Chapter 6 I Swear, Every Word Comes from the Bottom of My Heart
The hall fell silent.
Lukas and Lia—together.
People remembered the kiss earlier. Married? To him? Lukas Müller, patriarch of Bonn City’s top family and ruthless CEO of SJ Group?
No one dared whisper another word.
Lia smiled sweetly, eyes on Jan.
“Jan, you’ve been kind since we were kids. But you always made me deliver things for you—like this engagement ring. Why not give it to the girl you actually like? Too timid?”
Jan and Anna went pale.
“I’ve known about you and Lena all along,” Lia continued. “The gifts you gave me were for her. Why did you make me hand her the ring? In high school you’d ‘visit me’—but always disappeared into my room with her. Now you’re adults. Why keep hiding?”
Jan’s face twisted. He remembered those stolen trysts with Lena—on Lia’s bed.
“Lia, think about the consequences before you speak,” he growled.
“Lia, don’t—!” Lena rushed out, blushing, then glanced at Jan. Too late. Lia pressed the ring into her palm.
“Look. Your names are engraved inside.”
“Jan & Lena,” the carving read.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Lena burst into tears, clutching the ring. The truth was obvious.
Lia curled her lips and leaned into Lukas’ chest. “Watching your love grow all these years has been touching. I truly wish you the best.”
Every guest understood the message: Lia wasn’t jealous, because she had Lukas. Compared to him, Jan was a beggar. Only a fool would choose Jan over the city’s most powerful man.
Anna bit her lip, eyes red, seething with envy.
The car ride back was silent. The half-open window let in sharp wind. Lia kept stealing glances at Lukas, whose aura filled the space like a storm cloud.
He suddenly opened his eyes and caught her staring. She flinched toward the door, then quickly grabbed his hand.
“Lukas, everything I said earlier—I meant it.”
His voice was ice. “Which part?”
Her cheeks burned. “That you’re better than Jan in every way. Your body, your stamina… you’re amazing in bed. I swear, every word is true.”
The pressure in the car tightened. He studied her for a long beat.
“Okay.”
That was it? No kiss? No pulling her close?
Instead, his gaze sharpened. “Say what you want now.”
“I… I want to go out tomorrow,” Lia said cautiously.
“I told you not to.” His tone left no room for argument.
“I just need to fetch something of my mother’s from the Wagner house. I’ll return immediately. Erik can come with me if you don’t trust me.”
At the wheel, Erik nearly choked. Great. I’m dead if she stirs trouble again.
Lukas’ eyes narrowed. “You know the consequences of lying to me.”
Her heart skipped—was that… permission? She nodded quickly. “I won’t lie.”
The next morning.
Lia stood before the Wagner mansion, the wind biting at her. In her last life she never knew her mother commanded the world’s most mysterious organization. Before her death, her mother had ordered its protection for Lia and her brothers. The jade ring that controlled it was hidden here.
She couldn’t let Gudrun or her daughters find it.
Finally, the maid Helga opened the door, face sullen. “Miss.”
Lia sneered. “So you do remember I’m your mistress?”
Since her mother’s death, Gudrun had replaced the household with her own people. Disrespect was nothing new.
“Does anyone know I’m here?” Lia asked coldly.
Helga yawned. “No idea. Wait and I’ll tell them—”
Smack!
Lia’s slap echoed in the entryway. “Do I need to announce my return to my own home? I will always be your mistress. Show some respect.”
