Chapter 47 47
STEVE POV
Lila’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. The smugness she had been wearing seconds ago turned into a stuttering mess. She reflexively reached behind her, trying to push the phone deeper under the heavy hospital pillow. I watched her hand move, the desperation in her movements making it clear she had something to hide.
Petty fool, I thought. She really believed she was a master of disguise.
"Let’s skip the phone for now," I said, my voice cutting through her shuffling. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "So, let’s talk about the main event. How exactly did Mark stab you? I want the details. Every single one."
Lila didn’t look at me. Instead, she turned her head toward Victor, her lip trembling in a way that looked practiced. "Babe, why is he interrogating me? I just got out of surgery. I’m the victim here, and he’s treating me like a criminal."
"Because I’m the only one in this room who can actually save you," I answered before Victor could open his mouth.
Lila shifted her weight, the hospital gown rustling against the sheets. Her eyes finally snapped to mine, the "sweet girl" mask dropping just enough to show the sharpened edges underneath. "If you want to save me, then do the right thing. Do your job and get Mark into a fucking bar. He’s dangerous. He’s a monster. He needs to rot for what he did to me."
I let out a slow, dark smirk. The irony of her calling Mark a monster m. "You’re acting a lot stronger than someone who just got a knife in the gut, or stepped out of a surgery room," I noted.
Lila froze. Her eyes went wide, the shock of being called out visible in the way her pupils dilated. For a heartbeat, she didn't know which version of herself to be. But then, the "Content Creator" in her took over. Within seconds, she switched gears entirely. She didn't just cry—she broke down in tears.
It was a full-scale performance. Tears flooded her eyes, and she let out a jagged, heartbroken sob. She threw herself toward Victor, burying her face against his shoulder and clutching his shirt like he was her only lifeline in a storm.
"Unbelievable," I murmured under my breath.
I leaned back, watching the display. Victor looked like the most confused man on the planet. He was stuck between the woman he was clearly falling for and the boss who knew she was a liar. He patted her back awkwardly, his eyes darting to me with a silent plea for help, but I just watched.
Watching Lila act was starting to become genuinely funny. I had spent my life dealing with hardened criminals, stone-cold killers, and silent informants. I had never dealt with a woman who treated a stabbing like a scene from a soap opera. I never thought this part of my existence would involve being an audience member for a C-list actress in a hospital gown.
But as I sat there, a new thought crossed my mind. If she wanted to play a game, I could play it better. I could lean into her drama. I could make her feel so safe that she’d eventually trip over her own lies. And in this game, Freya was definitely not missing out on the fun. She deserved to see the woman who had been a thorn in her side for years finally reveal her true colors.
I cleared my throat, making a show of looking guilty. I softened my voice, smoothing out the rough edges of my tone.
"I apologize, Lila," I said, my voice dripping with fake sincerity. "If I’m being too harsh, it’s only because the situation is so intense. My mind is just focused on finding the truth."
Victor looked at me in total shock. His jaw nearly hit the floor. He knew me better than anyone—he knew I didn't apologize to anyone but Freya, and even then, it was rare. He looked like he wanted to ask if I had suffered a head injury on the drive over. I caught his eye and gave him a sharp, subtle blink, a silent command to shut up and follow my lead.
Lila peeked out from Victor’s shoulder, her eyes red and puffy, looking for any sign that I was lying. I gave her my best "concerned" face.
"You've been through a lot," I continued. "I’m going to make sure you have the best care. I’ll personally arrange for the best doctors and private security to stay outside this door to take care of you. No one is going to touch you while I go back and deal with the scumbag who did this."
Lila’s sobs slowed down. She sniffled, looking up at me with a look of pure triumph. She thought she had won. She thought she had manipulated the big, bad Steve Hayes into being her personal knight.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice sounding small and fragile again. "I just want to feel safe."
"You will," I promised, the smirk threatening to return to my face.
I rose from the stool, the metal legs making a faint sound. I didn't say another word to her. I turned and headed for the door, my mind already three steps ahead.
Victor started to follow me instantly, his footsteps quick as he tried to catch up to ask what the hell I was doing. But Lila reached out and grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his sleeve.
"Stay back," she begged Victor, her voice high and needy. "Don't leave me alone yet, babe. I'm still shaking."
I didn't stop or even look back to see if Victor would obey her or me. At that moment, it didn't matter.
"Suit them both," I muttered under my breath as I stepped out into the hallway.
I reached the car and threw my door open, the silence of the parking lot a welcome change from the suffocating drama of the hospital room. I slid into the driver's seat and reached for the ignition, my mind already racing through the next steps of the trap I was setting. Just as I was about to start the engine, I saw Victor sprinting toward the car, his face flushed with a mix of confusion and pure frustration.
I held off on the ignition and waited. He yanked the passenger door open and fell into the seat, breathing hard.
“What the fuck was that back there, Steve?” Victor demanded, turning in his seat to face me. “You’re getting her a doctor? You’re apologizing? while she’s lying through her teeth!”
I looked at him, you are finally seeing a snake in a cage.
“And for the doctor part, You will be the biggest fool if you think I’m actually doing any of that”, I thought to myself.
I didn't say it out loud. I just stared at him, letting the silence stretch until he stopped ranting.
“What happened in there,you could call it a C-drama, a K-drama, or Hollywood,” I said, my voice flat and cold.
Victor blinked, his brow furrowing. “What? What are you talking about?”
“The performance back there,” I explained, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel. “She’s playing a part, Victor. She thinks she’s the lead actress in a tragedy. I just decided to join the cast.”
Victor shook his head, still lost. “I don’t get it. Why play along? We know Mark says he didn’t do it. We know she’s hiding something ”
I turned the key, and the engine roared to life, a low, powerful rumble that vibrated through the floorboards. I shifted the car into gear but kept my foot on the brake. I looked Victor dead in the eye, making sure he understood exactly where we stood.
Victor opened his mouth to speak again, but I cut him off.
“Don’t dump her yet,” I commanded. “She still has a role to play in this.