PASSIONATE FLAMES

t that seemed poised to shadow them at every turn. Alexander remained silent in the doorway, (his expression inscrutable) and the burden of something significant weighed heavily in his gaze. She

g and each moment of silence intensified her sense of vulnerability. "Someone I should've confronted long ago," Alexander muttered, his tone somber. He raked a hand through his hair, the usually unflappable billionaire appea

of guilt evident in his dark eyes. "You're correct. I should have confided in you from the beginning. Yet, this isn't a conflict I intended for you to engage in. It's exceedingly perilous. I-" "I'm already involved, Alexander," she interjected sharply. "You ensured that. So now, we must confront it together. I don't mind how dangerous it is." An oppressive silence enveloped them, laden with the gravity of th

ed." A shiver traversed Lily's spine; the stakes were significantly heightened. This situation transcended mere business rivalry or power dynamics. It was fundamentally about survival and legacy. "How do we locate him?" she inquired, her mind racing. "Do you possess any leads? Any means to track him down?" Alexander appeared pensive, his jaw clenched as

ally watching. Lily couldn't help but notice how exposed Alexander appeared in that instant. It was a facet of him she had never witnessed before-a facet that didn't just exert control, but was also desperate. Desperate to safeguard everything he had constructed. "This isn't just about me anymore, is it?" she whispered softly, her voice barely perceptible. "It's about your family. Ab

f losing everything-having someone like Moretti obliterate it-surely felt like a fate worse than death. She could not allow that to transpire, not if she could prevent it. Before she had the opportunity to reply, her phone buzzed once more. The screen illuminated with an a

is L

old and unfamiliar. "You believe you can elude us, howeve

dead before sh

ke some calls, delve deeper into Moretti's operations. And I need you to remain safe, Lily." She didn't reply immediately. She desired to argue, to assert that she wouldn't simply wait idly while he confronted this threat alone. However, the expression in his eyes-determined yet weighed down-rendered her silent. "I'll stay out of the way," she eventually stated, her voice gentle but unwavering. "But I

steady. "Stay in here. Don't leave the apartment. And lock the door." She nodded, however, her mind was already racing with thoughts of how she could assist, how she might make a difference in a conflict that felt far larger than either of them. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Li

afe. We know

t alone; however, Moretti's reach was far closer than she had realized. This revelation sent a chill down her spine, because she