Chapter 5 - The Desperate PleasTen minutes later, Lydia Vance—or rather, Lydia Sterling-in-waiting, though that dream was currently dissolving into acid—stood in the middle of Dante’s minimalist penthouse foyer.
She looked a wreck. Her designer handbag was clutched in white-knuckled desperation, her hair was slightly undone, and the smug, untouchable veneer she had worn since childhood had completely shattered.
When I stepped out of the study with Dante standing quietly behind me like a dark guardian angel, Lydia flinched.
"Nora," she breathed, taking a frantic step forward before Marcus subtly shifted his weight, blocking her path. "Nora, please. You have to help us."
I stopped a few feet away, crossing my arms over my charcoal blazer. My voice was as cold as winter wind off Lake Michigan. "Help you? Lydia, you’re standing in the penthouse of the most dangerous man in Chicago asking for help after you blew up your own life?"
"Arthur is going to go to prison!" Lydia sobbed, hot tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "The federal agents raided his office this morning. They took our car, they froze our bank accounts, and the wedding venue canceled our contract. Everyone is laughing at us! Mother is having a panic attack, and father won't even answer his phone!"
"Karma is a remarkably efficient legal system, isn't it?" I replied evenly, feeling not an ounce of pity. For years, I had cleaned up Lydia’s messes, covered for her mistakes, and watched my parents excuse every selfish thing she ever did because she was the 'fragile' one.
Lydia’s desperate expression twisted into sudden, ugly resentment.
"This is all your fault!" she screamed, pointing a shaking finger at me. "You couldn't just take the breakup like a normal person! You had to go crawling to... to him!" she glared terrified at Dante, who didn't even blink. "You ruined everything out of spite!"
"No, Lydia," I said, stepping closer until she was forced to look me directly in the eye. "I didn't ruin your life. I just stopped hiding the mess you and Arthur made. You wanted a high-society life built on stolen money and betrayal? Well, congratulations. You got the drama you always craved. Now live with the consequences."
Lydia opened her mouth to scream another accusation, but Dante’s low, deadly voice cut through the room like a razor.
"Marcus," Dante said quietly. "Escort Miss Vance off the property. If she attempts to contact Miss Vance again, ensure her name is permanently blacklisted from every hotel, venue, and catering service in the state of Illinois."
"Gladly, Boss," Marcus said, grabbing Lydia firmly by the elbow.
"Nora! You can't do this! I'm your sister!" Lydia screamed as Marcus hauled her toward the private elevator.
"Tell mother I said hello," I called out calmly as the elevator doors slid shut, cutting off her hysterical cries.
The penthouse fell back into absolute, peaceful silence.
I let out a long, shaky breath, closing my eyes for a second as the adrenaline faded from my veins. When I opened them, Dante was standing right in front of me. His dark eyes were filled with an intensity that made my pulse race.
May you like
"Are you alright?" he asked softly, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder.
"I’m better than alright," I whispered, looking up into his face. "I’m free."
Related Stories
