Chapter 29
Alison
The day after Victor proposed was surreal.
I woke up in Lucas's guest suite, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar ceiling and the soft Egyptian cotton sheets.
Then it all came rushing back—Lucas crashing the gala, the revelations about Victor's deception, my decision to leave with Lucas instead.
A soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.
"Come in," I called, pulling the covers up higher.
Leo bounded in, already dressed and energetic despite the early hour. "Mom! Mrs. Reed made chocolate chip pancakes! And Dad says we can swim in the pool later!"
I smiled at his enthusiasm. "That sounds fun, sweetheart. I'll be down in a few minutes, okay?"
After Leo raced back downstairs, I showered and dressed in the clothes Lucas had provided—simple jeans and a blouse that fit surprisingly well.
Downstairs, I found Lucas at the dining table with Leo, the two of them engaged in an animated conversation about werewolf abilities. Lucas looked up when I entered, his amber eyes warming at the sight of me.
"Good morning," he said, pouring me a cup of coffee. "Did you sleep well?"
"Well enough," I replied noncommittally, taking the coffee with a grateful nod. "Leo, I hope you're not bothering Lucas with too many questions."
"He's not bothering me at all," Lucas assured me. "I'm happy to answer anything he wants to know."
Leo grinned, chocolate smeared on his cheek. "Lucas says when I'm older, I might be able to run as fast as a car! And jump super high!"
I raised an eyebrow at Lucas, who shrugged apologetically. "He asked about werewolf children. I figured honesty was best."
"Hmm," was all I said, taking a sip of coffee.
After breakfast, Lucas excused himself to take a business call, and I took the opportunity to make a difficult call of my own. Victor answered on the first ring.
"Alison," he said, his voice tight with controlled anger. "I was beginning to think you'd never call."
"Victor, I think we should talk," I said carefully.
"Oh! We should definitely do more than that," he replied coldly. "You humiliated me in front of the entire city."
"You are not a saint in all this, Victor," I said, my voice strained and cold. I was only doing this because I needed to. "But you attacked me, Victor. And Lucas showed me what I really wanted."
Victor's laugh was bitter. "So you believe his lies? After everything I've done for you and Leo? Hawkins has always been jealous of what I have," Victor said. "He can't stand to see others succeed. Whatever he's told you about me—"
"Is it true that you intercepted a message from him while he was in London?" I interrupted.
The slight pause before Victor's answer told me everything. "That's absurd. Why would I do something so petty?"
"I think we both know why," I replied quietly.
"Victor, I trusted you totally. I let you into my life, into my son's life, because I believed you were a good man.
But to find out all of my assumptions about you were wrong?
You've been manipulating my life from the get-go and I was nothing but a pawn to you! "
Victor's voice suddenly calmed in a way that sent chills down my spine. "Remember, Alison, I made you who you are professionally. Without me, you'd still be nothing."
The barb stung, but I refused to let it show. "I appreciate the opportunities you've given me. But I think it's best if I step away from the company as well."
"You're quitting?" His surprise was evident.
"I'm resigning, effective immediately," I clarified. "I'll email my formal notice later today."
Victor was silent for a moment. "You're making a serious mistake, Alison. Hawkins isn't the white knight you think he is."
"Maybe not," I conceded. "But at least now I have the chance to find out for myself."
After ending the call, I felt lighter, as if I'd shed a weight I hadn't fully realized I was carrying.
Lucas found me on the terrace, watching Leo play with a remote-controlled boat in the pool under the watchful eye of Lucas's security staff.
"Everything okay?" he asked, joining me at the railing.
"I just quit my job," I said, still processing it myself.
Lucas nodded, unsurprised. "What will you do now?"
I smiled, a plan already forming in my mind. "I've been thinking about starting my own financial consultancy for years. I have contacts, experience, and now the backing of the Black family name. Maybe it's time to take that leap."
"I could help," Lucas offered immediately. "Provide startup capital, office space—"
"No," I cut him off firmly. "If I do this, it needs to be on my own terms. I've spent too long being dependent on men with power and agendas."
Instead of being offended, Lucas seemed impressed. "I understand. The offer stands if you change your mind, but I respect your decision."
We stood in companionable silence for a while, watching Leo's antics in the pool. The morning sun warmed my skin, and despite everything that had happened—or perhaps because of it—I felt strangely peaceful.
"Have you told your parents where you are?" Lucas asked eventually.
I grimaced, realizing I'd forgotten to call them in all the chaos. "Not yet. I should do that."
"They're probably worried," Lucas agreed. "Especially after yesterday's dramatic exit."
My parents were indeed worried but relieved to hear from me. When I explained where I was staying, my mother's response surprised me.
"William thinks quite highly of Lucas," she said. "Despite their business rivalry, he's always respected Hawkins's integrity."
"That's... good to know," I replied, unsure how to respond to this unexpected vote of confidence.
"Will you be returning to the estate soon?" my mother asked. "We miss having you and Leo here."
"I'm not sure yet," I admitted. "I need some time to figure things out."
But the truth was, I was having a very good time here at Lucas's estate, and I didn't want that to end yet.
"Take all the time you need, dear," she said warmly. "We'll be here when you're ready."
The conversation left me thoughtful. My parents seemed remarkably understanding about my abrupt change of heart regarding Victor. Had they seen something in him that I had missed?
Days turned into a week. Leo thrived in Lucas's home, delighting in the attention Lucas showered on him. I began making calls to potential clients for my new venture, surprised by the positive response. Life was settling into a new and promising pattern.
It was past midnight. I was awakened by the insistent ringing of my phone. Groggy, I answered to hear my father's panicked voice.
"Alison! The estate is on fire! We need help!"
I shot upright in bed. "What? Is everyone okay?"
"Your mother and I are trapped on the second floor," he said, coughing. "The fire department is on the way, but the fire's spreading fast. The stairs are already engulfed."
"I'm coming," I said immediately, already pulling on clothes. "Stay on the line with me."
I ran to Lucas's room, pounding on the door. He opened it instantly, alert despite the hour.
"The Black estate is on fire," I explained breathlessly. "My parents are trapped inside."
Without hesitation, Lucas grabbed his phone, making rapid calls as we hurried downstairs. "My security team is closer than the fire department," he explained. "They're on their way now. So are we."
Within minutes, we were in Lucas's car, speeding toward the estate. I remained on the phone with my father, whose voice was growing weaker from the smoke.
"Stay near the windows," I instructed, fighting panic. "Lucas's team will be there any minute."
When we arrived, the scene was terrifying. Flames licked up the sides of the grand house, smoke billowing into the night sky. Lucas's security team was already there, extending ladders to the second-floor windows.
"Stay here," Lucas ordered as he jumped from the car.
"Like hell I will," I retorted, following him toward the burning building.
Lucas didn't waste time arguing. Instead, he coordinated with his team, directing the rescue efforts with calm efficiency. I watched in awe as he personally climbed one of the ladders, disappearing into the smoke-filled window of my parents' bedroom.
Minutes that felt like hours passed. Finally, Lucas emerged with my mother in his arms, carefully descending the ladder. One of his men followed my father. Both were soot-covered and coughing but alive.
Paramedics, who had arrived with the fire department, immediately took charge of my parents, administering oxygen and checking for burns. I hovered nearby, relief washing over me as I confirmed they would be okay.
Lucas approached, his face and clothes blackened with soot. Without thinking, I threw my arms around him.
"Thank you," I whispered against his chest. "You saved them."
His arms tightened around me. "I'll always protect the people you love, Alison."
The fire department fought the blaze through the night, but it was clear the damage was extensive. By morning, the once-majestic Black estate was a smoldering ruin. As we stood looking at the devastation, my mother leaned heavily on my father, both wrapped in blankets despite the warm morning.
"Where will you go?" I asked them.
My father looked at the ruins of his family home with sad eyes. "We have other properties, but none ready for immediate occupancy."
"They'll stay with us," Lucas said decisively. "I have enough rooms. We'll be safe there."
My father extended his hand to Lucas. "You saved our lives tonight, Hawkins. We're indebted to you."
Lucas shook his hand firmly. "No debt between family, sir."
The word "family" hung in the air, full of meaning. I looked at Lucas, standing tall and certain among the chaos, and felt something shift inside me. This was a man who hadn't hesitated to risk his life for my parents—people he barely knew but respected because they mattered to me.
As we drove back to Lucas's estate, my parents and Leo asleep in the back seat, I reached over and took Lucas's hand.
"The fire investigator said it might have been arson," I said quietly.
Lucas's grip tightened on mine. "I know."
"Victoria?" I asked, voicing my suspicion.
"Possibly," he agreed. "Or someone working for her. I've increased security at the house, and I'm having my team look into it."
I nodded, grateful for his foresight. "Thank you. For everything."
He glanced at me, his amber eyes intense even in the dim light of the car. "You don't need to thank me, Alison. I'll always be there when you need me."
As we pulled through the gates of Lucas's estate, I couldn't help but feel I was coming home. Not to the building, impressive as it was, but to the safety and certainty of being with someone who would walk through fire for me—literally.