Chapter 156

Standing off to the side, I was honestly enjoying the scene.

Still, I felt Lewis had been a little too polite.

I crossed my arms and looked straight at Monica.

“Aunt Monica, you’ve got some nerve. First you stole my mother’s mate, and now you’re eyeing her son-in-law too? What’s wrong with you? Can’t you find your own man p>

“I didn’t ” Monica’s voice shook. “I may not have a formal bond with your father, but I truly love him p>

She turned toward Grant with teary eyes, looking wrong and stiff all at once.

Maybe she once had charm. Now, years of fixing and reshaping had frozen her face. Her attempt at crying looked unnatural like something carved, not felt.

I tilted my head.

“Dad, how do you live with that face every day? She looks like one of those wax figures where you can’t tell if they’re smiling or mourning p>

Grant flinched.

By now, he knew exactly where the power sat.

“Riley,” he said carefully, “don’t be childish. I know I failed you and your mother. I’ve been trying to make up for it. But Lincy is still my daughter. I can’t just watch her get locked away. If you have conditions, say them p>

I sat down slowly on the couch, weighing my options.

If I held my ground and Lewis stayed silent, Lincy was done.

I tapped my fingers lightly against the leather armrest. Monica’s sharp edges softened instantly.

“Riley,” she said quietly, “I know you hate me. I deserve it. But Lincy is still your sister. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I’ll do anything. Just save her p>

I looked at her calmly.

“Aunt Monica, that’s all I needed to hear. What you and my father did to my mother and me can’t be erased with apologies. If you want Lincy saved, I have conditions p>

“Name them p>

“First,” I said evenly, “sell everything. Every luxury item. Bags. Jewelry. Savings. All of it. Donate it to disaster relief p>

Her eyes widened.

“Second, transfer all of Lincy’s properties and assets into my name p>

Her lips parted, trembling.

“Third, Lincy is permanently barred from working in any business tied to the Ashbourne name p>

Silence slammed into the room.

I had stripped them of everything. Years of scheming gone in a few sentences.

Even without official titles, Monica had drained plenty from Grant over the years.

“Riley she stammered, panic flooding her face. “You’re trying to ruin us p>

I crossed my legs and smiled coldly.

“Don’t be dramatic. You built your life by using your daughter as a tool. I’m only asking you to return what you took p>

I leaned back.

“If you truly love my father the way you claim, then these things should mean nothing to you. I’m already being generous. I haven’t even asked for compensation for the twenty years you stole from my mother and me p>

She bit her lip, unable to argue.

After a long pause, she whispered, I can agree. But Lincy is a Ashbourne. What’s hers should stay hers. How can I cut her off completely p>

I answered without hesitation.

“Prison belongs to her too p>

Then I looked straight at her.

“Remember this you came to me begging. When you ask for mercy, you don’t bargain. Compared to what you and your daughter have done, a few years behind bars is mercy. Honestly, even if Lincy rotted away forever, it still wouldn’t repay what I lost p>

As my voice turned cold, Grant finally spoke.

“Riley, I can cut ties with them. But Lincy carries my name. She’s my responsibility p>

I looked at him without warmth.

“So you plan to clean up after her forever? The only reason she’s this reckless is because you always protected her. If you don’t let her bleed for her mistakes now, saving her means nothing. She’ll just do it again p>

I rubbed my temples and exhaled. I was exhausted.

“My conditions don’t change. Take time to think if you need to but don’t waste Lincy’s time. Once she admits guilt, not even Lewis can pull her back after judgment is passed p>

I stood to leave.

“Alright!” Monica’s voice cracked behind me. “I agree. I’ll do everything you asked. Just save Lincy p>

I knew exactly what she was thinking.

As long as Lincy lived free, Monica would never truly suffer.

And Grant would never fully abandon them.

They had no idea.

What my mother and Riley endured for years

It was finally their turn.

I turned back to Grant.

“And you p>

He swallowed. “Fine. I agree p>

“Good.” My tone was flat. “Then it’s settled. But remember if you break this agreement, you’ll pay twice over p>

I looked at Lewis.

“Any objections p>

He smiled calmly. “If my mate has decided, I have none p>

Grant ’s shoulders loosened slightly.

“What’s the plan?” he asked.

“It’s simple,” I said. “Find the man who tampered with the car. Let him confess. He takes full responsibility. The charge against Lincy is built on loose threads. Once his statement clears her, the case collapses p>

Grant stared at me.

“You already found him p>

“I reached him before the authorities did p>

Everything made sense now.

Lewis hadn’t been worried not for a second.

Lincy’s fate had been in my hands from the start.

Lewis’s voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it.

“So her future depends on whether you keep your word. If you don’t, there’s no guarantee more evidence won’t surface p>

Grant frowned. “We’re family. Is this really necessary p>

Lewis glanced at him, expression empty.

“You misunderstand. Riley, her mother, and I are family. The rest of you don’t belong to my circle p>

He checked the time.

“It’s late. Riley needs rest. Any further arrangements go through Theo. Riley, let’s go p>

“Alright p>

I pushed him into the elevator. As the doors closed, I caught Monica’s face dark, tight, defeated.

Too late.

They should’ve known better.

I wasn’t Riley anymore.

Everything they took from me

They would return it, piece by piece, and crawl back to where they came from.

I looked at Lewis.

“You planned all of this from the beginning p>

He answered easily. “Sending her away would’ve been a waste. Using her was smarter. But I never intended to interfere p>

“You were waiting for me to choose p>

“Yes.” His gaze softened. “As long as you’re satisfied, the outcome doesn’t matter p>

My heart skipped.

Before I could move, his presence closed in no space, no escape.

The elevator was dark. Cold metal behind me. Heat in front.

Only his outline showed in the faint city light.

My pulse raced.

“Lewis “

His hand cupped my face, cutting me off with a kiss that stole the rest of my breath.

The restraint he’d worn so long cracked in that moment.

The hunger underneath was impossible to ignore.

My legs weakened, and I clutched his neck, letting my weight fall into him.

His voice brushed my ear, low and sure.

“Don’t sleep alone tonight. Stay with me p>

I didn’t answer.

I didn’t need to.