111 And Now
Lucian
Mara and I went back to sleep after finishing our sandwiches and talking through the mess with my family.
We woke later than planned, scrambling to get ready.
The Clearwaters gave us a few raised eyebrows over breakfast–not that I blamed them. Mara had screamed. quite a few things last night, and if I were in their shoes, I’d be curious too.
Honestly? Remembering the things she said just made me smile.
I stayed back a moment as she walked ahead to the car. I liked watching her like that–confident, elegant, all curves and quiet power. She wore a short button–up dress, and it hugged her in all the right ways.
My mind wandered. That dress could be undone with one hand and a hungry kiss. The kind of thought that. made me want to call off the day entirely.
Somehow, without ever speaking about it, Mara had slipped into a rhythm–skirts and dresses when we were together, trousers only when she was on her own. I hadn’t asked. She just did it, maybe because it worked for us. For our life.
We hit the road, and I pushed the engine harder than usual. The mansion loomed in the distance, and I felt Mara’s mood shift the closer we got. Her confidence wavered, just a little. I reached over and pulled her into a firm embrace before we stepped out.
“I’m here,” I said into her hair, holding her tight.
She nodded, but her voice was raw. “I’m just… sick and tired of them.”
At the front door, I wrapped her in my arms again, one hand gently patting her back. She leaned into me, letting herself draw strength.
My father had said things to her he should never have said–hurtful, cruel things. Whatever he claimed to feel now, he’d meant every word when he said them. He just hadn’t expected Mara to stand her ground. But she had. Every damn time.
And that strength–that was why she hadn’t broken. Because she didn’t doubt me. Us. If she had… if my love had wavered even slightly, it would’ve destroyed her.
But she stood tall, even with wolves at her back.
This couldn’t go on. The pressure, the manipulation, the constant talk of her being “purchased” like she was something in a shop window–it had to end.
After we put the Martha issue to rest today, I was going to end the rest of it.
For good.
When Mara and I entered the mansion, we headed straight for the breakfast lounge in the right wing. The smell of food still lingered, though most of the plates were nearly empty. We were late–and that was intentional.
Martha sat with swollen eyes, red from either crying or screaming–I didn’t care which. Tiffany wasn’t there. Only Lacy and Darian were present, and it was clear they were keeping Tiffany out of the loop–for now.
111 And Now
“Lucian, you’re late,” my father said as we entered.
I smiled faintly. “We didn’t sleep early.”
I pulled out a chair for Mara. She sat with quiet composure, greeting my father with a steady voice. On the surface, she looked unshaken. But I knew the truth. She was holding herself together with sheer willpower
Then Martha opened her mouth.
“How dare you sit at my table,” she snapped at Mara.
That was it.
No more.
“Enough!” I thundered, my voice slamming through the room like a whip.
The table went dead silent.
“I’m sick of this constant disrespect,” I said, locking eyes with Martha. “Don’t you ever speak to my wife like that again. This is her house too. Her table. And don’t you ever forget, she’s your Luna.”
I turned to the rest of them, making sure my voice reached every corner of the room.
ng pec
“And that goes for all of you. I’m done hearing people talk about Mara as if she’s some commodity that was purchased. She wasn’t bought. She was forced into this union by circumstances beyond her control. There’s a difference. If anyone brings it up again, anyone, you’ll answer to me. That includes you, Father.”
My father’s face stiffened, but he didn’t speak.
“I know what you told Mara,” I continued, voice unwavering. “About the company. About the money. About me. She told me how you said you could make me throw her out. Let me be clear: you can’t. You don’t have that power. I love my wife. Nothing you say or do will change that.”
I looked him dead in the eye.
“As for Steel Corp, stop saying you gave it to me out of appreciation for my mother. We both know that’s not true. That company was mine from the moment I was born. That’s why the shares and legal documents bear
if you tried.” my name. You couldn’t give it to someone else even
Silence.
“Mara deserves peace,” I said, my tone softening but not losing strength. “We’re trying to conceive, and this -toxicity, it’s not just hurtful. It’s dangerous. This family is unhealthy, and if it keeps up, we’re done with
breakfasts. Permanently.”
The shock on their faces was almost satisfying.
Then, of course, Martha tried to claw back control.
“She should respect me too,” she protested.
“I can’t believe you still have the nerve to speak,” Darian said sharply. His voice was quiet, but the disappointment in it cut deeper than anything I’d said.
Martha turned toward him, wounded and shaking. But there was no more defense. No more shouting. Just silence that hung over the table like a storm cloud about to break.
