Natalie sat in her lavish penthouse, the city lights painting the room in a golden glow. The champagne glass in her hand trembled as she stared out at the sprawling skyline, her reflection a distorted image in the floor-to-ceiling windows. It had been months since Daisy’s death-months since she thought her path to Louis’s heart would finally be clear.
But it wasn’t.
She clenched her jaw as bitterness washed over her. Nothing had gone the way she planned. Louis barely looked at her, let alone offered her any affection. He was like a statue, cold and unmoving, consumed by his own demons.
Even the business appearances she had pushed him into were no longer happening. Louis had retreated into his shell, leaving her to fend off rumors and whispers alone. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. The name “Cain” flashed on the screen, and her blood ran cold. She hesitated, her finger hovering over the decline button, but another buzz followed, more insistent this time.
With a shaky breath, she answered. “Cain,” she began, her voice measured.
“Don’t Cain me,” the voice on the other end snarled. His tone was ice-cold, laced with danger. “I’ve been patient, Natalie. Too patient.”
“I’m working on it,” she lied, her voice faltering.
“You’re lying,” he snapped. “Your time’s up. You think you can go back on our deal and walk away unscathed?”
Her fingers tightened around the phone, her knuckles white. “I’ll fix it,” she whispered, desperation seeping into her voice.
“You’d better. Or you’ll regret it.” The line went dead, leaving her trembling.
Natalie threw the phone onto the couch, her carefully constructed facade cracking. She had made a deal with Cain, a powerful underworld figure, to eliminate Daisy and clear her path to Louis. But Cain hadn’t worked for free. The debt she owed him was a noose tightening around her neck, and the more Louis ignored her, the closer it came to snapping.
—
Louis sat in his study, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. The scent of whiskey lingered in the air, a testament to how many nights he had spent drowning his thoughts.
The image of the figure he’d seen during his last operation haunted him. It wasn’t Daisy-it couldn’t be-but his heart refused to accept that. He had started cleaning up Natalie’s messes the moment Daisy died, a feeble attempt to honor her last request. But now?
He rubbed his temples, guilt and regret clawing at him. Natalie’s schemes had alienated everyone he cared about. Liam wouldn’t even return his calls, and the memory of his angry words still rang in Louis’s ears.
“How could you let her manipulate you? After everything she’s done to Daisy?”
Louis didn’t have an answer then, and he didn’t have one now. All he knew was that he was tired. Tired of Natalie, tired of her lies, tired of pretending that this was what Daisy would have wanted.
—
Natalie paced the length of her living room, her mind racing. She needed a plan-something to keep Cain at bay and Louis within reach.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sharp sound of her doorbell. She froze. It was late, far too late for visitors. With hesitant steps, she approached the door, peering through the peephole.
Her heart stopped.
Cain stood on the other side, his presence as menacing as ever. She quickly unlocked the door and let him in, forcing a smile onto her face.
“Cain,” she greeted, her voice falsely sweet.
He didn’t smile back. “You’ve had enough time, Natalie. Now it’s my turn to collect.”
Her stomach churned as fear gripped her. “I-I just need a little more time-”
“You’re out of time,” he interrupted, his voice low and deadly. He stepped closer, and she instinctively backed away.
“You don’t understand,” she stammered. “Louis is… he’s not-”
“Louis doesn’t matter,” Cain cut her off. “You made a deal, and now you owe me. Either you pay up, or I’ll take everything you have, starting with your precious career.”
Natalie’s mind raced. She couldn’t lose everything. She wouldn’t.
—
Louis stared at the fire crackling in the hearth, his mind replaying the moment he thought he saw Daisy. The guilt was suffocating. He had destroyed the evidence of Natalie’s crimes for what? To honor Daisy’s wishes? Or to appease his own guilt for failing to protect her?
He thought of Liam’s words again. “You’ve lost yourself, Louis. And for what? A ghost?”
Maybe Liam was right. Maybe he had lost himself. But it didn’t matter anymore. He would deal with Natalie, once and for all.
—
Back in her penthouse, Natalie watched Cain leave with a pit in her stomach. The stakes were higher now, and she was running out of options. But as she stared out at the city, her mind began to twist.
If I can’t have him, no one will.
Her thoughts turned to Louis, and a chilling smile spread across her lips. She would play her last card, and this time, she wouldn’t lose.
But deep down, even she knew she was playing with fire.
—
In the shadows of the night, Louis’s phone buzzed. It was Liam. A single message lit up the screen:
“We need to talk. About Natalie.”
Louis stared at the message for a long moment, his jaw tightening. He had tried to bury the truth, to silence the doubts. But now, it was clear-he couldn’t run from it any longer.
This wasn’t over.