CHAPTER 230: A GENIUS

–Livana–

"You are fucking stubborn!" Lore barked—a nineteen-year-old brat scolding a twenty-eight-year-old boss as if he owned me. His brows were furrowed like he was some newly appointed emperor. "I bought everything you wanted. He nearly caught up!"

I exhaled sharply and pressed my fingers to my temple. He was right. I had been careless. Careless enough to risk everything I have fought for. But another half of me... the weaker half... just wanted Damon to see me, even for a heartbeat.

"Yes... I’m sorry, Lore." My voice was tired. Even he could hear the guilt dripping from my words. He dropped onto the sofa, exhausted himself.

"I’m going back to the Blackwell Residence," he muttered, rubbing his forehead like a stressed CEO rather than a teenager. "Make sure you stay here."

"Yes, boss," I murmured dryly, standing up to gather boxes of newly delivered dresses. I lifted one—white sand silk, smooth as sin. Damon would’ve stared at me like I was everything in the world. He always does.

"I’m leaving," Lore said, pausing at the door to study me with that sharp, old-soul expression.

"Alright. Just go. Take care of Alyssa," I waved him off. He disappeared and the silence settled around me.

Yes, he was right. I had been reckless. Stupid. Weak. Stepping close to the surface of the life I abandoned... almost revealing myself to the world that believes I’m dead.

But after a year of suffocating in the shadows, I needed to start moving again. To fight again. Deanne has every schedule lined up. She will step out in public as my face, my voice, my existence.

A dangerous role, yes—one that could cost her everything.

But they have nothing on her. No dirt. No corpses. No scandals. She was clean.

"Your husband really is crazy about you." My mother’s voice drifted in as she opened one of the boxes. "I was there, watching the whole drama." She laughed lightly.

I rolled my eyes. "Mother, please. I know he’s stupid and crazy about me. I left him and he’s suffering."

"Just a few more months." She patted my shoulder gently, comfortingly.

"Yeah, yeah..." I muttered, though my chest tightened. I thought of Damon smiling at our baby while feeding him soft fruit pieces—Sky’s favorite.

My silly husband has lost weight, lost sleep, lost color... yet still he tries.

Sky eats well.

Damon barely eats at all.

"I’ll wash these clothes," Mom announced, pulling out pieces and inspecting them. "Why did you buy so much? You’re not even going out."

"My designer wardrobe is still at the mansion, remember? Damon won’t let anyone touch those. He’s guarding them like they’re relics of my soul."

"Oh." She crossed her arms, nodding. "That sounds exactly like him."

She peeked toward the door. "Did Lore leave? I swear, that child thinks older than us."

"He does," I agreed as Lore’s father, Jorge, sat adjusting system codes and running diagnostics.

"He’s bossy," Jorge muttered. "I don’t know where he got that from."

I laughed, shaking my head. That ridiculous boy saved me more times than he realizes. I moved toward the sleek shelves and picked up my Cesari Paciotti dagger stilettos. The obsidian pair. Elegant. Deadly. They matched the black backless body-dress perfectly.

I already imagined wearing them on the day I take everything back. The day I drag Tyrona out of her throne. The day the world sees the true Dela Vega.

Tyrona had been making moves internationally. They thought they could play adults in my world? No. They were children playing with explosives.

Lore would guide Alyssa. Train her. Protect her. His brutal honesty and discipline were exactly what she needed—because that girl could be the laziest princess alive when she wanted to be.

"I like that bodydress and your obsidian Cesari Paciotti stiletto," Yolanda commented as I pulled the dress from the box.

I smiled, fingertips tracing over the fabric. "You’re right. Thank you."

It would fit me like vengeance.

And one day soon, I’d wear it in front of the world.

And Damon would know the woman he loved never died.

She just became colder, sharper, stronger.

For him.

For our son.

For our future.

–Deanne–

My man just can’t get enough of me. I swear he’s trying to impregnate me. But too bad for him—I’ve been taking pills every day since this whole thing started. I glance at the ring on my finger, realizing I’m officially engaged to the man with the majestic manhood. My fault, mostly. I seduced him.

"I really have to go," he moaned as he continued thrusting.

"Make me cum first."

He sucked on my shoulder, fingers rubbing my clitoris, and there it went—an earth-shattering orgasm that rocked me. He pushed deep and released everything inside.

"Fuck, I love you." He kissed my flushed cheek, pulled out, and covered me. "Damn, I have to work."

He started dressing while I laid there, watching him. His phone rang, which only meant he was urgently needed. Damon still hasn’t worked in months, so everyone else is on overload. I get it. The boys are comforting him. The man loved his wife like crazy.

"I’ll get your favorite when I come back." He kissed my lips.

"I get bored—so make love to me later."

"Yes, of course." He showered my face with kisses. "I love you, Deanne. I’ll be back, I promise."

I nodded and watched him leave.

I stayed a little longer before hopping into a bath. After, I dressed in one of my most conservative outfits—time to blend in—and went downstairs. I expected Damon on the floor again. But instead, he was babysitting Sky and the twins.

"Deanne," Damon called. "Good morning."

"Morning." I grinned, crossing my arms. "So, you’re babysitting?"

"Yes," he nodded. "I don’t want to see my sister get beaten up by Lore."

I laughed.

"Then, I’ll help Alyssa. Lore is honestly savage."

"Yes, please."

I nodded and went to the training hall. Alyssa was being smacked by that foam paddle again.

"Wrong! Wrong!" Lore barked. "You are making me dizzy, Alyssa. Did you forget yesterday’s training?"

"Yeah, I did," she admitted. "My whole body hurts; I forgot everything."

Lore tapped the paddle on her head.

"Focus, Alyssa. If someone attacks you, you need to know how to defend yourself."

I casually sat and watched the kids. They were adorable together. But Lore? That clueless brick is definitely not made for romance.

My phone rang. It was my boss.

"Hey," I answered casually, checking my nails.

"I need help. Can you tell Damon to check the files again? I mean, remind that bastard?"

"He forgot the files back at the other mansion. We’re at the Blackwell residence now."

"That stupid asshole!" Livana snapped.

"I know, right? And they’re not leaving the residence for maybe a month. Sophia and I are stuck here. Lore won’t let us out."

"That’s because Tyrona is tracking you two."

"I’m also engaged. I need to get married fast," I said casually.

"Wow—congratulations!" Livana laughed. "I never expected you to marry first."

I sighed, inspecting my nails again.

"I need a nail spa right now."

"Call the staff. Treat Alyssa too. I can hear Lore torturing her. It’s scary."

"Alyssa fights back," I chuckled. "Anyway, get the work done. I’ll try to talk Damon out of that property."

"Yes, do that! I miss my Sky. Jane can’t take him out from babysitting."

I giggled and nodded. Poor Livana. She missed her husband so much.

"I’ll do what I can."

"Thank you! Now pamper yourself. Laters." She hung up.

I felt awful for her. Stuck in the darkness of our lair, monitoring, watching her husband and baby from afar using Lore’s robot.

"Alyssa, just beat him up. We’re going to the spa later," I called. That immediately fired her up.

"From the top!" Lore commanded. "Shout!"

"Ya!" Alyssa responded.

"Louder!" Lore barked as he tapped her stomach.

They trained all afternoon. She picked up fast and even managed to attack Lore at one point.

"Spa!" Alyssa squealed and bolted toward the main house.

"Wanna join the spa?" I asked Lore as he tossed a towel by the rack.

"Yeah. I need my nails cleaned too. Does it include a massage?"

"Yes."

We headed to the spa. I went straight for a full body massage. Soon, I heard Sophia’s voice.

"Deanne, you didn’t call me!"

"I left a message," I replied.

"Full body massage, pedi, and mani, please," she ordered.

"I’m ready!" Alyssa said excitedly.

"So, is Damon paying?" Sophia asked.

"I’m paying," I said. (Technically, Livana’s money—but whatever.)

"Wow, thanks sis," Alyssa said. "Please bear with me today." She entered her partition, immediately whining in pain.

"Lore just beat that girl up," Sophia noted as she lay beside me.

"Yeah, but she’s getting it," I laughed.

Sophia suddenly reached for my left hand.

"You’re engaged?" she hissed.

"Oh—I forgot to tell you," I giggled.

"Damn. Nice ring."

"Thank you."

"Deanne? You’re engaged? To CAINE?!" Alyssa shouted.

"Who’s engaged?" Lore called out.

"I am," I answered.

"Oh," he replied. Zero surprise.

"We should have a party!" Alyssa declared.

I smiled.

"Let’s talk about that soon."

"Oh, that’s good!" Lore moaned as the therapist worked on him.

"Your neck is stiff. You need to keep away from devices, Lore," the therapist advised.

"I’ll take that into consideration," he muttered. Stubborn idiot.

"What are you doing that gives you a stiff neck?" Alyssa asked.

"I’ve been giving blowjobs," Lore answered casually.

Sophia exploded with laughter.

"What? You’re gay?!" Alyssa gasped.

"Hey, don’t take it seriously, Alyssa. I’m not gay. I do a lot of things for a living."

"A streamer?" Alyssa guessed.

Both Sophia and I nearly choked.

"Hey, I don’t do that. I beat up people for a living."

"Fine, but blowjobs? Seriously?" Alyssa continued.

"Alyssa, for the third time—it was a joke!" Lore groaned.