Chapter 92: The Illusion Cracks

Lila barely held back a smirk as soon as those words came out of Richard's mouth. 

Before she could say anything, Ivy's phone rang. Lila looked down. It was Leo Ashton.  

Her breath caught in her throat as panic surged through her. She quickly glanced up, her face rattled with pretend fear, and held the phone up to Richard.  

His face darkened instantly, his expression tightening with rage. Without hesitation, he snatched the phone from her hand.  

"Look here, Mr. Ashton," he barked into the receiver, his voice laced with fury. "I respect you as a respectable voice in the corporate world, but don't test my patience. Stay away from my daughter!"  

He ended the call abruptly and dropped the phone onto the table with a sharp thud. The tension in the room was thick, suffocating.  

"You are leaving for Colorado first thing tomorrow morning," he announced coldly. "Your uncle and I have made preparations. One of the maids is packing your bags as we speak."  

Lila forced herself to remain composed, though her mind was spinning on excitement. She hesitated for a moment, trying to appear uncertain. "But… is that really necessary?" she asked, her voice deliberately soft, as if she were unsure.  

Richard didn’t even glance up from his plate. "It's not up for discussion," he stated firmly.  

Lila widened her eyes just a fraction, letting her lips part as if she were about to protest. But before she could say anything, Marcus finally spoke for the first time that evening.

“Don’t worry, Ivy.” His voice was softer than she had expected, almost reassuring. His eyes held something warm, something that made her skin itch. “Uncle will take care of everything in no time.”

Inside, Lila scoffed. I hope you don’t. I hope whatever ‘mess’ you’re dealing with takes forever to resolve.

Because this was her escape. A perfect opportunity to disappear into a new state, away from prying eyes, away from the suffocating presence of people who might start questioning the little things Ivy should know but she didn’t.

Especially Leo Ashton and Connor.

By the time the illusion started wearing off, she would have already secured another meeting with the witch for fortification. Everything was aligning exactly as she wanted.

Lila kept her head down, nodding slowly. “Okay,” she whispered. “How long will I have to be away?”

Richard sighed. “Until we’ve sorted everything out.”

Perfect.

She swallowed, keeping her voice neutral. “Alright.”

Dinner continued in heavy silence. Once it was over, she bid them both goodnight and walked down the long hallway to Ivy’s—no, her—room.

Upon entering, she went straight to the closet. Sure enough, her bags were packed, sitting neatly by the door. A smile curled on her lips. 

They’re making this way too easy for me.

Just as she was about to change into her nightgown, a sudden rustling near the head of the bed made her freeze.

Her senses sharpened.

Then—too fast for her to react—a strong hand clamped over her mouth, yanking her arms behind her.

Her heart lurched in her chest.

Before she could struggle, a familiar voice murmured against her ear, far too close. “It’s me.”

"Don't scream, Ivy. I just want to talk.”  

She nodded stiffly, and slowly, the grip loosened. She whirled around, her heart hammering in her chest.  

Leo. Fucking. Ashton.  

Her pulse spiked with fury. Why won’t he give it a rest? Is he the first Alpha to have a mate?

"Hey," he began, his voice low and desperate. "I don't know what's going on, but I need you to come back to me, Ivy. Please."  

He looked so tortured, so vulnerable. It would have been touching—if she gave a damn.  

Instead, she crossed her arms and exhaled sharply. "It's not you, it's me," she said flatly.  

Leo’s eyes darkened. In an instant, his hand shot up to her throat, pushing her backward as his lips crashed onto hers.  

She froze.  

His mouth—God, the way he kissed—sent heat curling through her. It was intoxicating, addictive, and for a moment, she nearly got lost in it.  

Kissing Ivy’s fiancé… this is thrilling.

But before she could truly sink into it, Leo suddenly pulled back.  

A deep frown marred his face, his brows knitting together as he studied her. His eyes—sharp, penetrating—hardened.  

Like he had just been lied to.  

"I suggest you leave now before I call my father," she blurted out, trying to regain control.  

A growl rumbled in his chest, low and dangerous.  

Then, faster than she could react, he grabbed her by the neck again.  

Not passionately. Not softly.  

It was pure fury.

This time, his grip was tight, unyielding.  

In the blink of an eye, she was slammed against the wall.  

Her breath hitched. She could see his eyes clearly now, but… something was wrong.  

This wasn’t just his wolf surfacing.  

Is he… a vampire too?  

A hybrid?  

Fuck.

His strength was staggering, and for the first time, true panic settled in her bones.

"Where is my mate?" he growled, his voice deep enough to send any wolf scrambling for cover.  

The depth of his voice sent chills down her spine.

Lila gasped, clawing at his wrist, her vision blurring at the edges. “L-Leo, I—”

“Where. Is. She?” he demanded again, his face mere inches from hers.

Panic gripped her. She clawed at his hand, wheezing. "I… don’t know… what you’re talking about," she choked out.  

Leo’s grip didn’t loosen. If anything, his fingers pressed harder against her skin.  

"Where is my Ivy?" he demanded again, his voice thick with something primal, something terrifying.  

Her vision blurred at the edges. Colors drained from the room.

She had to do something. She couldn’t die like this. Not when she was this close. Why is he a fucking hybrid? Lila screamed in her mind.

Then, as if the universe heard her prayers, the door suddenly swung open.  

A maid stood in the doorway, a pile of clothes in her hands.  

The moment she took in the scene—Leo pinning Ivy against the wall, his hand wrapped around her throat—The clothes tumbled to the floor.  

The scream that followed was ear-piercing.  

Hurried footsteps pounded up the stairs, growing louder by the second.  

Leo’s eyes flicked toward the door, weighing his options. His jaw clenched in frustration.  

With one final furious look at her, then at the door, he made his choice.  

In a swift movement, he released her.

By the time she blinked, he was already gone—disappearing through the open window like a shadow.

Lila collapsed against the wall, gasping for air. Her vision was still swimming, her pulse frantic.

The maid’s scream still echoed through the halls, footsteps thundering toward the room. Any second now, Richard and Marcus would barge in.

And she was ready to appear as scared and frightened as possible.

Her throat ached as she forced herself upright, her mind reeling. Leo was a hybrid. That changed everything.