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With Desmond’s arrest, Lucas Corporation was officially declared bankrupt, the howling winds of misfortune echoing through the empty hallways. The once prosperous empire now lay in ruins, a victim of its own hubris. No one dared to step forward to run or take over the company, for to do so was to invite the wrath of the almighty Morris Corporation, a force to be reckoned with in the shadows.
Jacques, a man scarred both inside and out, sat in his wheelchair, his once proud figure now reduced to a mere ghost of his former self. His piercing eyes flickered with conflicting emotions as he watched the news on the flickering television screen. He never imagined Erin, his sister, would awaken from her comatose state. It was a miracle she had clung to life for this long, a testament to her resilience. But even as he stared at her paralyzed form, a wicked smirk twisted his lips.
Her fate, he thought, was far more cruel than remaining in the embrace of her comatose slumber. With each morning that she opened her eyes, she would be reminded of the cruel reality she now faced. As this realization settled in, Jacques’ heart swelled with a sickening satisfaction, a twisted pleasure derived from his sister’s suffering. He wheeled himself back to his room, a dark corner hiding a framed photograph, a reminder of a love lost. Hatred burned in his eyes as they landed on the image, his voice barely a whisper. “Mom, I have finally avenged you. That woman, she will spend the rest of her days in paralysis, a fate worse than death itself. And him, the man you once loved, he is nothing but a shell consumed by greed. I know you would hate me for what I have done, but I do not regret it. Lucas Corporation meant nothing compared to your well-being.” A flicker of sadness crept into his tone. “Mom, how are you faring in the afterlife?” He reached out, his trembling hand caressing the photograph, as if longing for a connection to a love long gone.
The woman in the frame smiled back, her eyes filled with warmth and tenderness. Jacques would forever cherish the memory of her, the words she spoke to him before she left this world. She had known her time was near its end, and yet she had wanted him to live on, to carry her love with him. Back then, he did not understand what she had meant, until the day she leaped from that building, her life extinguished at his feet.
Tears welled up in Jacques’ eyes, his vision blurring as he made a silent promise. “Don’t worry, Mom. I will continue to live, to honor your memory. But you must wait for me. In the next life, I want to be your son again, and this time, I will protect you with all that I am.”
Meanwhile, as the tides of fate shifted, Lara watched the news with a cold smirk on her face. The fall of Lucas Corporation, a fitting punishment for their arrogance and weakness. How foolish they were to underestimate the power of Morris Corporation. She should never have placed her hopes in such feeble hands. With a sudden sense of urgency, she grabbed her phone and dialed Alpha Zachary’s number, desperate for a connection, for some reassurance in this chaotic storm. But there was no answer, leaving her to ponder in silence. After a moment of contemplation, she snatched her purse and left the confines of her home.
Her steps led her to a dimly lit club, a den of debauchery and hidden desires. The bouncer at the entrance recognized her immediately, a sly smile crossing his face. She wasted no time, approaching the staff and asking with a hint of authority, “Is Alpha Zachary Lucas inside?” The bouncer nodded, granting her passage into the heart of darkness.
Lara stormed into the club, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on a private chamber. With determination in her steps, she crossed the threshold, met with a scene of revelry. Alpha Zachary Lucas, the puppet king, sat amidst a group of women, his laughter hollow and devoid of sincerity. Lara’s presence went unnoticed by the man she once trusted, his focus solely on the seductively dressed woman in his embrace. The woman playfully complained, her voice brimming with flirtation. “Mr. Lucas, you’re too engrossed with her. What about me? Will you not share a drink with me?”
Alpha Zachary’s reply came in the form of a devilish smile, his words carrying a drunken slur. “Of course! But I want you to feed me.” The air thickened with anticipation, the atmosphere suggestive and suffocating. Just as the woman prepared to indulge his desires, Lara’s arrival shattered the illusion. She slammed her purse onto the couch and took her place, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. The sudden movement caught Alpha Zachary’s drunken gaze, his attention momentarily diverted.
“Why are you here?” he drawled, a mixture of annoyance and curiosity in his voice.
Lara’s insincere smile grew wider on her lips. “I came to comfort you, of course. But it seems my efforts are in vain. No matter. Pretend I’m not here and carry on,” she replied, her words dripping with venom. Alpha Zachary, intoxicated and detached from reality, peered at her with heavy-lidded eyes. “Do you want to join us and have a drink?” His voice held a hint of his true nature, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Lara’s smile froze for a moment, before a wicked grin twisted her features. “Sure,” she responded eagerly, pouring herself a glass of liquor, her eyes fixed on Alpha Zachary. The three women beside him glared at her in disdain, unwilling to make room for an intruder. Lara stood her ground, her gaze sweeping over the women, finally settling on Alpha Zachary. “This is my toast to you, Mr. Lucas!” With a swift motion, she doused him with the contents of her glass, the alcohol cascading down his face.
The room erupted in chaos. The three women flailed, desperately trying to clean themselves as they scurried away from the drenched Alpha Zachary. Lara stood back, a twisted satisfaction on her face as she observed the scene. But Alpha Zachary was not one to be trifled with. He wiped away the liquid, his eyes blazing with fury as he focused his attention on Lara. His companions, loyal to their puppet master, took a defensive stance.Property © 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.
As they sneered at Lara, they were met with a shocking turn of events. Alpha Zachary’s icy gaze fell upon them, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. “Get lost!” he growled, his anger sending the women into a tailspin of disbelief. Confusion and hurt flickered on their faces as they hesitated, their loyalty now questioned.
But Alpha Zachary’s order remained firm, his eyes narrowing with authority. “I want the three of you to get lost!” With stunned expressions, the women finally accepted their dismissal, their glares burning with resentment as they directed them towards Lara. As they exited the room, their voices whispered venomous words in her direction, but she paid them no mind. Her attention was solely on Alpha Zachary, who rose from his seat, his hands stained with the remnants of his failed conquest.
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” he sneered, fixated on her.
A knowing smile curled Lara’s lips, her eyes locked with his. “Of course I do. I’m trying to sober you up, to show you the truth that lies beneath your facade.” The room fell silent as Alpha Zachary’s gaze hardened, his wariness creeping through his drunken haze.
Unbeknownst to him, Lara saw through it all. She had witnessed the twisted nature of men, their true selves hidden under layers of deception. And now, she reveled in exposing Alpha Zachary’s true colors, knowing that all men were bound by the chains of their own darkness.