Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174

AUTHOR’S POV.

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Lucian stood in front of the mirror, fastening his cufflinks with precise movements, though his eyes kept drifting toward Alina. She sat on the edge of the bed, twisting her hands in her lap. The weight of last night’s revelations still lingered in the air between them.

“You’re doing it again,” Lucian said quietly, his reflection meeting hers in the glass. He turned, walking over until he was standing right in front of her. “I told you, everything will be fine. I’ll have security tightened for tonight. You won’t be left alone, not even for a second.”

Alina looked up at him, her voice low, fragile. “It’s hard not to worry after what Talia showed me. All this time, Louis was pretending to be someone he wasn’t. Following me, watching me, and… I…I never even knew, you have been right all along.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t gloat.

He crouched down, resting a steady hand over hers to still her restless fingers. “I don’t care about being right,” he said firmly. “What matters is you’re safe now, and you found out all of these things before it got out of hand. And tonight, I’ll make sure you stay that

way, safe.”

Lucian stared at her for a few seconds, he could still see the worry in her eyes and he didn’t blame her. He had seen the videos and files last night, Talia had sent it to him on request. What he saw was enough to chill anyone to the bones.

Finding out you have been stalked from the beginning by someone you trust is not something one can just wrap their head around.

“You have been staying away from him though, yeah?” Lucian asked her.

A small, fragile smile tugged at her lips, though her chest still felt heavy. “I’ve been keeping my distance already. He’s been calling, but I’ve been brushing him off, saying I was too busy with the launch. He even asked me to be his date when he heard you were going with Jessica.”

Lucian’s brows drew together sharply. “And how the hell would he know that?”

“Jessica must have told him,” Alina said with a sigh. “But I didn’t let it drag on, I told him no and that Talia was already going with me.”

As if summoned by her words, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. The name Louis Grey flashed across the screen. Alina froze, staring at it.

Lucian’s jaw clenched, eyes darkened. His voice dropped, cold and certain. “Pick it up. Let’s hear what he has to say.”

Alina swallowed, reaching for the phone with hesitant fingers. She put it on speaker, forcing her voice to stay even. “Louis?”

His voice poured through the line, soft and coaxing, yet threaded with something darker.

Chapter 179

“Alina… finally. I’ve missed you. You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you? Don’t deny it, I can feel it. But I forgive you. I know you’re just nervous about tonight. You shouldn’t be. You need someone who truly understands you by your side. Someone like me.”

Alina forced a light laugh, her tone gentle, almost sweet. “I’m sorry if it seemed that way, Louis. I’ve just been so tied up with preparations for the launch. You know it’s been double the work since you were sick and you also know how important this is to me, I can’t afford to mess up.”

“I could help,” he pressed quickly, an edge slipping into his tone. “Let me stand with you tonight. Forget about everyone else. You and I, we’d make the perfect pair, and you know it.”

Lucian’s hand flexed at his side, his eyes narrowing dangerously at his words.

Alina, steady and warm, answered as if she were humoring him. “I wish I could, Louis. Really, I do. But I already promised Talia she’d be my date. I can’t break my word to her.”

There was silence on the other end, then a low, almost wounded chuckle. “Talia. So you are picking Talia oveme?” He pretended to sound wounded but the three of them knew he was indeed.

“What can I say, ‘Sisters before misters“” Alina kept her tone light. “But this is on you though, you should have asked sooner.” She added.

“Fine… for now. But you’ll see, Alina. In the end, it will be me standing with you. It has to be me.”

“If you say so, Louis.” Alina chuckled even though her heart was beating violently in her chest from his words.

“See you tonight beautiful.”

Those were Louis’s last words.

The line went dead.

Alina set the phone down slowly, exhaling a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Lucian straightened to his full height, pacing once before muttering through clenched teeth, “I should’ve ended him the moment he came near you.” His voice was sharp, laced with frustration.

“Lucian…” Alina’s voice softened, pulling his gaze back to her. Her eyes shimmered with both resolve and exhaustion. “Don’t think I don’t want him gone. I do. More than anyone. But I can’t move against him yet. I have to publicly end our contract first. That way, whatever happens to him after won’t be tied to me or Alinova in any way.”

Lucian stopped, his eyes dark, his chest rising and falling with restrained fury, then finally he gave a tight nod. “Fine. But the second that contract ends, he’s mine.”

Alina held his gaze, her own filled with quiet resolve. “I know.”

Lucian checked his watch, then leaned down and pressed a firm kiss against Alina’s lips. His hand lingered at her jaw, thumb brushing her skin as if reluctant to let go. “I’ll see you tonight,” he murmured. “Everything will

be fine. Trust me.”

18:04 Wed, Sep 24

Chapter 174

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Alina nodded, her eyes soft yet shadowed with worry. “See you tonight.”

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He gave her a final look, one filled with both promise and certainty, before turning and striding out of the room. As soon as he got outside, the double doors of the Blackwood mansion closed behind him, and the cool air of the estate grounds greeted him.

Almost immediately, Ace fell into step beside him, his usual alertness sharpening at the sight of his boss’s expression.

Lucian didn’t waste time. “We might just have a lead on the man we’ve been searching for all these years.”

Ace blinked, his brows rising. “Are you sure, Boss?” His tone carried a mixture of surprise and cautious hope.

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