A LOVE RENEWED

My heart struck my ribs with the gunfire.

Damian grabbed my wrist and yanked me behind him as he rushed toward the door before I could even react. Every part of him was on high alert; his movements were precise and his body was stiff.

There was another shot.

A shout.

Then there was quiet.

The air was heavy and oppressive. As Damian pulled open the door and entered the hallway, my heart pounded in my ears. His hands were balled into fists and his torso was tense.

**"Liam!"** he yelled, his tone piercing and forceful.

No response.

My gut churned with nausea. My hand went to Damian's arm. **"What if—"**

A shadow at the end of the hall moved before I could continue.

Liam clutched his side as he stumbled forward. He had blood on his white shirt.

I let out a gasp. **"Liam!"**

Damian ran to him and grabbed him before he could fall.

**"Who did this?"** Damian asked in a deadly, rage-tinged voice.

Liam whimpered and coughed. He rasped, **"Your mother,"**. **"She—she was aware that I told Lyra." She would not allow me to leave." **

I felt cold.

The state of Victoria

Everything had been planned by Damian's mother, who was now tying everything up.

"Liam, stay with me," Damian commanded, applying pressure on the wound. He had blood on his hands.

A faint smirk flickered across Liam's lips. **"Dude. You're behaving like I'm going to die or something. **

**"You’re not,"** I replied hastily, suppressing my panic. ** "You’re going to be fine." **

Liam's breathing was labored. **"She is in the downstairs. Armed. She is not alone. **

Damian's mouth clenched. ** "I’m ending this." **

His storm-blue eyes turned to face me. ** "Stay here, Lyra." **

I immediately shook my head. **"No. I'll accompany you." **

** "This isn’t your fight—" **

**"It is," ** I interrupted him. **"She also did this to my family." Like you, I have every reason to put an end to this. **

He appeared to be about to dispute for a moment, but then his attitude changed. Something unprocessed.

Show respect.

Recognizing.

Perhaps even love.

He nodded firmly. "Stay behind me." **

We made our way to the stairs together. When we arrived at the bottom floor, my heart was racing. Tension permeated the eerily silent large living room.

Then—

A slow, methodical clap.

I got chills from the sound.

Victoria Wolfe, wearing a sophisticated black gown, stood close to the fireplace. Her placid smile and flawlessly styled silver hair gave the impression that she had not been affected by the chaos.

However, her eyes...

They were ice-filled.

**"Damian,"** she said in a silky voice. ** "I was wondering when you’d come." **

Damian balled his fists. ** "You tried to kill Liam." **

Victoria's head cocked. **"I was deceived by him. I don't put up with betrayal. **

As I stepped forward, I questioned, "And what about me?" ** "Did you plan to get rid of me too?" **

Her mouth twisted. **"In due time. You were a constant source of distraction. **

A diversion.

No human. Not a female.

Just a roadblock.

Anger was pulsing through Damian's entire body, making him stiff. **"You misled me. Exploited me. **

Victoria's eyes remained fixed. **"I took the necessary action. I established an empire. I safeguarded the name of our family. **

Damian chuckled coldly. ** "You destroyed everything." **

She raised an eyebrow. **"Have I? Take a look at yourself. Powerful. Brutal. Strong. You are the man you are now because of me." **

His words were subdued. "You made me a monster," he muttered.

In her gaze, something flickered. ** "A monster… or a king?" **

Damian balled his hand into a fist. ** "You don’t get to decide that anymore." **

Victoria sent out a nearly disappointed sigh. **"What a pity. You had the option to govern alongside me. Rather, you allow **her** **to weaken you. **

Her eyes darted to me with contempt.

I was furious, but I made myself remain composed.

**"You don’t control him anymore,"** I stated firmly. ** "You never really did." **

Victoria's mouth became thinner. Then she reached into her handbag gently.

I gasped.

Damian moved quickly to protect me.

However, Victoria refrained from drawing a weapon.

She produced one sheet of paper.

A paper.

She raised it. **"Damian, this is everything. All the evidence that your father died. The **truth** **that you have been evading." **

Damian stopped.

There was a perilous quiet between them.

"What are you talking about?" he asked in a low, menacing voice.

Victoria gave a slow, ruthless smile. ** "You always thought your father died in an accident, didn’t you?" **

Damian remained silent.

The statement "That was a lie."

The oppressive, heavy air appeared to change.

Victoria's eyes shone brightly. **"Damian, your father's death wasn't accidental. ** ** He was slain. ** **Are you aware of the person who issued the last directive? **

Damian had a raspy breath. **"Don't."**

Her voice was a whisper of poison as she took a step closer.

**"John Ashford."**

My whole body froze.

No.

That isn't possible.

My dad...

My dad would never have—

With my heart in my throat, I looked to Damian. His eyes were unreadable and his face was stone.

However, I could see it. Below, a storm was building.

The document was shoved into his palm by Victoria. "Read it," she said in a whisper. ** "See for yourself." **

Damian remained still.

Time seemed to drag on forever.

Finally, he turned to face me.

And I knew right then.

Everything was different.

The home echoed with a sudden crash.

Steps.

Out loud. Hurried.

Armed men rushed through the doors before I could respond.

Victoria grinned. ** "You didn’t think I’d come unprepared, did you?" **

As the men raised their rifles, Damian grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him.

"Run, Lyra," he muttered.

However, I was unable to.

Because I was grabbed by one of the men at that very moment.

Before I could even yell, a hard object struck the back of my skull.

Then—

Darkness.