Page 130 of My Dark Divine
“We’re not going back,” I say, trying to lift my hands to run them through her hair, but they fall limp as if made of cotton wool. I think I’m more exhausted than I feel. “Fuck them all.”
She lifts her head to meet my gaze, and my stomach tightens, a new wave of desire flooding through me. I swear, this woman has some kind of magic because I feel like a horny teenager. All I can think about is fucking her all over this mansion, in every possible and impossible position.
A smirk curves her lips, her wet eyes gleaming with mischief. “Fuck them all but us.”
Butterflies erupt in my chest, and a smirk of my own forms just before she crashes her lips against mine, stealing every last ounce of restraint I had left.
I was wrong. Hell may be my destiny, but she brings me heaven—a gift of pure, forbidden beauty that I selfishly cling to.
I don’t care about anything else with her by my side. From now on, we’re officially united, both of us happy in a marriage we once thought we never wanted.
A marriage forged to please our families, one that will ultimately lead to their downfall.
Four months later
The city is shrouded in thick fog this morning, the usual bright sun replaced by a murky, brooding sky. Buildings rise like ghosts through the white haze, and the damp, earthy scent of rain seeps through the window.
Four months ago, West and I exposed the truth. Since then, each month has crawled by with stressful paperwork, confrontational interviews, paparazzi hovering near our homes, and the strain of nonstop planning. But from the rubble of Lucas’s dynasty, we’ve begun to build something different—an honest, transparent empire, free of the blood, lies, and schemes that once hid beneath his foundations.
As soon as Jeremy, our lawyer, enters the room, I shift my focus from the window, my hands instinctively clasping together. He places his bag on the seat next to him, smooths his blazer, and sits down, ready to begin.
Turning his full attention to West, he starts the usual rundown of the investigation process, droning through the basic steps. West grows visibly tense, rubbing his hands together as the details intensify. Instead of cracking his knuckles, he moves one hand to his shoulder, patting it gently. That little gesture never fails to make me smile. It’s his way of wordlessly asking me to hold his hand, one of the cutest things he does to stay grounded.
I move closer, letting my fingers glide over his knuckles before intertwining them with his, forming a steady lock. He exhales a shaky breath, his gaze fixed on Jeremy, and I feel the tension drain from him, like air slowly escaping a balloon.
These past four months have tested us, yet we’ve found a balance I never thought we’d achieve. Neither of us has tamed our impulsiveness, and perhaps we never will, but we’ve learned to support and balance each other. My calculated rationality steadies him when he’s ready to bash someone’s brains in, and his quiet pride and affection ground me whenever I feel like tearing someone apart.
Even when we’re both one step away from losing our minds, we find a way to handle it. The anger-induced headache shifts to one brought on by the sheer number of orgasms we share. Maybe it’s not the healthiest escape, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
“Your father has already been taken into custody, which means the court has determined there’s enough evidence to detain him before the formal trial begins. This is a significant step. The next stage is the arraignment—the formal reading of the charges against him.”
“Do you think he’ll try to enter a plea and find a way out?” West asks. “I heard he already tried to create a fucking fundraiser website for himself.”
Yeah, Lucas is one of those people who will fight until his last breath, even while covered in shit that can’t be washed away.
Jeremy shrugs. “It’s possible. There are still plenty of people who support him and don’t believe he did what he’s accused of, even with all the evidence against him. It will take a long time for him to accept that nothing can save him now. The chances of him getting a fair hearing are minimal. His defense team already tried to dismiss some of the evidence and limit what can be used against him, and look at how miserably they failed.”
That’s a small victory, but it doesn’t mean we’ve won the war. We’re battling a monster that has been feasting on its prey for years, and we can’t take him down as quickly as we’d like.
Jeremy delves deeper into the legal process, reiterating that it won’t be as easy as it seems. We’ve only just begun, and as we go further, the challenges will grow tougher.
I give West’s hand a slight squeeze, feeling a swell of pride within me. Despite the amount of work ahead, I’m proud of what we have accomplished so far. The decision we made wasn’t easy. Our companies suffered, and as their heirs, we undeniably felt the impact. Many have already turned their backs on us, but thankfully, we have a plan.
Jeremy tilts his head, his brown eyes locking with mine as he clasps his hands together. “Okay, Venetia. The process is the same for your father—he faces the same punishment as Lucas for being his accomplice. Despite that, Adrian has repeatedly said he wants to speak with you. Have you changed your mind yet?”
I exhale heavily, closing my eyes as I mull over his words. Both Lucas and my father suffered the same way—one bright, sunny morning, the FBI barged in and took them straight fromtheir beds. It feels almost poetic to realize the fate they share, given how close these two tyrants were.
Neither West nor I bothered to visit them or give them‘a chance to explain themselves’.
“No, I haven’t changed my mind,” I reply confidently. “What’s next on the list?”
Jeremy nods in understanding. “We need more evidence to completely rule out your and West’s direct involvement in the shady operations. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again—if you remember anything new or are still hesitant to tell me something, now is the time.”
“Yeah,” I blurt out, keeping my gaze fixed on him as West guides my hand to his lips, planting a gentle kiss. “Everything I told you before is the truth. Neither my husband nor I knew what they were up to behind our backs. And the things we were curious about?” I let out a dramatic sigh, emphasizing my frustration, unable to hide the satisfaction I take in shitting on my father and Lucas. “They’ve threatened to silence us for good if we keep asking questions.”
That’s only partially true, but Jeremy doesn’t need to know the details. I’ve always been cautious at work, triple-checking to ensure my name isn’t tied to any of the shady dealings my father was involved in. West and I made sure our reputations stayed as clean as possible.
Jeremy knows exactly what he needs to know—nothing more, nothing less.
