Sold to My Killer Husband: His Concubine's Dilemma
Chapter 65: In the ruins

Chapter 65: In the ruins

"Is it not too fast," Liora’s voice cracked, her eyes never leaving his, "for you to decide the entire course of my life?"

Lucien’s breath hitched but only for a second.

Her words gnawed at something buried deep within him, pulling at the tangle of logic and emotion he’d built around himself. He had believed his mother sent her to spy. What else would explain her sudden interest in his affairs after years of indifference? The woman had barely acknowledged his existence, yet now she was orchestrating his household?

But even that didn’t explain everything.

It was already too much, being accused of Scarlet’s murder. The whispers, the investigations, the eyes watching his every move... All pointing at him. He didn’t kill her. He knew it. But whoever had killed her knew how to shift the blame well. And the "why", he still had no answer to that.

So he had to move fast. He had to find out everything.

Lucien’s voice dropped, cold and smooth. "So you’re saying... my mother didn’t send you here to spy on me." He took a single step forward. "She sent you here to please me. Is that it?"

In a blink, he was out of his chair.

His hand caught her waist firmly.

Liora gasped, stumbling slightly at the sudden closeness. Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, frozen between retreat and confusion. The warmth of his palm burned through the fabric at her waist.

Her wide eyes flicked upward to the face now only inches from hers. His light blue eyes bore into hers like a storm trying to read the depths of still water.

"Wh... what are you doing?" She whispered, trying to lean away, but her back was already arched, barely supported by his hold.

Lucien didn’t move back. Instead, he inched closer, gaze locked, as if searching for something, any expression on her face. Was she lying? Was she trembling because she was afraid... or guilty?

Liora’s hands came up instinctively, but he lifted his own, fingers finding her chin. Gently but unrelentingly, he tilted her face up toward his.

Her breath caught again.

"Master Lucien..." she managed, her voice barely a breath.

His lips neared hers but did not touch hers, not quite.

She froze as she could feel his breath brushing her lips.

And then, with all her strength, she shoved him back.

Lucien staggered, his arm colliding with the edge of the table. Pain shot up from his wounded shoulder, sharp enough to make him hiss under his breath.

"What are you doing?!" Liora shouted, one hand gripping her own arm in trembling fury.

Lucien stared at her, stunned, but not from the pain but from the realization crawling up his spine.

Was she telling the truth all along?

Or was she just that good?

But instead of showing her his thoughts Lucien smirked; he looked handsome with his winning smile on his face.

"So now you are playing hard to get,, huh? Was not this exact thing you were sent to me...to please me?" Lucien snorted, "No wonder you were eager to be with the prince who had been abandoned; you have no place in yourr home.... Oh yes... I forgot to mention it. Haven’t you slept with some help from your house?"

Liora’s eyes widened, her tears were falling from her eyes, and for Lucien it seemed he was going right to to her; with a proud smile he began... "now...now... you thought I would just not look for someone who is forced into my life just like that.." he smirked

"You thought with mere knowledge,, what you did with Cecelia, you would become a golden bird in my eye,, and I would let you share my bed."

"Enough." This was the last strike to Liora’s mind; taking too much insult was her last straw.

It was not possible for anyone to know something that was not supplied outside in the form of rumors. The fact that she had not slept with anyone but yet Lucien gets this news means someone deliberately was spreading the news, so maybe someone made that rumor spread?

Anyways,, the result will be the same, but if she had slept with someone, how would she be declared a virgin to Lilian then?

But the rage in her heart was fuming, "this place, you have put through do you think that has given you any special authority to blame others. " Lucien was amused by how her speech just changed

"Why in the world would any girl marry any prince unless she was forced to do it?" Liora said,"

"Do you think any crybaby story of yours would work against me?" Lucien smirked again

The room was in dropped silence; it felt like Lucien who had not even spend a glance at her, had given her all the answers, and the girl who looked timid had a sense, to prove this more

"I had been...." Liora stifled and whimpered; she wanted to speak about the midwives checking her, her almost getting kidnapped and sold, and being sold anyway. A tear rolled down her face.

"Woman..." Lucien began, "If it is not that you have done this all for mother... then I am giving this chance, very chance... to explain to me," lucien looked at her and moved closer to her again "tell me why would you be doing this", but this time, he saw liora’s big eyes

’Their shapes resemble each other a lot,’ he thought.

But Lucien snapped out of the moment just as quickly as he had fallen into it.

Liora had placed her hand on his chest, trying to push him back, but he caught her wrists and held them still.

"Tell me," Lucien murmured darkly, his eyes narrowing with sharp intent.

Liora’s lips trembled. "I-I... Master..." she stuttered.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper."What is your purpose, Li-o-ra?"

She looked up, eyes wide. "I was sent here, Master... I was told to..." she faltered, the words hard to say.

"Told to?" he pressed, still holding onto her.

"To... bear..." Her gaze locked with his, hesitant, fragile.

"A child, is it?" Lucien’s lips curled into a wicked smile.

Liora nodded slowly.

"Just that?" His voice was a whisper laced with poison.

She hesitated, searching her memory, her purpose. That was all she’d been told, wasn’t it?

Another small nod.

Lucien’s smirk deepened. His eyes turned black as night."Then how about we complete your task?"

Before she could react, he stepped forward.

Her back hit the wall.

His hand pressed beside her head, and his face came closer, too close. His lips brushed against hers, feather-light but unmistakable. It made her heart freeze in her chest.

Liora stood still, stunned by the unfamiliar softness of his touch.

"But there’s something I want to ask you too..." Lucien whispered against her lips, his breath warm.

"Would you like to know how your parents vanished?"

The words pierced through the fog in her mind like a blade.

Her eyes flew to his face. "My... par-ents?" she choked out.

Lucien’s fingers traced slowly from her cheekbone to her chin, lifting it gently.

"Do as I say," he murmured, "and I’ll help you find out."

Liora blinked. Her thoughts were spinning. First the mother’s orders, now the son’s?

"Why should I believe you?" She asked, her voice strained.

"Then don’t." Lucien shrugged with a casual cruelty. "Let the secret rot with the rest of your past."

Liora swallowed hard. "You... promise?" Her voice cracked.

She didn’t know what to believe anymore. He was dangerous, and she had heard it, seen it. But there was something about him that made her wonder... Could he really help her? Or was this another trap?

Lucien leaned in, lips brushing her ear now.

"Deal then... Li-o-ra."

She nodded, slowly. Maybe this was her only chance.

But then he spoke again, his voice cold and amused.

"We’ll keep this a secret, alright?" He pulled back just enough to look her in the eye. "And if you break it..." he smiled, a vicious curve to his lips, "....consider yourself dead."

Liora gulped, the ball of fear stuck in her throat.

Lucien had an irresistible aura. All these days when he wasn’t even looking at her, and now suddenly, this closeness was new to Liora. But what was more frightening to her was what task he wanted to assign to her, and what did he mean by saying he would kill her? This all made her head ache.

But first, she wanted to get out of the hold he had on her.

"Can we just..." she asked Lucien, whispering and trying to push him away, which was failing, as he held her hands.

"Better we talk like this," Lucien suggested.

This was all happening in Lucien’s room. Somehow, he was aware that a person had their ear to the door of his room, and that was why he was whispering to Liora.

Tessa had been leaning against his door. She had run to Layla’s room as soon as she found out Liora went to Lucien’s room. Layla had ordered her to spy on them, so here was the very loyal servant of Layla. She had heard no word after Liora had screamed, "Enough." Tessa had been trying hard to know what was going on inside.

"Are they kissing?" she mumbled",

After waiting for quite a while, she heard footsteps against the floor. That was her call. She dashed to the other side of the room, but at last, she bumped into Rowan.