Chapter 31

The grand banquet hall, once filled with high society chatter,fell abruptly silent. Alexander, his face a mask of authority and barely contained fury,had commanded the event to a swift and unceremonious end. With a sharp gesture, he ordered the guests to leave, and one by one, they filtered out, leaving behind only whispers and speculation. Journalists, unable to resist the pull of the unknown, lingered in the shadows, eager to uncover the reason behind the premature closure. They could feel the storm brewing but knew better than to approach.

Elsewhere, Old Master Lowe, a confidant of Caleb Blake, received the shocking news of Lilly's disappearance-along with the devastating truth of her identity. A woman he had initially thought was merely Alexander's wife had turned out to be the long-lost heiress to the Blake empire. The revelation hit like a bolt, the implications running far deeper than he could have imagined. Caleb had spent two years searching for her, and now.to learn she had been taken once again, this time with the knowledge of her true lineage, was enough to rattle even Lowe's steely resolve.

He wasted no time. The event, now a forgotten memory, had to end, and Alexander's search needed to begin in earnest. Caleb would be enraged, his fury amplified by the knowledge that his granddaughter had vanished-again-just as she had resurfaced. He had no time to waste, and neither did Alexander. The clock was ticking. Hours later, past midnight, Bella and Kate stood side by side in the cold,empty parking lot. Their search for Lilly had yielded nothing, and the frustration gnawed at them. Three hours had passed since the conclusion of the banquet, and still, there was no sign of Lilly. Kate's thoughts churned, her fists clenched as she stared at the ground, frustration turning into quiet fury. "Mother, was this your doing?"Kate's voice was a low, tense whisper,laden with suspicion as she glanced at Bela, who had always been a schemer atheart.

Bella's lips curled into a thin smile, but there was no humor in it. "No, I wouldn't be so foolish as to kidnap her in a place where we could be easily identified. Alexander will find her. He's powerful, and I'm sure she's safe...for now."

Kate narrowed her eyes, though she hated to admit it, her mother's logic was sound. But that didn't stop the gnawing resentment."Today has been the worst day of my life," Kate muttered through gritted teeth, anger building. Initially, she had hoped Bella had orchestrated the abduction,but now she saw it was unlikely. And then there was Alexander. His frantic search, as if Lilly were the most precious thing in the world to him, only made Kate's stomach turn. Why does he care so much? she wondered, her mind swirling with unanswered questions.

Kate balled her fists, pacing, trying to quell the rising tide of jealousy.She couldn't just let Lilly waltz back into their lives, reclaim her birthright, and win over the man Kate had set her sights on. No. She couldn't.

“Your father's coming," Bella remarked, her voice cutting through Kate's spiraling thoughts.

Kate froze. She didn't need to look to know what was coming.

Peter's silhouette emerged from the shadows, his stride confident and purposeful. "Have they found her?" he asked, his voice clipped with urgency. "I've just received word," Bella answered, her eyes narrowing. "Two of my men have been following Alexander's team. He's heading to the Blake estate."

A flicker of alarm passed between mother and daughter. "Why would he go there?" Kate asked her voice tight with confusion.

"He found out she was taken there," Peter replied, his words sending a jolt through the air.

Lilly... at the Blake estate? The realization hit like a blow to the chest. The mansion, the home where the Blake legacy was built.Why would Alexander think she was there?

Peter's expression softened. "It's Caleb. He took her."

“Grandfather took her?” Bella's voice was a mix of disbelief and shock.She had never expected him to act so swiftly, so decisively.

Kate stood frozen in place, her mind racing, piecing thefragments of this twisted puzzle together. Caleb... The very thought of him stirred a deep.uncomfortable fear inside her.

"I'm relieved it was him," Peter added, his tone cold and final. "Let's head back.”

Bella's composure returned as she nodded sharply, giving Kate one last glance before heading towards the car. "Let's go." Reluctantly, Kate followed. Her heart thudded in her chest as they climbed into the car. A sense of dread hung over her like a dark cloud, and she couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to take a darker turn. Back at the Blake Estate... The tension inside the Blake estate was palpable as Alexander sat in the car, his fingers tapping relentlessly against the armrest. His men, eight cars deep, stood by, ready to back him up if the gates didn't open on their own.Every moment that passed felt like an eternity, the silence between them filled with the promise of a coming storm. If the estate guards didn't let him in,he would break through.

James, sitting beside him, couldn't ignore the look of determination etched across Alexander's face. This wasn't just a man searching for his wife.This was something else, something deeper. Alexander wasn't just seeking Lilly-he was preparing for a confrontation, one that would shatter everything in its path.

"Since we know her grandfather has her, and she's safe, why don't we just leave? He'll send her back, or she'll come back on her own." James suggested, trying to reason with him.

But Alexander'ssmirk was cold, unexpected, sending a shiver through James. It was a rare expression from the usually composed man.

"No, he won't," Alexander said quietly, the words heavy with meaning."As far as he knows, she's still married to me. He won't let her return to me willingly."

James blinked, trying to process the deeper implication of Alexander's words. What did he mean by that? He didn't have time to dwell on the thought. The gate had swung open, and the convoy moved forward,driving into the estate. Inside the mansion, the tension was thick as Alexander stepped from the car,his demeanor regal and commanding. Guards didn't dare challenge him as he moved forward, a man on a mission. Inside the estate. Paul, a middle-aged servant, led Alexander down winding corridors before stopping at a broad, imposing door. With a knock,Paul received permission to enter.

Lilly was there. Sitting on the plush mat in the middle of the study.looking smaller than usual in the vast room. Her eyes locked with his the moment he stepped inside, and Alexander's heart twisted at the sight of her, vulnerable, yet strangely composed.

"Mr. Kane, Master Caleb is waiting." Paul announced.

Lilly stood in haste, her eyes flickering between Alexander and Caleb,who remained seated, a commanding presence in the room. But before Lilly could say a word, Alexander strode toward her, ignoring the stillness that enveloped the room. His voice was low, firm. “Let's go.”

Lilly's heart raced. She glanced at her grandfather and then back at Alexander.

Her grandfather's voice cut through the thick air likea knife."I only permitted this visit to inform you-she will not leave with you. She will be filing for a separation."

"Separation?" Alexander's eyes flashed, narrowing as he looked at Lilly,his gaze demanding answers.

Lilly's lips parted, but Alexander silenced her with a sharp motion. “Save it for later," he muttered."You have a lot to explain." The words hung in the air,heavy with tension. "I advise you to leave now," Caleb warned,his eyes cold. But Alexander wasn't moving. He stood his ground, his eyes locked onto Caleb's. "You know I will leave with her. Whether you like it or not."

Their eyes met, the room growing colder as the silent battle raged between them. Lilly stood frozen, her heart pounding, her mind a swirl of confusion. What had her grandfather just warned her about? What did she not know about Alexander that was now coming to light?

Caleb's next words cut through the air like a blade. "You have no idea what kind of man you married. What you think you know about him...is far from the whole truth.”

Lilly's breath caught in her throat. What was her grandfather trying to tell her?

Alexander's unreadable expression deepened. The silence in the room was deafening. One thing was clear, this wasn't just about Lilly anymore. The secrets, the lies, they were about to come to light, and nothing would ever be the same again.

The night stretched on, longer and darker than either of them could have imagined. The truth was about to unravel.