I Was Hoping She Would Notice but again Now When She Did... Im Tired

"Did you really think we came to your mansion because we were following someone's orders?" the voice continued.

"That's your problem, Theo. You're too naive for someone in your position."

Theo's fingers twitched.

He hadn't expected this kind of response.

"The real reason we came to kill you tonight," the voice went on, "was to do it before… he got free."

Theo's blood ran cold.

"Before he got free?"

Who he?

The voice on the other end was dead serious.

"Because once he does, it won't just be two people dying, Theo."

A pause.

Then

"It'll be the end of you, your so-called empire, and every shred of confidence you have left."

Those all 23 thousand men you are talking about

Theo's jaw clenched.

For the first time, a sliver of unease crept into his gut.

Who the hell was this person talking about?

"Tell me what the fuck you're talking about, you bastard!"Theo snarled, his grip tightening so hard on the phone it nearly cracked.

"If you think Ill get scared because of your vague threats, you're dead wrong!"

A heavy sigh came from the other end of the call.

"Dont yell, dude…" the voice said, almost sounding exhausted.

"Fine. I'll give you two options."

Theo breath slowed slightly, his muscles tense.

"First," the voice continued,"send all twenty-three thousand men off that island. Let them live."

Theo scoffed.

"Not happening."

"Second…"the voice went on, unfazed. "Leave the island yourself. Run."

Theo's eyes flickered dangerously.

"At least do something good before you go to hell," the voice added, his tone carrying a strange kind of finality.

Theo gritted his teeth.

"You really think this pathetic attempt at intimidation will work on me?"he sneered.

"Whoever you're talking about, whoever is coming, I don't give a damn!"

His voice burned with hatred.

"I don't care if I die. But I promise you whoever comes for me, they won't walk away unscathed."

A deep sigh echoed through the phone once more.

And this time, Theo couldn't tell if the sigh from the other end of the call was out of pity…or amusement.

Then, the voice spoke again.

"He isn't like his mother, Olivia Kane, you just said..."

Theo narrowed his eyes, gripping the phone tighter.

"His mother Olivia? Hah! That useless kid?" Theo scoffed. "Wait, wait what was his name again? Lucian Kane, right?"

A laugh bubbled up in his chest, turning into a full-blown fit of amusement.

"Don't tell me that for the last five minutes, you've been warning me about that little shit!" He threw his head back, laughing loudly.

But the voice on the other end of the call remained quiet.

Unbothered, Theo continued.

"You hurt someone who was dear to him," the voice finally spoke again, the tone eerily calm. "And I can tell you now... he won't care about what stands in his way."

"You, your island, your twenty-three thousand men, or even the government. it wouldn't make any difference."

He will destroy it all... anything in his way to kill you for what you had did.

Theo, who had been listening with a faint smirk, suddenly burst into laughter again.

"Wait, wait" He struggled to contain himself."Pfffft hahaha! Are we talking about the same brat?!"

His laughter echoed through the room, the tension from earlier completely vanishing.

"Are you sure Olivia didn't have some other affair and pop out a different kid?"Theo sneered, wiping a tear from his eye with his index finger.

"Because as far as I know..." He snickered. "The Lucian Kane I have heard about? Hah! Kill me? Kill everyone in his way?"

He shook his head, clicking his tongue in amusement.

"Kids these days... Just because they have a little money, they start thinking they're some kind of gangsters or emperors."

Theo sighed dramatically, as if this entire conversation had been a waste of his time.

Then

A deep, tired sigh came from the other end of the call.

"I just wanted to save some lives," the voice muttered, sounding almost resigned. "But I guess...no one can win against stupidity."

And with that

The line went dead.

Starline Manor Avey's POV

Standing on the fourth-floor balcony,Avey's disheveled hair swayed in the cold night breeze. Tear stains marked her pale cheeks, but despite it all, a gentle smile rested on her lips.

For weeks, ever since the prince had come to propose marriage… ever since her last conversation with Lucian when he looked into her eyes and said he hated her she had been trapped in endless thought.

She had spent countless hours locked in her room, replaying that moment over and over again.

Lucian's words were like a dagger to the heart.

"I hate you."

The phrase rang in her head like a cruel melody, each repetition cutting deeper than the last.

She sighed, inhaling the cool night air, her expression softening as she gazed up at the silver moon illuminating the world below.The wind caressed her face, but it did nothing to soothe the storm raging inside her.

"I got a second chance… but I still couldn't undo the mistakes I made,"Avey murmured, her voice fragile.

"He doesn't like me… and I know, deep down, that my presence only causes him pain."

Her lips trembled as she blinked back more tears.

Maybe Jimmy was right.

"I should let him live his life…without me."

Avey closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, her smile tinged with sorrow.

"Be happy, my love. My Lucian."

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she whispered his name into the wind.

"Just know… even if I was too ignorant to realize it before"

Her voice broke, but she forced herself to continue.

"I love you more than anything."

Her hands clenched into small, trembling fists, her delicate pink skin glowing under the moonlight.

"I can't stand seeing that pain in your eyes when you look at me. I know…that pain only exists because I do. Because I remind you of everything you wish to forget."

Her knees buckled slightly, her body swaying.

"But still… all I ever wanted was to be by your side.Just once. Just for a little longer."

A bitter chuckle escaped her lips before she let out a shaky breath.

"Ah… I thought I had no more tears left to cry.So why…"

Her voice trembled, her vision blurred as fresh tears spilled freely down her face.

"Why do I still have so many left?" Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

She exhaled deeply.

Then she stepped onto the edge of the balcony.

The cold air wrapped around her like an eerie embrace, her heart pounding in her chest.

"A person hated by the one they love… doesn't deserve to exist in this world."

Her lips curled into a sad smile as she whispered her final thoughts into the night.

Then she jumped.

As her body plummeted toward the ground, the seconds stretched into eternity.

"Fighting fate is…so painful."

She closed her eyes.

"I thought I could fight it."

And then

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