the screen, his eyes cold and calculating.
The plan was already forming in his mind.
Precise.
Merciless.
He was going to tear Lucas apart—
Piece by piece.
---
Evening – Liana's Apartment
The apartment was dimly lit, the faint golden glow of the lamps casting soft shadows against the walls.
Liana sat on the couch, a glass of wine in her hand, but she hadn't touched it.
She was staring blankly at the floor, her thoughts a tangled mess.
Lucas.
Adrian.
The two men in her life, so different… and yet both capable of destroying her in their own ways.
Her phone buzzed softly, breaking the silence.
Her stomach clenched.
She didn't need to look.
She already knew who it was.
Slowly, she picked it up.
Her eyes dropped to the screen.
Adrian.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened the message.
"Open the door, Liana."
Her breath caught sharply.
She froze.
Her eyes darted toward the apartment door.
Her pulse quickened.
Her heart slammed against her chest.
She slowly stood up, her hands slightly shaky.
She stared at the door, as if willing it not to be true.
A soft knock echoed through the apartment.
Her breath hitched.
Her fingers curled tightly around the phone.
For a brief moment, she considered ignoring him.
Turning off the lights.
Pretending she wasn't home.
But she knew better.
He wouldn't leave.
He never did.
Slowly, she walked toward the door.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she unlocked it.
She opened it.
And there he was.
Adrian Knight.
Tall.
Imposing.
Dressed in a black suit, his sharp features carved in ice.
But it was his eyes that made her breath catch.
Dark.
Feral.
Completely unyielding.
Without a word, he stepped inside, crowding her.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Her pulse pounded violently in her throat.
Her body tensed.
His hand slowly lifted.
He brushed her hair back, his fingers deliberately slow as they traced along her jaw.
"You can't run from me," he whispered darkly, his voice low and dangerous.
His thumb slowly brushed against her lower lip.
"You never could."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides.
And yet… she didn't pull away.
---
See you in next chapter