Lianna didn't sleep that night.
Not because of fear—
—but because Lucien Blackwood had finally made one thing clear.
He wasn't trying to drag her back.
He was testing her.
And tests could be manipulated.
By morning, the city woke to another piece of carefully planted news:
BLACKWOOD GROUP APPOINTS LIANNA BLACKWOOD AS TEMPORARY CONSULTANT
The internet exploded.
Ethan slammed his laptop shut. "He's insane. You're not even married to him!"
Lianna sipped her coffee calmly. "That's why it's temporary."
"You can't seriously be considering this," Ethan said, voice low. "Going back into his territory is suicide."
"No," Lianna replied softly. "It's infiltration."
She stood, slipping on her coat.
"I know Lucien's world," she continued. "I know where he hides his bodies, his money, his secrets."
Ethan stared at her.
"And I know exactly where he's weakest."
—
The Blackwood headquarters buzzed with tension as Lianna stepped inside.
Every employee froze.
Some stared in disbelief.
Others whispered.
All of them watched.
Lianna walked as if she owned the place.
Lucien was waiting in the executive office, seated behind his desk like a king accepting tribute.
"You accepted," he said, eyes dark with satisfaction.
"I said temporary," Lianna corrected.
Lucien rose slowly, circling her.
"You look good here," he murmured. "Like you never left."
She met his gaze, expression unreadable. "That's the problem."
He stopped in front of her.
"Why agree?" he asked quietly. "You hate cages."
Lianna smiled faintly. "Because I want to see how strong yours really is."
For a brief second—
Lucien laughed.
A low, dangerous sound.
"Careful," he warned. "You're playing with fire."
"I already burned once," she replied. "I'm not afraid of flames anymore."
Lucien's smile faded.
Something darker replaced it.
"Then stay," he said. "Work for me. Stand beside me."
He leaned closer, voice dropping.
"And let's see who breaks first."
—
As Lianna left the office, she felt eyes on her from every corner.
Cameras.
Guards.
Enemies she hadn't met yet.
But she also felt something else—
Lucien's attention.
Heavy. Focused. Unrelenting.
She clenched her fists.
Pretend to surrender, she reminded herself.
That's how you win a war.
But somewhere deep inside, a dangerous thought stirred:
Lucien wasn't just watching her anymore.
He was enjoying this.
And men like him…
Were most lethal when entertained.a