Free Web NovelChapter 37: Where the hell is my son
Julian’s hand pulled her closer, making the kiss deeper and more intense. He moved to her neck, and she tilted her head back, lost in the feeling of him.
Suddenly, the quiet night was broken by a sharp, distant sound.
Crack. Crack.
The echo of gunshots rang through the air.
Lyvana froze.
The world around her vanished.
She was back in that room. The same room she died in, wearing her white wedding gown.
The door creaked open and there were footsteps on the marble. Her heart started to beat faster as she saw the masked man standing in the doorway.
Then flash. The impact.
She felt her body hit the floor before she even understood she had been shot.
Her chest tightened and she couldn’t breathe. She felt the air leave her lungs. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Lyvana."
She felt strong hands grip her shoulders.
"Lyvana look at me."
Her vision snapped back and she saw the dark sky, then... Julian. He was in front of her looking worried.
One of the security men had arrived, scanning the tree line. Another was speaking urgently into his earpiece at the other end.
"Are you ok?" Julian demanded, his eyes searching her face.
She nodded, although her fingers were trembling.
The security man handed Julian a phone.
After a few frantic words from Marco on the phone, Julian’s rigid shoulders finally dropped.
"Understood," Julian muttered into the phone. "Keep them detained until the police arrive. And tell them if I hear so much as a sparkler for the rest of the night, they’ll be spending the weekend in a cell."
He ended the call and looked down at Lyvana, who was still trembling beneath him.
Julian’s thumb brushed lightly under her chin, forcing her to focus on him.
"You’re here," he said quietly. "With me. You’re safe, love."
He stood up, gathered her into his strong arms, and carried her away from the edge of the cliff back to the pavilion.
Once inside, he walked to the large, velvet sofa and set her down gently among the soft cushions.
"Stay here," he whispered. "I’m going to get you something to drink."
Lyvana sat back, her body sinking into the sofa. She watched him move across the room, feeling the phantom pain of that old gunshot wound finally start to fade.
Julian returned a moment later with a cup of warm tea and a thick, cashmere blanket. He wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and sat beside her, pulling her tucked-in legs onto his lap.
The color had returned to her face. Julian debated whether to ask her what happened or simply wait for her to tell him when she was ready.
Minutes later, she had fallen asleep. He carried her to the bedroom and lay her gently down.
He pulled the covers up to her chin, watching the peaceful expression on her face.
For a long time, he just stood there in the dark. He thought about the fear he had seen in her eyes and the memory that had clearly haunted her.
He wasn’t going to rest until he found out exactly who or what had put that look of terror on her face.
....
The early morning light spilled into Lily’s apartment. She reached for her phone on the nightstand.
6:05 a.m...
She didn’t need an alarm anymore because her body knew the routine by heart. It was always the same, coffee first, then emails, and finally shower for work.
She got out of bed and headed for the kitchen. While someone else might have been bored with such a routine, she wasn’t. She loved what she did, truly enjoyed it, and she was incredibly good at it.
She took a slow sip of her coffee, the steam rising to her face.
As her laptop screen glowed to life, her eyes scanned the chaotic inbox. She moved through the messages.
Once the urgent tasks were cleared, she stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the last traces of sleep. By the time she stood before the mirror, she was already mentally three steps ahead of the day’s schedule.
Then her phone rang.
She froze. It was Chairman Grant. At this time?
She took a deep breath, then swiped the screen to answer.
"Good morning, Chairman Grant," she said. Her voice was professional and calm, hiding her surprise.
There was a brief silence on the other end. The kind of silence that usually comes before a storm. Then, his voice came through.
"Lily," he stated, skipping any pleasantries. "Where the hell is my son?"
Lily tightened her grip on the phone. "He’s still in Singapore, sir," she said.
"Doing what?" he thundered, the sound so loud she had to pull the phone away from her ear.
"Sir, he... um he had to meet with a private investor," she stammered slightly, trying to make the lie feel more believable.
"Don’t you dare lie to me!" the Chairman roared. "His phone is off. I’ve checked his GPS and it’s dark. Now, you find a way to call him. You tell him if he doesn’t show up tonight, I will disown him. I’ll cut him off from my inheritance and the family name. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Chairman Grant," Lily replied.
"Two hours, Lily. I want proof he’s on a plane, or both of your heads are on the chopping block."
The line clicked shut.
Lily stood in the bathroom. She knew Julian was in Singapore with Lyvana. But all hell would have broken loose if she had told the Chairman that.
She stared at the blank screen of her phone.
Two hours.
She knew what that meant.
The Chairman was pissed off.
She moved quickly, her mind already calculating. Julian’s primary phone was off deliberately. When he wanted privacy, he erased himself from the world. No GPS. No signals. No trace.
But Lily had worked for him long enough to know that he always kept one secure line active for her.
For emergencies. Was this an emergency? Close enough.
She dialed the private number.
The line rang twice.
"Blackwood security," Marco answered.
"This is Lily. I need to speak to Mr. Blackwood immediately."
"Stand by."
