Devilish secretary
Chapter 396 Officially mine

Chapter 396: Chapter 396 Officially mine

She leaned forward, her hand brushing his hair back from his forehead, her thumb tracing the edge of his ear.

And then she whispered so quietly that even the bamboo had to lean in to hear —

"Get up, you fool."

Gray blinked, stunned. "But—"

She didn’t let him finish. She pulled him up by his collar, until their lips almost brushed.

"I said ’forever’ long before you asked," she breathed, her voice like silk and knives all at once. "Don’t ever forget that."

And when she kissed him — under the stars, beside the endless hush of the waterfall, it felt like the whole forest sighed in relief, finally sure that even darkness couldn’t steal this away from them.

He slipped the ring onto her finger, his hands trembling just slightly from the sheer, overwhelming rush of it all. The cool ring slid over her skin, settling perfectly where it belonged, like it had been waiting there all along.

For a heartbeat, Gray didn’t breathe. He just watched her hand in his, watched the way the tiny band caught the glow of the fairy lights strung around the balcony beams. His thumb brushed over her knuckles once, twice, as if he couldn’t believe it was real — that she was real, that this yes was real.

A soft, disbelieving laugh slipped from his lips. He looked up at her, eyes warm, wide, helplessly in love. His chest felt too full, like something inside him had cracked open and flooded every dark corner with light.

"You’re mine now," he murmured, it wasn’t a question, it wasn’t even a statement. It was a vow, soft and dangerous and sweet, like a promise carved into bone.

Lilith just looked at him, her hand still resting in his, that sly smile playing on her lips, her eyes glinting with the same spark that first made him fall so completely.

"Always was," she whispered back.

His eyes shone with that wild, boyish joy she hadn’t seen his quiet, mysterious eyes, the kind that made him look younger, softer, almost innocent in the way only he could be around her.

He slipped his hand around her waist, tugging her closer until her heels clicked against the wooden balcony floor. Before Lilith could tease him or say anything smart, he swept her right off her feet, spinning her once, twice, then again.

A breathless laugh escaped her lips, half annoyed, half helpless as her arms looped around his neck to keep from falling. Her hair flew around them, catching the golden fairy lights and the silver glow of the waterfall far below.

"YOU’RE OFFICIALLY MINE!" Gray said, his voice echoing through the quiet night, louder than the waterfall behind them. There was a raw edge in it — that desperate happiness, the relief of a man who’d wandered too long in the dark and finally found his home.

He slowed only when she lightly smacked his shoulder, breathless and a little dizzy, her cheeks flushed from the spin and the cold night air. He didn’t let her go though, not even for a second. His hand was still firm on her waist, his forehead pressing to hers as he caught his breath.

And then, without another word, he slipped his hand into hers, their hands brushing together in the glow of the cabin lights.

****

Lennox sat alone in his luxurious penthouse study, the vast floor-to-ceiling windows behind him revealing the glittering skyline of City M. Soft golden light from a custom crystal chandelier spilled across the mahogany desk, making the rich leather chair and gold-embossed files look even more regal.

His fingers rested on the edges of the DNA report, the official seal glinting faintly under his thumb. He didn’t blink for a long moment — just stared at the percentage printed boldly at the top of the page. 99.9%.

His breath left him in a slow, tight exhale. His dark blue eyes– eyes that once made kings and politicians bow without a word softened for just a heartbeat. A memory, beautiful and bittersweet, washed over him: the tiny bundle in his arms so many years ago, the soft weight of a baby resting against his chest, her small hand clutching his finger like she’d never let go.

"So she’s really mine," he murmured to the empty, lavish room. His voice cracked on the word mine. He lifted the paper closer, as if holding it tighter would somehow stitch back the years torn away from him. A rare smile, genuine but pained flickered at the corner of his mouth, softening features that were usually carved from cold steel.

But when he flipped the file open further, the warmth in his eyes turned to a storm. There were photos. Documents. Cold, merciless facts spelling out the truth of his baby girl’s life — the loneliness, her life without guardian figure, the predators who circled her like wolves in sheep’s clothing. His jaw clenched, his knuckles whitening where he gripped the page.

Rayan Brooks. Lennox stared at the name, the short, ugly line below it: Cheated on her. Broke her. A muscle jumped in his temple.

He turned the page. Sebastian Carter. Her current boyfriend. Lennox’s eyes narrowed, sharp as a blade’s edge. A man who dared to stand beside his daughter was he good enough? Was he worth even a fraction of the trust she gave him? Or was he just another snake waiting for the right moment to strike?

His fingers drummed once on the polished mahogany, an old habit that once made entire boardrooms tremble in silence. His mind spun with thoughts, strategies, a dozen cold plans forming in the shadows.

Not this time.

Outside, the city lights glowed like distant stars, but in here the air felt heavier, charged with something dark yet unshakably protective.

"Don’t worry, my little angel," Lennox breathed, his voice low and ice-calm. "Daddy’s here now."

He set the file down with deliberate care, the DNA report perfectly aligned on top, that 99.9% like a vow burned into his mind.