Billionaire Alpha's 99 Deadly Games

Chapter 20

Staring at the man before her, his expression hovering between devotion and derangement, Aria felt nothing but bitter irony.

"You stand there claiming you love me," she said, each word razor-sharp, "but where was this love when Leila accused me? Where was it during those ninety- eight humiliations? Where was it when you literally left me to burn alive?"

Her voice remained controlled despite the fury building beneath. "Don't bother with excuses. I gave you a chance that night in the fire when I asked if you were coming back for me. I thought, 'If you turns around right now-if you pulls me out-l could forgive everything.' Every single thing you did to me."

She held his gaze unflinchingly. "But what did you choose, Lucas?"

Her accusations were met with uncomfortable silence. The fire had happened so long ago that Lucas struggled to recall the specifics.

Yet one memory remained crystal clear-that critical moment when he'd hesitated at the door, then walked away without looking back.

"You left me in the flames without a second thought," Aria concluded quietly. "So explain to me why you think I'd stay with you now?"

She attempted to step around him, but this time Lucas's reflexes were faster.

"Block the gates," he instructed the guards, his voice unnervingly calm.

Aria spun back toward him, genuine shock registering on her face. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

She had actually believed that some vestige of basic decency might prevent him from physically forcing her to stay.

Lucas approached slowly, his fingers finally making contact with her cheek in a gentle caress that

made her skin crawl.

I made, I acknowledge them all," he said softly, as though speaking to a frightened rabbit. "I've spent a year in hell without you. Why can't we move forward together? I know you're angry-you have every right to be. Just give me the chance to make amends. That's

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Chapter 20

"No."

jerked away from his touch as if burned, disgust and disappointment making

have destroyed my life once. Are you really so

need to actually die before you finally

across Lucas's face, quickly hardening into unnerving resolve. "I will never let you

that confrontation, Aria found herself effectively held captive, albeit in the

The Thornwood Pack, Lucas orchestrated an elaborate press conference at

media that Aria had never actually

merely staged her death after a relationship dispute, needing space and time for perspective. After more than a year of persistent devotion on his part,

this performance, Aria sat beside him on the stage, wearing a designer dress she

as he delivered his romantic fiction with Oscar-worthy emotion, the reporters hanging on

and exposing everything-the calculated revenge plot, the deliberate attempt on her life, her current

the end, she remained silent, recognizing the futility. After a year's absence, her credibility was microscopic compared to the Thornwood pack's influence. The press would interpret any outburst as evidence

through public displays of devotion. For the

custom fireworks that cost more than most people's homes, illuminating the entire harbor in a spectacle visible

houses, he casually outbid collectors

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Billionaire Alphate 00 Doodluc

Chapter 20

figures