Chapter 133: Hidden in Plain Sight-1
The room hung heavy with tension, each breath feeling thick, as if the walls themselves were
holding back a storm.
Damien stood rigid, fists tightening at his sides. His eyes, dark and unyielding, burned with a fierce, protective intensity. Every muscle in his body radiated danger, a silent promise that he would defend what was his at any cost.
Maya remained frozen beside Dahlia, her heart hammering, chest tight. Her hands clenched instinctively in her lap, nails biting into her palms as waves of fear and disbelief coursed through her.
Dahlia’s eyes flicked between them, sharp, unflinching. Beneath the calculation, though, something gentler trembled-a flicker of worry, a silent acknowledgment of the storm raging
in both their hearts.
Finally, she spoke, her voice low, deliberate, almost breaking the taut air:
“Son…”
“I will not allow it, Mother!” Damien’s voice tore through the room, raw and unrestrained. His jaw clenched, veins visible at his temples, and his eyes burned with a fierce, almost predatory intensity.
He stepped forward, fists tightening, every inch of his body coiled with protective energy, radiating a silent warning: anyone who dared lay a hand on Maya would answer to him.
“They will never find her,” he growled, voice low, dangerous, trembling only with the force of his conviction. “No… I will not allow them to take her from me!”
Dahlia’s shoulders sagged, a weary sigh slipping past her lips. “I know, son… and you know I’ll stand with you. Your father and I-we will always support you.” Her eyes shimmered, the glint of unspoken fears flickering in their depths.
Ashcroft leaned forward slightly, his steady gaze locking on Damien. “And you can always count on me, brother. I’ve got your back-always.” The words weren’t just loyalty-they carried the weight of the Ashcroft name, a quiet warning to anyone foolish enough to stand against
them.
Maya’s chest tightened, a small shiver running through her as she realized just how much power sat in the room-not just Damien’s unyielding presence, but the unwavering strength of those who stood with him. Dahlia’s eyes softened briefly at the sight, pride and fear warring silently in her gaze.
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Chapter 173 Bidden in Plain Sight 1
For a moment, she faltered, her gaze drifting as if pulled into shadows only she could see. Then, with a steady inhale, she forced her focus back, her expression sharpening with quiet
resolve
“When I first learned about the Volkov, I was worried,” she admitted, her tone calm but laced with memory. “But once I understood the reason behind their movements… I wasn’t afraid. It
felt like a war we could win.”
She hesitated, her breath catching, the silence heavy with dread. “Now-” her voice lowered, brittle and unflinching, “-everything changes.”
Damien’s head snapped toward her, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean, Mother?”
“If the Volkov discover who Maya is,” Dahlia began, her voice trembling just enough to betray the steel beneath it, “they’ll hesitate. Their power may be only a fraction of ours, but they are ruthless-brutal beyond reason. Yet even they follow certain codes. They are not fools. The moment they touch Maya, they would be erased. Every trace-obliterated. Knowledge… can be a deterrent.”
She drew in a sharp breath, eyes flicking between Damien and Maya, glistening with worry. The room felt smaller, the air heavy, suffocating under the weight of her words.
“But the danger isn’t just them,” she continued, her voice dropping, thick with fear and certainty. “If the Volkov know, the Lockwoods will know too. And the Lockwoods… they would not hesitate. They’d tear her from us, force her into a life she never chose-a crown she never wanted, responsibilities she shouldn’t bear. I cannot… I will not let that happen.”
Her hands curled slightly, knuckles whitening as the weight of her fear pressed against her chest, the very act of speaking it making the threat feel terrifyingly real.
Maya’s stomach lurched, the weight of the truth pressing down like a storm. The air around her thickened, every corner of the room seeming to shrink under the burden of unspoken truths. “But… but I’m not a Lockwood,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’m a Thompson. I don’t carry a pure bloodline. I don’t want their name… or their crown. I… I just want a simple life… with Jaime… with Damien.”
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.