Chapter 75
“Lyra, where have you been? You left the table ages ago.”
Oscar’s voice cut through the soft chatter of the banquet hall as he approached, his eyes darting suspiciously between her and Alex.
He noticed how closely she stood to Alex, a subtle lean that made Oscar’s jaw tighten.
Lyra turned to face him, her expression shifting from sultry to cool indifference. “Must I report my every move to you, Oscar?”
He bristled.
“Well, we came here together, didn’t we?” His tone was laced with jealousy.
Oscar had pursued Lyra for years, longing to win over one of Vancouver’s most renowned beauties.
Their relationship had seemed promising, especially after he’d invested in her business.
Alex observed the exchange, noting the swift transformation in Lyra’s demeanor–from a seductive vixen to a poised, unyielding queen–as she confronted Oscar.
Now he clearly understood why people said a man wants a lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets.
“That doesn’t give you the right to question me,” Lyra replied firmly.
Oscar’s gaze shifted to Alex, a sneer forming on his lips.
“I know you,” he said coldly. “You’re the guy who married Sophia for her money, right? A gold–digger scamming his way into fortunes. Now you’re trying to do the same with Lyra?”
“Enough, Oscar,” Lyra interjected. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m just warning you,” he retorted. “Don’t let this con artist take advantage of you.”
Ignoring his accusations, Lyra pulled out her smartphone and tapped the screen with practiced ease.
“I’ve transferred your two–million–dollar investment back to you, along with the three hundred thousand profit. Check your account.”
Oscar stared at her, bewildered. “What? Why?”
“We’re done,” she stated plainly. “I don’t want to see you, speak to you, or have any further dealings with you. I’m tired of your attempts to control me.”
His face paled.
“You’re breaking things off with me for this… nobody?” Disbelief and hurt laced his voice.
She met his gaze unflinchingly. “And if I am? That’s my choice.”
“Lyra, you can’t do this,” Oscar pleaded. “I thought we had something special.”
She gave a slight, dismissive shrug. “We did a business arrangement. But clearly, that doesn’t mean as much as you thought.”
Desperation flashed in his eyes. “I’ll double my investment–make it five million.”
Lyra shook her head slowly. “Not interested. You invested two million and acted like you owned me. I won’t be
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bought.”
“That’s a significant amount of money!” he protested.
“Not to this gentleman,” she replied coolly.
“He is a scammer!”
“Enough! Off you go!”
Oscar’s expression hardened as he shot à venomous glare at Alex.
“This isn’t over,” he spat before turning on his heel and storming out of the hall.
As the tension dissipated, Lyra exhaled softly and turned back to Alex. “I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
Alex regarded her thoughtfully: “You shouldn’t treat your investors like that,” he advised gently. “Burning bridges isn’t good for business.”
She offered a sly smile. “Perhaps, but right now, I’m more interested in focusing on you as my sole investor.”
She leaned in slightly and asked in a seductive voice, “So, tell me, how much are you planning to invest in me? I’m willing to do anything for you.”
Alex reached into his pocket, pulled out a small glass vial containing six tiny, translucent pills, and handed it to her.
Lyra took the vial, examining the pills with curiosity. “What are these?”
“Each pill has remarkable healing properties,” Alex explained.
“They can cure almost any injury, and for someone in good health, they might even extend life by up to ten years.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you serious? Where did you get these?”
“A miracle doctor known as God’s Hand. Think of them as my investment. I want you to sell them.”
“How much are they worth?” she asked, her mind already calculating potential buyers.
“Each one is valued at a minimum of ten million dollars,” he replied. “But feel free to negotiate for more if you can.”
Lyra’s breath caught. “Ten million… per pill?”
He nodded. “That’s the starting price. There are six pills. I’m even giving you one to keep–for personal use. Think of it as a gesture of goodwill.”
Her mind raced as she tried to process this.
She was still wrapping her head around the offer when Alex stepped closer, his hand brushing her neck, fingers barely pressing, a hint of a warning in his touch.
“Remember, everything about me is a secret. Breathe a word of it to anyone, and that lovely neck of yours may pay the price.”
He moved back, leaving her breathless.
His message was clear–keeping his secrets safe would protect her, too, from the dangers surrounding his world.
Lyra’s eyes stayed wide, her pulse racing.
‘Did he just threaten me?‘
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But her thoughts spiraled Alex clearly wasn’t an ordinary investor.
His wealth ran deep, his world far darker than she’d realized.
People like him… they had unimaginable resources, and the danger they carried was equally seductive.
A thrill shot through her.
There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.
With the pill in her hand, Lyra wasted no time lingering at the banquet.
She stepped quickly outside, climbed into her car, and drove straight to her parents‘ mansion.
Twenty minutes later, Lyra pulled up to her family’s estate–a grand mansion that had seen better days.
The once–pristine gardens were overgrown, and the façade showed signs of neglect.
Only two servants remained where there had once been dozens.
Financial struggles had taken their toll.
She hurried inside, making her way to her father’s room.
She quietly pushed open the door and saw him lying in bed, looking frail and worn.
He had been suffering from a stroke for many months already, and the doctor had already said he was incurable.
“Lyra,” he greeted weakly, a faint smile touching his lips.
“Father,” she said softly, approaching his bedside.
She pulled out her smartphone, setting it to record a video. ‘I want to document something important.”
He looked at her quizzically. “What’s this about?”
She held up one of the pills. “This is a miracle pill from a legendary doctor known as ‘God’s Hand.‘ It can cure even conditions already deemed impossible to treat.”
Hope flickered in his eyes. “Is that possible?”
She nodded. “I believe so. Do you want to try?”
“Yes,” he whispered.
Gently, she placed the pill in his mouth, helping him swallow.
She watched him closely, her heart pounding with anticipation.
“If this pill really works,” she thought, “it wouldn’t just fetch $10 million–she could sell it for $40 million to the right wealthy buyer, someone who values health and longevity beyond any price.”
Minutes passed, and she noticed a subtle change in his complexion. His breathing steadied, and a hint of color returned to his cheeks.
“How do you feel?” she asked cautiously.
He moved his fingers slightly, then his hand. “I… I can feel my limbs,” he said, wonder filling his voice.
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Chapter 76
