Chapter 69
~Lira’s POV
I slammed the door behind me as I stormed into the house, boots clattering against the floor. “Are you seriously just going to watch her? Just… let Elara take over everything our family worked for?” I yelled, my voice echoing down the hallway.
My father looked up from his chair, jaw tight, and I could see the frustration written all over his face. “Lira, don’t come to me like that! You’re the one who caused all this mess!” he snapped, standing abruptly. “Impersonating her, spreading lies… You brought this on yourself p>
I whipped around, pointing at him, anger boiling inside me. “Me? ME? You think this is all my fault? She’s just a nobody! She wasn’t supposed to… to p>
“She wasn’t supposed to what?” my mother cut in, her voice sharp. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, glaring at me. “There is nothing we can do about Alpha Darlon. Nothing. He decides who runs what in his sphere. If we interfere, he’ll crush us without a second thought. The only thing we could even try is… maybe find a way to secretly buy shares in the company p>
I scoffed, throwing my hands up. “Ha! You think that will work? She’ll never let that happen! She’s smart, she’s ruthless when she wants to be, and she’ll know the second we try something behind her back p>
My father shook his head, his expression darkening. “Lira, listen to me. Do not do anything. We are powerless against Alpha Darlon. I won’t risk our family more than we already have. You can’t handle this alone p>
I felt a hot flush of frustration and anger, my fists clenching at my sides. “Powerless?” I spat. “Powerless? That’s not fair p>
My mother shrugged, finally, exasperated. “We’ve warned you. We can’t stop her, and we can’t stop Darlon. You need to think before you act p>
I turned sharply on my heel and stormed back to my room, slamming the door. The walls of my room felt like they were closing in as I paced back and forth, trying to think. My mind raced, flipping through every possible option. Nothing seemed enough. Nothing seemed… possible.
And then I remembered seeing Ronan earlier in the day; he was back in the company, somehow working there again, as he had never done anything wrong. My stomach tightened. How did he manage that? How had he weaseled his way back in? My mind clicked into gear.
I grabbed my phone and dialed his number. The line rang, and my heart thumped in anticipation. Finally, he picked up.
“What do you want?” Ronan’s voice slid through the speaker, clipped and suspicious.
I could almost picture his face, jaw tight, eyes darting around like he was already preparing to deny everything.
I breathed in slowly, trying to steady the anger shaking inside me. “I know you’re back in the company,” I said, forcing my voice to stay sharp but controlled. “And I want to know how you did it p>
He breathed out, a short, annoyed sound. “I don’t have any business with you anymore, Lira p>
“Oh, you do now.” I let my voice rise, not caring if it sounded harsh. “You think you can hang up and walk away? After everything you did? After everything you got caught for?” I laughed weakly, the bitterness sliding out. “No, Ronan. You don’t get to do that p>
He went quiet. I could almost see him thinking, trying to decide whether to fight back or pretend he didn’t hear me.
I continued anyway. “If you don’t listen to me, I’ll expose you for the last embezzlement you did. Everything. The files. The accounts. Every little number you tried to hide.” I paused, letting the threat settle. “You know exactly which one I’m talking about p>
For a moment, there was nothing but breathing, his breathing, shaky and annoyed.
“You wouldn’t dare,” he finally said, voice low. But there was a crack in it. A tiny one.
“I would,” I answered, my jaw tightening. “And I will. If you push me p>
Another pause. Longer this time. He knew I wasn’t bluffing. He knew what I had on him.
“We need to talk,” I said slowly. “Not over the phone. Not through some useless excuses. Physically. Face-to-face p>
“No,” he snapped. “No way. I’m not meeting you anywhere p>
“You don’t have a choice,” I shot back. “I’m giving you the address. You will come here. Or I swear, Ronan, I will make sure your second chance at that company ends before it even begins p>
I heard him inhale sharply, furious and trapped.
“You think this is a game?” he growled.
“I think you need to shut up and listen to me,” I replied, my voice trembling, not from fear but from everything boiling inside me. “You come here. Today. Don’t test me p>
Silence.
Then, in a cold, forced voice, he said, “Fine p>
The line went dead.
I didn’t move at first. I just sat there, the phone still in my hand, my fingers tight around it like it was the only thing keeping me upright. My heart was pounding so loudly it almost hurt.
“I got him,” I whispered, almost in disbelief. “I actually got him to listen p>
“I got him,” I whispered, almost in disbelief. “I actually got him to listen p>
But the small victory didn’t calm me. It only pushed the adrenaline higher.
I stood up, started pacing again. My room suddenly felt too small, too warm, too silent. My footsteps echoed in the space, my mind running faster than my body could keep up.
“What am I doing?” I muttered, running my fingers through my hair. “I can’t let her win. I won’t let Elara take everything. I won’t let her sit there with that calm face while my whole life is falling apart p>
The image of her, smiling, confident, adored, flashed through my mind, and I felt my chest tighten again.
“It should have been mine,” I whispered to myself. “All of it. The company. The respect. The position p>
I stopped pacing, gripping the edge of my dresser. “She doesn’t deserve it p>
I swallowed hard, trying to gather my thoughts, but everything felt jumbled inside me: anger, desperation, fear, a strange buzzing hope that maybe, just maybe, Ronan could help me take something back.
“At least now… I have a piece,” I said softly. “A way in. A start p>
I quickly typed out the address of a nearby cafe and sent it to him. Then I grabbed my bag and left the house, walking briskly so I wouldn’t overthink it.
I arrived at the cafe and found a quiet table by the window. I tapped my fingers impatiently, watching people pass by, but keeping my eyes on the entrance. A few minutes later, the door swung open, and there he was, Ronan. His face was dark, jaw tight, and eyes sharp, as if he’d been expecting a fight.
He spotted me and strode over, stopping in front of the table, arms crossed. “What do you want, Lira? Why exactly am I here?” His voice was clipped, but the tension in it made him look almost nervous.
I leaned back slightly, letting a small smile play on my lips. “I wanted to see you in person,” I said lightly, pretending I wasn’t trembling inside. “Thought it would be better than shouting at each other over the phone p>
He raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. “Better? Really? And now you’re smiling like nothing happened p>
I chuckled softly, shaking my head. “Not exactly. But I have a question for you.” I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on the table. “How did you get your job back? I thought you were fired p>
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, leaning against the back of the chair. “I’m on probation. Just a month p>
I let out a soft laugh, amused despite myself. “A month’s probation?” I repeated, tilting my head. “So, technically, you’re still being watched p>
He scowled. “Technically p>
I leaned in closer, lowering my voice. “And what would you say if I told you there’s a way for you to keep your job? Not just the probation, but permanently p>
His eyes narrowed immediately, suspicion sharpening his features. “What are you playing at p>