Chapter 26 Chapter 26.

Chapter 26 Chapter 26.
"Do we have a problem?" Lucien's voice sliced through the tension in the room like a knife.

Francesca's eyes widened, caught off guard by his sudden and swift return. Jenna trembled violently, on the verge of collapsing from fear. The doctor and the other nurse stood frozen, their minds racing with the implications of Lucien's presence.

With a chilling calmness, Lucien continued, "I believe I'm not the only one here—"

"She’s fine," they all chorused in a hurried defense before he could finish his statement, except for Francesca, who felt her fury boiling beneath the surface.

Saying nothing, Lucien strode towards Aria's bed, his gaze unwavering as he scrutinized her still form. "Pray... pray that she truly is fine, as you’ve claimed," he said, an edge of menace in his tone.

The medical staff swallowed hard, fully aware of what the chain of events would lead to next. 

"Yes, sir," they echoed, hastily exiting the ward, eager to be away from his suffocating presence.

Lucien settled into the chair by Aria's bedside, unbuttoning his shirt slightly, and exhaling a heavy sigh. "Francesca," he called.

"Yes, sir?" She stepped forward, her heart thundering in her chest.

"Kill the deal," he ordered.

“What deal, sir?” She asked, her brow furrowing in confusion, though dread began to creep in.

"The deal with the Magoons," he replied flatly, and Francesca's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What?!" she burst out. "Sir, do you have any idea what you're talking about? It's the deal with the Magoons." She emphasized the gravity of the situation.

"I know exactly what I’m saying. Kill it," he replied, his voice resolute.

"Why?" she pressed, unable to mask the disbelief in her tone.

Lucien leaned back in the chair, his eyes narrowing as memories flooded back—a dimly lit room fraught with unease. The Magoons, notorious for their ruthless tactics, had courted him for months with a proposal to tap into his vast resources, promising significant profit in return. 

Lucien's instincts had screamed at him to decline the offer, but something about their proposal had piqued his interest. Perhaps it was the promise of power, or the potential to expand his empire. Whatever the reason, he had agreed to meet with them, to hear them out and weigh his options.

The meeting had been a blur, but one thing stood out in his mind - their leader, a man with a scarred face and a cold, calculating gaze. He had spoken of loyalty, of honor, and of the lengths they would go to protect their interests. Lucien had listened, his expression unreadable, his mind racing with possibilities. But one statement made his ears rang. "We'll need Aria for a night."

With a firm sense of disapproval, he had given a clear response, "no!"

Not bothering to ask why and what they needed Aria for, he called off the partnership, and gave a warning. "If Aria ever gets related with any of you on this deal, I'm gonna make your lives fun."

"Sir?" Francesca’s voice broke through the silence, snapping Lucien back to the present. She stood before him, concern etched across her features, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Are you certain about this?" Her tone was barely above a whisper, a mix of apprehension and urgency.

Lucien's gaze locked onto hers, his expression resolute. "I'm positive," he asserted, his voice firm as steel. "Kill the deal, Francesca. I want it done tonight."

Francesca’s eyes widened, and for a brief moment, Lucien thought she might protest. But, after a silent moment of deliberation, she nodded, determination replacing her hesitation. "Yes, sir," she replied, her voice steady, before turning to leave.

As she stepped out of the room, Lucien’s attention drifted back to Aria, lying motionless in the hospital bed. A softness flickered in his eyes, and he gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead. "Pray she really is fine," he whispered, his voice barely audible, filled with uncharacteristic vulnerability.

The machines surrounding Aria’s bed beeped in a steady rhythm, a soothing backdrop that mirrored the anxious thud of Lucien's own heart. He sank back into the chair, unwilling to break the connection between them, even as his mind wrestled with the impending deal. His choice to end the deal with the Magoons would definitely affect him, and he knew it. But for Aria’s sake, he would embrace the risk.

Outside the ward, Francesca was a bundle of nerves. Her mind was racing, trying to comprehend why Lucien, usually so calculated and relentless—had suddenly crashed a deal she’d fought hard to secure. The potential profit was monumental; losing it felt like a personal betrayal.

With trembling hands, she pulled her phone from her bag and dialed a familiar number. After two rings, a deep voice answered, gravelly and formal. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Were you present in the meeting with Mr. Moretti during his discussion with the Magoons?" she demanded, her urgency clear.

"Yes, ma'am," he confirmed.

"Then you know he killed the deal," she pressed, her patience wearing thin.

"Yes, ma'am," he echoed.

"Why did he kill the deal?" she asked, frustration dripping from her tone.

"That I don't know, ma'am. I stepped out for a while to attend to an issue," he replied, his voice steady. Francesca felt her agitation rising, but his next words offered a sliver of hope.

"Brown was in the whole time. I'll ask him and get back to you."

"Good," Francesca replied tersely before ending the call and letting out a sigh that mingled frustration with a hint of uncertainty.

She began to pace back and forth in the dimly lit hallway, her heels clicking rhythmically against the polished floor. Each step echoed the turmoil in her mind. Why would Lucien suddenly decide to kill the deal with the Magoons? It was a lucrative opportunity that was highly beneficial. It didn’t make any sense.

After what felt like ages, her phone buzzed in her hand, making her jump. She quickly answered, her voice low and urgent. "Yes?"

"It's Brown," the voice on the other end said. "I heard you're looking for information on Mr. Moretti's sudden change of heart regarding the Magoons."

"Yes, what do you know?" Francesca pressed, her patience dwindling.

"Well, I was in the meeting room the entire time," Brown began, his tone measured. "Everything was going smoothly until they mentioned needing Miss Aria for a night. That's when Mr. Moretti stood up and abruptly said he wasn't interested in the deal anymore, without even considering the reasoning behind their demand."

Francesca's eyes widened as the revelation sank in, rage bubbling just beneath her skin. Her fist clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palm, a reminder of her simmering frustration. "Aria," she muttered under her breath, the name tasting like poison in her mouth.

Without another word to Brown, she abruptly ended the call. Her blood boiled at the thought that Lucien would jeopardize everything for Aria.

"No... no, I won't let this happen," she seethed, shaking her head as if to dispel the thought. "I can't lose because of that bitch."

Tapping furiously through her phone, she dialed another number, her heart racing with determination. "I'm listening," a cold, husky voice answered.

"Can we meet?" She requested.