Billion dollar adventure: Meeting Mr arrogant

Chapter 11 : The King's Secret

Lucy stood rooted to the spot, her mind whirling with the implications of what she had just discovered. The room that moments before had felt like a sanctuary now seemed cold, its opulence concealing layers of deception. She looked at Ryder, searching his face for any sign of the man she thought she knew. But he was unreadable, his eyes a mask of hardened steel, betraying no remorse or regret.

“How long?” she finally asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Ryder tilted his head, watching her with an expression that was almost pitying. “Since the beginning, Lucy. You knew I wasn’t a saint.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, shaking her head as the weight of his betrayal sank in. She’d known he was complex, haunted even, but she’d never imagined this. “I thought you were a man with a troubled past, not a criminal leading an empire.”

Ryder’s jaw tightened, a flicker of something darker passing over his face. “You think I wanted this life? Sometimes the path chooses us, Lucy. I do what I must to survive, to protect what’s mine.”

Her eyes narrowed, disbelief mingling with anger. “Is that supposed to make me feel better? That you’re some kind of noble criminal, forced into this life?”

He sighed, stepping closer, though Lucy instinctively took a step back. Her movement didn’t go unnoticed; his lips curved into a smirk, but his eyes remained cold. “I don’t expect you to understand, Lucy. My world… it’s different. You can’t judge it by the rules you’re used to.”

She shook her head, her gaze flicking to the photograph on the wall again, her mind reeling as memories of their time together resurfaced with new meaning. Every gentle touch, every reassuring word now felt tainted. She realized how carefully he’d constructed his facade—never giving her too much, but just enough to keep her by his side.

“And Reginald?” she asked, forcing the question past the lump in her throat. “Was this all some power play? Were you just… using me to get to him?”

Ryder’s eyes flashed, a hint of irritation breaking through his controlled exterior. “I never lied about Reginald. He’s a monster, through and through. Whatever you may think of me, you know he deserved to be taken down.”

“And what about you?” Lucy countered, her voice trembling. “You’re no better, are you? You hide behind a mask of charm, but you’re just as ruthless, aren’t you?”

He chuckled darkly, crossing his arms. “Perhaps. But the world isn’t divided into heroes and villains, Lucy. People like me and Reginald—we’re two sides of the same coin. We operate in the shadows, doing what the rest of society is too afraid or too moral to do.”

Lucy’s stomach churned. She’d spent months gathering evidence against Reginald, risking her life to bring a powerful man to justice, and yet here she was, facing an even more complex betrayal. Ryder had been her rock, the one person she thought she could rely on. And now, the very foundation of that trust had crumbled.

“Why me?” she asked, her voice breaking as her eyes met his. “If you were going to lie, to manipulate—why bring me into your life at all?”

Ryder’s gaze softened, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw a glimpse of the man she’d once loved. “Because, Lucy… you saw the good in me, even when I didn’t. You reminded me of what it was like to be… human.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, and she felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. “And yet here we are. You’re not the man I thought you were. You’re—”

“The king of the Blackwood Mafia,” he finished, his voice calm, unflinching.

The starkness of his confession left her speechless. She realized then that he felt no shame, no guilt for the life he led. In his mind, he was justified, his actions a means to an end. She swallowed, her mind racing. She knew too much now, and if Ryder decided she was a threat… no, she couldn’t let herself think like that.

He must have sensed her fear, his expression softening ever so slightly. “You’re safe, Lucy. I would never hurt you.”

“How can I believe that?” she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Ryder’s eyes darkened, his jaw clenching as he took a step closer, closing the distance between them. “Because, for all the things I am, I never lied about how I feel about you. I care for you, Lucy. More than you know.”

A shiver ran down her spine, her conflicting emotions tearing her apart. She wanted to believe him, wanted to cling to the memories they’d shared, but the truth loomed too large between them.

“What happens now?” she asked, her voice small, defeated.

He paused, considering her question. “That depends on you. You could leave, walk away from this, from me. Or… you could stay.”

Lucy’s heart pounded in her chest as she looked at him, the weight of his offer heavy in the air. Staying meant accepting his world, his darkness, his secrets. She’d be giving up her chance at a normal life, aligning herself with a man whose morality was as twisted as the criminals she’d spent her life fighting against.

But as she looked into Ryder’s eyes, she felt a tug, a pull that defied logic or reason. Despite everything, despite the lies, the danger, she still felt something for him, something powerful and raw. It was as if he’d become a part of her, woven into her heart in a way she couldn’t simply erase.

Ryder reached out, his hand brushing her cheek. “Lucy,” he murmured, his voice almost tender. “Whatever you choose, know that I won’t hold it against you. But if you stay, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

She closed her eyes, fighting back tears as her mind battled with her heart. She knew the smart choice was to leave, to cut ties and run far from Ryder Blackwood and his shadowed empire. But the thought of leaving him, of never seeing him again, left an ache she couldn’t ignore.

Finally, she took a deep breath, her decision settling over her like a heavy cloak. “If I stay… I want the truth. All of it. No more secrets.”

Ryder’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise and admiration flashing across his face. “Are you sure, Lucy? Once you know, there’s no turning back.”

She nodded, her voice steady even as her heart raced. “I’m sure. I’m done being kept in the dark.”

A slow smile spread across his face, one that was equal parts respect and relief. “Then welcome to my world.”

The words sent a shiver down her spine, but she held her ground, meeting his gaze with a newfound strength. Whatever lay ahead, whatever dangers and dark truths she would uncover, she was ready to face them. She’d been drawn into Ryder’s world, and now she was choosing to stay—eyes wide open, and heart steeled for whatever was to come.