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    ALINA’S POV.

    His eyes widened in shock.

    “I… I…” He couldn’t form words.

    “Please, save your lies for someone who wants to hear them.” I said sharply in a cold and cutting tone.

    I 55 vouchers

    “It was a mistake, Lina.” He said, reaching out to grab me, but I stepped away quickly, the disgust on my face very obvious.

    “A mistake?” I scoffed, folding my arms. “Not like I care, but a mistake is you stepping on my shoes or spilling your coffee on me. Heck, a mistake is mixing up a number and sending money to the wrong ount. This?” I pointed at him, my voice. heavy with contempt, “This is not a mistake, Adrian. At least have the decency to own up to it.”

    “But I do not love Seraphina. It is you I love, Lina,” he said, sounding so defeated that, for a moment, someone watching might have pitied him. “Seraphina seduced me. I don’t want her.”

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    Anyone hearing him would think he was a decent boyfriend trying to coax his angry girlfriend into forgiveness. And if I hadn’t experienced the coldness in his eyes during thest minutes of my previous life, I might have believed him too.

    “It’s crazy you’re saying this,” Iughed, but there was no humor in it. “You never once gave me the time of day. You acted like I was a pest you couldn’t wait to get rid of, and now that I’ve finally decided to stay away from you, you’re making a fuss! Pick a struggle, Adrian.”

    “You,” he said immediately. “I pick you. I’m sorry for everything. I know you’re doing this to get back at me, and I deserve it, but please…e back to me.” He peeked at me with pleading eyes.

    “Now I am certain that you are insane.”I scoffed. “You think I care that much to do all of this just to get back at you? Please, Adrian. You’re not that important to me.”

    “But I am!” He said, his voice rising as his arrogance peeked through his words. “I’m the person you love the most, and you can’t do without me.”

    He stepped forward and tried to kiss me.

    Without hesitation, I kneed him in the groin.

    He dropped to the ground like a sack of potato, curling into a fetal position on the floor, clutching his crotch and groaning in pain. Just then, the bathroom door opened and Talia stepped out.

    “About damn time.” I muttered.

    She blinked in confusion, at the scene in front of her, her eyes flickering between me and Adrian on the floor. “What’s going

    on?”

    “I think he ate something bad.” I replied coolly. “Let’s go.” I grabbed her hand and walked around Adrian’s trembling body, not sparing him another nce as we returned to the party.

    –

    AUTHOR’S POV

    Lucian paced the length of his hotel room, fists clenched and jaw tight. Fury burned just beneath the surface, ready to erupt. He had flown all this way, only to meet a deadend.

    11:38 pm D

    E55 vouchers

    He’d gotten a solid lead on the person he’d been hunting, the man who destroyed his family and without wasting a moment. he had flown to Tharovia.

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    Tharovia was an entirely different country, and Lucian had spent the whole weekbing through every city, chasing shadows and false sightings. But there was no sign of him.

    “I don’t think he’s here, boss.” Ace said as he entered the room, his voice thick with tension.

    “Unless your intel gave us false information, then keep searching.” Lucian snapped furiously, in a low but sharp voice.

    They had no photo of the man they were searching for, just a vague description. It wasn’t much to work with, and it was driving him mad.

    “Alright, boss.” Ace replied. He pressed the button on his earpiece. “Keep searching.” He instructed the team before turning back to Lucian. “Madame has been texting.”

    “I’ll text her backter, Ace. I can’t afford any distractions right now. We need to find him before he slips away again.” Lucian’s tone was strained, his eyes not leaving the map on the table. “Did you send her the flowers like I instructed?”

    “Yes, boss.” Ace nodded.

    Just then, a message came in.

    ‘Do you want to know where your darling fiancée is?’

    The message read.

    It was from a strange number. Ace raised a brow but thought there was no point bothering his boss with it, probably just a

    spam message.

    Then another message came in. This time it was pictures.

    Ace clicked on it.

    His eyes widened.

    Photos of Alina and Adrian, hugging, one where they looked like they were kissing, and several other intimate-looking shots taken from different angles.

    “Uhmm… Boss…” Ace hesitated briefly before stretching the phone toward Lucian.

    “I told you I do not want any distractions, Ace. That’s why I gave you the phone in the first ce.” Lucian snapped without looking.

    “You’ll want to see this, boss.” Ace insisted, turning the phone so the screen was visible to him.

    Lucian snatched the phone from him the moment he caught a glimpse of Alina’s face.

    His eyes darkened as he noticed that Adrian and Alina were standing in front of a restroom.

    Lucian’s mind raced as he thought of the worst.

    His jaw clenched.

    “Where the fuck is she?” He asked through gritted teeth, his grip tightening around the phone so hard his knuckles turned white.

    11:38 pm A

    “At some reunion. “Ace responded quickly, already feeling the storm brewing.

    Jordan had updated him earlier.

    “Pack up. We’re going back.” Lucian said, his voice deadly calm.

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    Ace’s eyes widened. This was the same man who didn’t want to leave until they found who they were here for, now he wants to leave.

    “But boss, you said-”

    “Don’t make me repeat myself, Ace.” Lucian cut him off, with an ice-cold re.

    “Sorry, boss.” Ace muttered, already moving to pack their suitcases.

    Lucian stared down at the screen one more time, his eyes searing with rage.

    “I think it’s high time I got rid of Vaughn once and for all.” He said in a low and dangerous voice, like a promise of ruin waiting toe.

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