Free Web NovelChapter 93: Move to The Royale
Lyvana climbed into his lap and buried her face in his neck. His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her so close she could feel his heartbeat.
Then he kissed the top of her head and sighed.
"I’m sorry, baby," he said softly. "I’m sorry you had to deal with all that garbage today."
Lyvana looked up at him. "You fixed it, my love. And you caught him."
"I’ll always fix it," he promised, his thumb gently rubbing her cheek. "No one gets to hurt you and walk away. But I hate that you had to feel even a second of that." ƒгeewebnovёl.com
He leaned down and kissed her lips — a slow, deep kiss that made her forget every bad thing that had happened.
"Now," he murmured, his hands resting on her waist. "Forget about everything. You’re with me now."
He signaled the driver, and the SUV drove off.
....
Mark arrived at the house, looking a mess. He was met at the door by Susan, who looked worried and angry.
"Where have you been all day?" she demanded. "Your phone has been off!"
"Oh yeah, I... um, I had so much to do," Mark muttered, trying to push past her.
"Clarisse said you haven’t even been at the office," Susan said, following him.
Mark waved his hand dismissively. "I don’t only work at the office, Mother."
Susan stopped and sniffed the air, her eyes narrowing. "Are you drunk?"
"So I had a few drinks, no big deal," Mark snapped, stumbling slightly.
"A few drinks?" Susan shook her head. "Shouldn’t you be happy that your Lyvana’s..."
"Don’t even mention her name!" Mark yelled, turning around to face her.
"Why?" Susan asked, shocked.
"She cheated on me, Mother! She’s a liar!"
Susan looked at him like he was crazy. "What are you talking about? The news just reported that the guy from the video is a criminal. He’s already been arrested."
Mark froze. The air seemed to leave the room. "Arrested?"
"Yes," Susan said, crossing her arms. "Her name has been cleared. The police found out the whole thing was a setup. Everyone is talking about how she was framed."
Oh no, Mark thought, his stomach turning over. His head began to throb. If the man was arrested.
"Mark? Are you okay?" Susan asked, reaching out to him.
He didn’t answer. He simply turned and went up the stairs.
Clarisse was in the bathroom.
Mark leaned his back against the door and slid down until he was sitting on the floor.
"Mark? What are you doing down there?" she asked.
Mark looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot and filled with anger. "What are you doing here?"
Clarisse rolled her eyes. "What do you mean? Since when do I need your permission to stay the night?"
Mark scrambled to his feet and walked toward her, his breath smelling of alcohol. "What if I had come home with Lyvana? What then?"
Clarisse laughed, completely unbothered. "Since when do you give a damn what she thinks? You could just tell her I’m your mother’s guest. Isn’t that what we have been doing since you two started dating?"
"You’re crazy," Mark hissed, turning away toward the bathroom.
"What has gotten into you?" she demanded, putting her hands on her hips.
"Just go! I want to be alone!" Mark yelled.
Clarisse opened her mouth to argue, but seeing the look on his face, she stopped. Fuming, she grabbed her dress and stormed out of the room, still wrapped only in her white bath towel.
As she hurried down the quiet corridor toward her own guest room, a hand suddenly shot out of a doorway. Alex grabbed her arm and pulled her into his room, pinning her against the door.
"What are you doing walking around in a towel looking all sexy?" Alex whispered, a dark smirk on his face.
Clarisse tried to push him off. "Alex, let go! I’m not in the mood."
But Alex didn’t listen. With one quick move, he pulled the towel away. It fell to the floor, leaving her standing there completely naked.
"Now that’s more like it," Alex said, his eyes traveling over her body. "Much better."
....
Julian and Lyvana walked together toward her apartment. The hallway was quiet. She reached into her bag, pulled out her key card, and tapped it against the sensor.
The light turned green, and the lock clicked open.
As soon as they stepped inside, Lyvana stopped. Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t fully unpacked yet, but the boxes she had neatly stacked in the living room were now torn open.
Her clothes were thrown across the floor, and her papers were scattered everywhere.
It wasn’t a robbery, because her expensive TV was still on the wall. It looked like someone was looking for something specific.
"Oh no," Lyvana whispered, her hands starting to shake. "Someone was here."
Julian’s face went cold. He didn’t waste a second. He didn’t let her go further into the room or touch anything. He immediately stepped in front of her, his eyes scanning the mess.
He simply took her hands in his and turned her back toward the hallway.
"We’re leaving," he said firmly.
In the car, Julian pulled her into a hug.
"You aren’t coming back here," he murmured against her hair, his voice deep and firm. "You’re staying at the Royale from now on. I will have the police look into this immediately."
Lyvana looked at him, her heart still racing. She wanted to feel safe, but she also had her reputation to think about.
"Julian, I can’t stay with you. It will send the wrong message to everyone. We shouldn’t be seen together like that, unless as business partners."
Julian looked into her eyes, his expression softening just a little. He understood what she meant.
"I understand," he said calmly. "I will get you a different apartment. It will be separate from mine, but in the same building. That way, my security can watch over you."
"Okay," she whispered. "Take me to my grandma’s house. I need to talk to my Dad, and tell him everything’s ok."
Julian nodded.
Meanwhile, in a cold, windowless room at the police headquarters, El sat bolted to a metal chair.
