Handcuffs And Kisses (Series #1)

Chapter 21

Lilian Carson POV

Luckily, I arrived at Alexander’s mansion on time. He wasn’t there, but his guards were as vigilant as ever, their eyes never leaving me. Their cold stares made me feel like a prisoner in my own skin, unsure of what to expect next. I waited in the foyer, each second stretching longer than the last. The silence between us was unbearable. 

After what seemed like an eternity, the guards finally motioned for me to go. I let out a long, shaky breath, relieved but uneasy, and retreated to my room. I locked the door behind me with trembling hands, the weight of the piece of information I had just uncovered still gnawing at me. 

I could hardly focus on anything else. The image of Jonathan Agnor’s name, the man who disappeared after the drug trafficking scandal, haunted my thoughts. Byron’s vague comments about Alexander’s troubled childhood now seemed like pieces of a larger puzzle I wasn’t sure I could solve. 

And then there was the figurine—the one I had seen sitting on Alexander’s coffee table during his meeting with the Korean man. Could it be connected to this new drug, blitzkrieg? Was Alexander involved in something far darker than I’d realized? 

I needed to calm myself down. Maybe I was overthinking it. The news report I had seen earlier on the TV about the drug blitzkrieg—a dangerous substance that could be deadly—was still fresh in my mind. They warned that the drug was spreading through the streets, and its deadly delivery system was hiding in plain sight: cat figurines. The authorities had found that the figurines, often mistaken for innocent knick-knacks, were used to transport the drug. 

I rubbed my temples, trying to clear the haze of confusion. Blitzkrieg had already been linked to multiple hospitalizations, and now I knew—those figurines. I had seen that same one, the one with the raised paw, on Alexander’s table. How could I ignore the growing connection? 

Before I could sink further into my thoughts, I heard a knock at the door. My heart skipped a beat as I opened it. One of the house staff stood there, holding a large, heavy bag. 

“Master has sent this for you,” she said softly, and then turned and left. 

I closed the door behind her, setting the bag on the bed. What was this? A gift? The weight of it was suspicious. I unwrapped it slowly, pulling out a beautiful white maxi dress, with intricate pink floral patterns and delicate beads hanging at the bottom. It was elegant, luxurious, and completely out of place for a simple night in. 

Along with the dress was a matching masquerade mask, lace detailed with pink feathers on one side. It was stunning, too beautiful to simply be a mere gift. But why? Why had he sent this to me? 

There was a note attached. I held my breath as I read the simple words: 

'Be ready by night. We have a party to attend.'

A party? A cold shiver ran down my spine. What was going on? Was this a reward for my compliance? A new step in his mind games? The thought of attending a party with Alexander sent my nerves into overdrive. 

I had barely processed the shock of it when my phone buzzed, snapping me back to reality. Jace’s name lit up the screen. I quickly answered, desperate for any distraction from the storm of thoughts in my head. 

“Lilian,” Jace’s voice came through, laced with uncertainty. “Sorry I didn’t bring it up earlier, but I have information about your father.” 

I froze. My father? I had been desperately trying to find him for months, but no luck. My mind raced with the possibilities. Could Jace have found something? 

“What did you find?” I asked, my voice shaky with anticipation. 

“He transferred a large sum of money recently. It went to a group called the Jopok.” 

I blinked in confusion. “The Jopok?” 

“The Jopok,” Jace repeated, “a Korean organized crime syndicate. If your father’s involved with them, Lilian, you need to tread carefully.” 

My heart dropped at the thought. My father? A criminal? It was hard to reconcile the man I’d known with the world Jace was describing. But if the money had gone to them, things were far worse than I had ever imagined. 

I pressed him further. “Do you know where he is now? Can you find him?” 

Jace hesitated. “I can try. But this is dangerous, Lilian. I don’t think your father is just dabbling with these people. He’s in too deep.” 

The knot in my stomach tightened. This wasn’t just about finding my father anymore. It was about what he had done, what he was tangled in, and how it was all somehow tied to Alexander. 

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Everything was connected to Korea. The meetings Alexander had, the girl who attacked me on the train—it was all coming together. Was it a coincidence? Or was there more to Alexander’s story than I had been led to believe? 

“Jace, do you know anything about the drug blitzkrieg?” I asked, trying to put the pieces together. 

Jace sounded thoughtful for a moment. “I’ve heard rumors about it, but nothing concrete. Why do you ask?” 

I explained what I had learned from the news, connecting it to my father and the figurines I had seen. Jace’s tone changed, sharp with understanding. “If your father is involved with the Jopok—and now this drug—everything points to a much bigger problem. I’ll help you, Lilian. We’ll dig deeper, I promise.” 

I ended the call with a heavy heart, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. This was no longer just about Alexander and his games. My father’s involvement with the criminal underworld, the drugs, and everything surrounding them—it was all part of a web I couldn’t yet see fully. But I knew I was caught in the middle of it. 

And somehow, Alexander was the puppeteer pulling the strings. We were all just dancing to his tune. 

The knock at the door came again, this time more insistent. I hesitated before opening it, half-expecting to find Alexander standing there, demanding my compliance. Instead, I found the same house worker, holding out the same bag—this time, it was clearly a change of clothes for the night. 

“Master asks you to be ready in an hour,” she said, before turning away and disappearing into the hallway. 

I closed the door and glanced at the dress, my thoughts spiraling. What was his game? What was his plan? Why did he need me? 

I felt a sense of dread in the pit of my stomach, but as I looked at the dress and the mask, I realized I had no choice but to play along—for now. I had to see through his lies. I had to find the truth, even if it meant stepping deeper into his dangerous world. 

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever came next. Should I choose a side? I was in a position where I didn’t get to decide anything.

Byron’s words echoed in my mind—Alexander’s a good person. But how could I trust someone who only ever showed me his worst side and kept everything hidden? Why was I supposed to marry a man who thrived on keeping me in the shadows, never sharing a single piece of himself?

As the weight of uncertainty pressed down on me, one thought lingered, I cannot keep ignoring the truth, no matter how painful it might be.