Chapter 24

The world is vast, but moments like this make it feel suffocatingly small.

"Albent?" Lilly's voice was barely audible, her heart racing as she faced the man from her past.

"Lilly, it's really you." Albert said with a charming smile: his eyes alight with recognition.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.

Albert leaned in slightly, his tone casual but tinged with amusement."Wondering why I'm here? I came to expand the family business and hoped to cross paths with you."

Lilly blinked, startled by the bluntness of his response. Their paths had diverged three years ago when she ended their brief relationship abroad.She had thought she'd left that part of her life behind.

"Oh," was all she could manage, though she could feel the intensity of Alexander's gaze burning into her. Against her better judgment, she glanced his way and regretted it instantly. Hisface was a mask of fury,his jaw clenched in barely restrained anger.

Albert followed her gaze, his expression shifting as he noticed the man sitting across from her. Recognition dawned, and his smile faltered."Alexander Kane," he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear. Albert extended a hand with calculated politeness. "Mr. Kane,it's an honor. I'm Albert Smith." Alexander's cold stare didn't waver, and he made no move to shake Albert's hand. The awkward silence that followed was suffocating.Albert,reading the situation quickly, withdrew his hand. Few men dared appronch Alexander Kane without facing consequences,and Albert had just realized the risk he had taken.

Lilly's mind raced, panic bubbling under her composed exterior.She prayed Albert wouldn't dig deeper. During their time together abroad,she had been "Lilly Evans," a false identity she and her sister adopted to escape the scrutiny tied to their real surname, Blake. The truth had been buried beneath layers of secrecy, and she had every intention of keeping it that way.

Albert's attention shifted back to Lilly, his gaze softening. "Let's catch up sometime," he said, offering her his business card.

Lilly hesitated but accepted it, knowing she might need to control the situation if he pursued her. Albert seemed to notice Alexander's unyielding glare, the air around them thick with unspoken tension. With a polite nod, he excused himself.

Once Albert was gone, silence settled over the table, oppressive and heavy.Alexander's piercing gaze remained locked on her, and Lilly fet as though she were being dissected under his scrutiny.

Finally,Alexander stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.“Stand up," he commanded, his tone icy.

"What?" Lilly stammered, startled by his sudden movement. “Stand.Up.” She obeyed without question, her pulse quickening. Without another word,he grabbed her hand, his grip firm as he pulled her along. "Why are you dragging me?" she asked, struggling to keep up with his long strides.

"You wanted to leave. We're leaving," he said curtly, his tone brooking no argument.

"Do you have to drag me?"

He didn't answer, his focus fixed straight ahead. They reached the ground floor in a blur, and Lilly noticed how everyone avoided even glancing their way. Alexander Kane commanded fear and respect wherever he went, and this moment was no exception.

In the underground garage, Lilly yanked her hand free, her voice rising."Let go of me!"

Alexander stopped abruptly, turning to face her. His eyes blazed with an intensity that made her take a step back. "Get in the car," he ordered, his tone cold as ice.

She hesitated, but the sharp edge in his voice left no room for debate.Reluctantly, she climbed into the car, Alexander following close behind.

As the vehicle sped away, the silence inside was suffocating. Lilly stared out the window, her heart pounding.

"Hand it over," Alexander said suddenly, breaking the quiet.

“What?” “His contact details.” Lilly turned to him, confused. "Why do you want it?" “Don't make me repeat myself," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. With trembling fingers, Lilly pulled the business card from her clutch and handed it to him. Alexander barely glanced at it before rolling down the window and tossing it into the night.

"What was that for?" Lilly demanded, her voice rising in disbelief.

"How do you know him?" Alexander asked, his tone sharp.

“That's not an answer to my question," she shot back,frustration bubbling to the surface.

“Don't test my patience,Lilly.”

She hesitated,realizing how precarious her position was. "He's... an old friend.”

Alexander's eyes narrowed. "An old friend? This is his first time in the country. How did you know him before now?”

Lilly's heart sank. He knew. Of course, he knew. Alexander Kane never moved without gathering information first. The realization hit her like a wave-he must have had Albert investigated the moment he left the table.

"The thing is..." Lilly began, struggling to find the right words.

"Lilly Evans," Alexander interrupted, his voice dangerously low.“Start talking.” Her throat went dry. She was trapped, and she knew it. She couldn't reveal the truth about her past without risking everything. But lying to Alexander Kane was just as perilous. Every second of silence felt like an eternity. She met his gaze, his cold eyes demanding answers, and knew there was no escape. “I...”Her voice faltered, the weight of his stare crushing her resolve.

She had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. How could she untangle this web without it unraveling everything she had worked so hard to keep hidden?

The car sped through the darkened streets, but Lilly could only hear the pounding of her own heart. The truth loomed over her, threatening to shatter everything she'd built.