nning the Heir Who Bullied Me
Chapter 175
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Lara appears a minute later, eyes wide. “Lucas went to take a call in the back. There’s an empty fitting room near the storage hallway.”
My heart jolts.
It’s time.
“Last chance, April,” she whispers. “You don’t have to do this.”
1 force a smile, thinking of Sarah, Lucy–fuck, Nathan.
“Yeah, I do.” I squeeze her hand tightly. “You’ll be listening in, right?”
She nods. “Of course. I’m in at the first sign of trouble.”
20
She leans in and pins a brooch on my dress–a pretty white lily. “For good luck,” she whispers.
I nod and slip out quietly while everyone’s otherwise occupied.
The hallway leading to the back rooms is dimmer, quieter, a little unnatural in a place like this. The distant chatter and rustling fabric from the boutique feel like echoes from another world.
The carpet muffles my steps. My fingers are cold as I reach for the changing room handle Lara mentioned. I push the door open and slip
inside.
I pull the lipstick from my clutch, pop the cap, and twist it up. To anyone else, it looks like a tiny tube of luxury.
But inside is the pinhole camera rigged for this very moment.
I place it carefully on the dusty vanity, angling the reflective casing toward the center of the room.
Then I slip my phone out of my purse and send the quick text to Lucas‘ number that Lara gave me. Then I turn on the audio recording.
And wait.
My heart thuds harder with every second that stretches.
And then… Footsteps.
A knock.
I open the door just a crack. Lucas’s face appears, smug and curious.
“April Farrah,” he purrs. “What a surprise.”
I offer a shy smile. “I…I was hoping we could talk.”
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Chapter 175
He waves his phone, his eyes gleaming with that unfortunately familiar predatory hunger. “You mentioned.”
He steps inside without hesitation, and I shut the door behind him, watching as he turns slowly, like he’s inspecting the tight space.
He reminds me of a lion scoping out new terrain–staking his claim.
He turns and folds his arms, leaning against an empty built–in shelf.
“Thought I’d heard the last of you after your knight in shining sweatpants attempted to cave my skull in.”
He tips his chin towards me. “How’s your nose by the way?”
“Fine,” I answer sharply. “Barely hurt.”
“Not as much as your expulsion, I’ll bet.”
A flash of anger pierces through me at the smugness in his tone, and I clasp my hands in front of me so I don’t clench them into fists.
20
Lucas moves toward me like a cat with slow, calculated steps. “What’s this about, April? I’m pretty sure I’m not the Ashford brother you have unfinished business with.”
I flinch inwardly but let the comment pass. I need him to feel in control. That’s the only way this works.
“I—” I inhale deeply. “I’m sorry.”
He rears back like I’ve slapped him, letting out a sharp laugh. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry,” I bite out. “For the date, the tantrums, the attitude. Everything.”
Lucas closes the distance between us, close enough for me to smell his cologne–clean cedar and sharp citrus, tainted with rot.
“What’s your angle, April?” he murmurs, reaching to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. I resist the urge to recoil.
I shake my head. “No angle.”
He scoffs. “Try that again, and this time, consider that my brain is not the size of a pea.”
I force myself to look up into his eyes. Force myself not to cringe at the feral gleam in them.
“I just… I was thinking. About what you said. About being your…” I can barely bring myself to say it, “…plaything.”
His smirk deepens. “I’m listening?”
“I was proud, stupid. I had Nathan’s affection, and I thought that would be enough, but now…”
Don’t stop, April. Keep fucking going.
“Now that’s done with, and I guess I got used to the luxury, June’s free medicals. So if you could… If we could…”
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Chapter 175
He leans closer. “Go on, April,” he coos, his voice deceptively soft. “Finish your sentence.”
20
I swallow. “I just don’t want to go back to being poor and insignificant. I saw the bracelet you gave Sarah, the Adalina necklace you gave Lucy. You take care of your…playthings.”
For a tense moment, there’s only the sound of blood roaring in my ears. I hold my breath, waiting.
Please. Take the fucking bait.
Then Lucas laughs softly, a disbelieving sound. “I knew you’d come around.”
His fingers trail down my arm, and it takes every ounce of self–control not to jerk away.
The memory of his hand on my ass during the gala photo resurfaces, unwanted and disgusting. I feel like my skin is crawling with fire
ants.
But I have to push through.
Lucas tips my chin up. “Say it,” he orders. “Say you want me.”
The bile rises in my throat.
I remember the fear I felt when he pinned me to that tree. The pressure of his body. The cold gleam in his eyes when he said, “You’ll find
no one tells me no.”
I remember that I am not that girl anymore.
So I lift my chin a little higher. “I want you.” The words are like acid on my tongue.
His eyes darken.
His hand slides down my side, and I freeze.
“You don’t sound convinced,” he murmurs.
“I’m just…” Revolted. Repulsed. Nauseous.
”
.nervous.”
“You weren’t nervous that night you watched me. Through the door.”
My stomach turns.
“I bet you touched yourself after.” His voice lowers. “Did you think about what I did to Sarah and imagine it was you instead?”
Lucas steps closer again, backing me against the vanity. My phone, tucked into the corner of my purse, captures every breath, every sickening word.
“Tell me the truth, April.”
He moves to cup my jaw, and his thumb grazes my bottom lip.
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Chapter 175
And that’s when I flinch.
:
It’s small. Barely perceptible.
But it’s enough.
Lucas’s hand pauses.
His eyes narrow.
“Why are you shaking?”
My mind races. “I… I’m just–this is a lot.”
He steps back half a pace. Surveys me.
Then his gaze shifts–to the lipstick on the vanity.
He picks it up.
My breath stills as he examines it, twisting it slowly, holding it to the flickering bulb.
Then his eyes fall to my purse.
“What is this?” he asks quietly.
My blood turns to ice.
“Just lipstick,” I say too quickly.
Lucas looks at me.
Then back to the lipstick.
Then he yanks open my purse.
My phone sits on top, its screen glowing faintly.
Recording.
He picks up the phone, staring at the audio waveform moving across the screen.
The silence that follows is thicker than cement.
And then…he smiles.
But it isn’t the cocky, flirtatious smirk he usually wears. It’s something cold and clinical.
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Chapter 175
Lucas steps toward me slowly, his voice dropping to a terrifying hush.
“Oh, April. You stupid, stupid girl.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
