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“I won’t let it get to that.”

“How sure can you be?” Justin asked. “You know how insane the rumours are. One day, it's that you killed her. Another day, you locked her in a mental hospital.”

He scoffed. “And took over her father’s company?”

“You know that’s what they think.”

Lucien laughed, shaking his head.

“It’s all funny until Kendall hears the rumour that’s closest to the truth,” Justin continued. “That Eliott Cross took her from you.”

Lucien’s smile melted away, a dark look entering his eyes. “Don’t piss me off, Delcroix.”

“I’m telling you to be ready!” Justin spat. “I know you hate it when I remind you, Lucien, but we need to figure out how we’re going to stop the truth from getting out.”

“I don’t care anymore.” He stood, walking to the windows to stare out at the city. “From having an affair with Eliott Cross, to asking him to help her vanish—it was all her choice. I’m done hiding their sins.”

Sighing, Justin stood. “But you did it for Sabrina. You don’t care anymore if she finds out the ugly truth about her mother?”

“Sabrina’s an adult. She doesn’t need me to protect her any longer.”

He meant it. Lucien was tired of being the villain in every tale, accused of things he couldn’t even imagine doing. Just because he’d taken over Ashcroft Capital, they all believed he’d had a hand in his wife’s disappearance. For what? For the money?

He sighed. He’d loved her more than anything.

“I won’t let Kendall get hurt,” he quietly said.

Brown leather shoes stopped beside Lucien’s, and Justin sighed, gazing out of the windows. “It’s dangerous, Lucien. Even without Eliott. Her age…”

“I know. That was why I tried to stop it. I know it’s not illegal, but it did make me feel like a goddamn pervert at first.”

“Well…” Justin shrugged. “You’re both adults, and it’s perfectly okay. The danger lies in public opinion. Are you ready for the rumours? Is Kendall?”

Lucien didn’t have an answer.

Justin looked at him. “Are you two even planning to get into a serious relationship, or is it casual?”

“I don’t know, Justin. All I know is that… I don’t want her to get hurt anymore. She’s been at my place for two days now, and I’ve never felt such peace just… knowing she’s safe.”

“But she can’t stay there forever.”

“I know. I need to sort Eliott out. If he thinks I’m going to let him near Kendall, he’s insane. He’s lying about being her father.”

Justin’s brows rose. “You sure? It would explain a lot if he is. Eliott has only ever claimed Evander as his child, but you and I know that he has more. That bastard has had more whores than King Solomon had concubines.”

“But why take care of her?” Lucien wondered. “If he’s neglected his other kids, why would he take care of Kendall and hide her at the same time? Only to claim her now? It makes no sense, Justin. He’s kept her fed, sheltered, and made sure she always has money.”

“Maybe the answer lies in who her mother is. Find out who her family is.”

He shook his head. “I’ve tried. When it comes to Kendall McCarthy, it’s like she appeared out of thin air one day. There are no traces.”

“Sounds like something Eliott can make possible. You think her identity is fake?”

Lucien shrugged. “Obviously. That must’ve been the first thing they’d changed about her before putting her in hiding. But I still don’t think he’s her father.”

“Maybe you’re in denial. You just don’t want it to be true.”

“I have a gut feeling. There’s something else that ties them together. Something that freaks Kendall out whenever she thinks of it.”

“That’s why I’m saying speak to her. Get her to tell you the truth. And in the meantime, Eliott’s still trying to meet with you.”

“I don’t have a secretary, so he must’ve gotten my number from an acquaintance. He’s been trying to get me on a call for days now.”

“And?” Justin raised a brow. “You won’t listen to him? He might have answers for you.”

“What he wants is to get access to Kendall. I won’t give it to him. And I’d rather not speak to him, I’ll figure it out on my own.”

“Without questioning Kendall?”

“Exactly. Without… questioning Kendall.”



At the end of the day, Lucien made his weary way out of his office. The secretarial post was empty, both tables lacking a secretary.

He paused at Kendall’s table and glanced down at it. Something bright caught his eye, and his gaze rose to look.
A bright pink sticky note on her computer.

Frowning, Lucien reached over and peeled off the little square, reading the words scrawled across the paper.
He tilted his head.

Bucky and Didi say hi.

What the hell did that mean? Who were Bucky and Didi? Puzzled, he put the square in his pocket and made his way to the elevators.

Maybe he’d ask Kendall about it later.



Kendall was seated on the carpeted floor, her back against the sofa as she watched television. She hadn’t left Lucien’s place since the night she’d arrived.

She knew she couldn’t stay hidden forever, but it was such a perfect cocoon at the moment that she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving. She didn’t want to see Sabrina or have to face Liam. She didn’t want to take the risk of running into Eliott or whatever scary monsters lurked out there.

So, she’d granted herself the grace of hiding. She trusted Lucien. He’d promised her that no matter what happened, he wouldn’t turn on her. He wouldn’t abandon her. So, she stayed, she let herself depend on him, and she swallowed the pulsing fear that tried to take over every time he left the penthouse.

She was scared he’d love her in the morning, leave the penthouse, hear the truth about her, and return hating her.

So, whenever the elevator dinged and he walked in, she held her breath.

Was today the day she'd lose him for good? Would Valencia finally take away everything Kendall had?

Ding!

Kendall looked, eyes widening as the elevator swished open.
Looking tired, Lucien stepped out. The moment he saw her, he paused.

His fatigue seemed to melt away, and a smile curved his lips as he walked over. “Hey, sweetheart.”

She returned his smile, relief flooding her heart as she stood.

He tossed his bag and caught her around the waist, lifting her into his arms.

“I missed you,” she whispered, wrapping herself around him. He released a long exhale, like her hug melted away all his tension.

“You missed me?” he whispered, carrying her away to his bedroom.

“Yeah.”

Lucien’s head buzzed with the high he got whenever he felt her affection. He was so attracted to her now, he couldn’t stop. He just wanted to lose himself in her for as long as they could.

He stroked her back as he walked, and in his pocket, the note waited.