CHAPTER 34: THE BLIND STRATEGIST

—Livana—

Just as I predicted, the bet had been won, and now my husband had someone withdraw all the cash. Laura, my sister, was practically giddy. She even had a money gun ready.

"You’ll have to dance like a stripper later," she told Damien, and I heard the shifting of weight on the sofa—most likely her straddling him. The air filled with moans and exaggerated kissing sounds.

"Are they sucking face right now?" I asked my husband, who chuckled beside me.

"That’s because her ex-boyfriend is watching," he whispered, his voice amused.

My phone began to vibrate. I answered, pressing it carefully to my ear.

"Miss," came the voice of the henchman. "We’ve secured him. He’s in Korea."

"Good. I want to meet everyone involved in the capture."

"Certainly, Miss."

"Thank you. And good work." I ended the call and turned my head in Damon’s direction, though I could not see him.

"By the way, I heard your ex-fiancée moan. Is she close to us?"

"Where?" He sounded like he was looking around.

"You don’t recognize the sound of her moan?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Wife, I never touched her. Never kissed her. Certainly never slept with her. How would I know what she sounds like?"

"Well, I don’t know," I murmured, tapping his thigh where it pressed against mine. "Let’s go home."

He sighed, then stood. "Laura, finish that at home. Not here." I told her strictly.

We stepped outside. Voices rose—women calling out Damon’s and Damien’s names. I caught bursts of light—flashes from cameras. Were they taking pictures of me? I hoped Damon had someone to take care of that. Then again... perhaps it was better this way. If people saw him publicly showing me off, it would shatter the lie Tyrona—the spiteful witch—spread about me being some hidden mistress.

When we arrived home, Damon left abruptly on urgent business. I was left with Jane, my attendant, who guided me gently as always.

"Jane," I called.

"Yes, Miss?"

"Pack some of your clothes. Warm ones. And pack some for me as well."

"Madam?" she asked, confused.

"We’re leaving tonight. It’s urgent. You may tell Damon, but not where we’re going—or anything you see. Do you understand?"

She paused for a moment. "Of course."

Jane had already signed the confidentiality documents when she began working for me. I knew Damon paid her to assist and protect me, but I compensated her well—generously, even. And now, I intended to buy her loyalty outright.

"You swore to that, didn’t you?"

"Yes, Madam."

I turned to my dresser, letting my fingers brush over the polished wood until they found the handle of my hairbrush. Time to go. Time to hear it for myself—the voice of that bastard... and his screams.

When everything was ready, I stepped out of my room—just as I heard a door close across the hall.

"Damien?" I called.

"Livy? Where are you going?" he asked.

"I have business to attend to."

"Does Damon know about this?"

"He will soon. Walk with me."

He followed. I counted eighteen steps down the staircase. I knew every one of them. This house, though dark to me, had long since become familiar. I slipped on my sunglasses.

"Is Laura asleep?" I asked.

"Yeah."

Outside, I heard the van doors slide open.

"Remember what we talked about. Three months," I said.

"What you want is really, really—" he began, hesitantly.

I sighed and raised my hand to find his face, ensuring we were eye to eye.

"Damien, don’t be stupid. I know you want this. If you love her, marry her. She’s not impossible to deal with, is she?"

"Of course not."

"Then do this. For me—and for her."

"Okay, sis. I’ll talk to her."

"I don’t care how. Just do it. In three months, I expect results."

It wouldn’t be hard. Damien and Laura were practically attached at the hip, already over the line from friendship into something more. They’d been circling each other for ages, denying the obvious. But now? Since they gave in to the passion simmering between them, an heir wouldn’t be far behind.

"I’ll be back once this is settled."

"Alright. Be safe."

He kissed my left cheek. I leaned in to kiss his right in return.

"Let’s go, Jane."

She gently took my hand, guiding me to the car as I followed her lead, stepping in without hesitation.

—Damien—

I watched as Livana left with the driver and Jane. No bodyguards. No heavy luggage. Just her usual quiet resolve. I had no clue where she was headed, but something told me it wasn’t a leisure trip.

Back inside, I made sure security locked all the main house entrances. Then I climbed the stairs to Laura’s bedroom—our bedroom now.

The moment I stepped in, I was greeted by the mess we left behind. Used condoms on the floor, peso bills scattered like confetti across the sheets. I bent down, wrapping each condom carefully in tissue before tossing them into the trash. I scooped up the bills too—souvenirs from a while ago’s wild game.

We’d played stripper. She had a money gun. I danced. She laughed. And somehow, in the chaos of love and lust, we lost track of how many rounds we went.

I peeked under the table—yep, another condom.

Just how many had we used?

I lost count. But damn... I couldn’t get enough of her.

Back then, with other women, it was always one round. No thrill. No spark. No lingering desire.

Laura? She aroused something primal in me. Every. Damn. Time.

Once the room was clean, I slumped onto the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped, stirring her awake.

"Damien," she mumbled, voice drowsy and sensual. "Can you go between me and make me cum in my sleep?"

I laughed softly. "Hey, I’m tired, alright?"

She made a pouty sound—such a brat, but she was my brat. And God, was she spoiled when it came to me.

I washed my face and hands in the bathroom, then dried them before returning to bed. I lifted the duvet and slid in beside her, gently lifting her leg to rest over my shoulder. She giggled, soft and sleepy, as I kissed and lightly bit her creamy thighs.

Her legs trembled, but I held her still as I buried my face and tongue between them. This... this was one of her fantasies, and I was more than willing to fulfill it.

She came hard—trembling, gasping. Her body sang under my touch.

Afterward, with her sound asleep, I stood and walked to the drawer, pulling out the condoms. I carried them to the bathroom and grabbed a safety pin I’d seen earlier.

One by one, I began to poke holes in the foils.

I knew it was ridiculous. I knew Livana had asked me to do this—to get Laura pregnant. But still, part of me hated the idea of anyone else even trying to do it if I didn’t.

Just the thought of Livana hiring some guy to seduce Laura made my blood boil.

I paused halfway through. My hand hovered, the pin inches away from the last two condoms.

"This is fucking wrong," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

Would Livana understand if I didn’t go through with it?

Maybe.

I sighed and returned the pin to its place. The remaining condoms went back into the drawer—untouched.

I climbed back into bed, gently sliding over Laura. She stirred, eyes fluttering open, and hummed contentedly as I kissed her cheeks, her nose, her forehead.

"I’m tired," she whispered with a yawn. "I’ve got work tomorrow."

"Mmhmm, okay." I turned off the lamp and snuggled in close to her, hard as hell, but content. "By the way," I whispered with a grin, slipping my hand over her bare breast, "you taste amazing."

"I know," she smirked, victorious.

God, I love this woman.

I thought I was dreaming. A very sexy dream.

But when I opened my eyes, I realized it wasn’t a dream at all.

Laura was on top of me, sleepy-eyed and moaning softly, hips moving with slow, steady rhythm. I blinked in surprise, barely registering what was happening as pleasure shot through me.

Her breasts bounced with each thrust, and I reached up to cup them. She giggled, and that sound—it was everything.

I glanced around—no condom in sight.

She was riding me raw.

And she was holding a damn vibrating wand to herself, chasing her own high. When she came, it was explosive. I felt her walls pulse and tighten around me.

I couldn’t hold back.

I came inside her with a groan, and moments later, she came again, like a fountain. Absolutely glorious.

She collapsed beside me, catching her breath.

"Why are you horny so early in the morning?" I chuckled, wrapping her in my arms and covering her face in kisses.

"You were hard," she replied simply, reaching up to touch my cheek. "So I figured... I was horny too."

She yawned. "I’ve got a lot to do today. Do you have work out of town?"

"I don’t think so," I said, brushing my lips along her jaw, then her neck.

A loud knock on the door interrupted us.

"Laura, where’s Livana?" someone called out—and the door creaked open.

"What?" Laura sat up in alarm, and I quickly pushed her down and pulled the blanket over her.

I threw on my pajamas and stepped out, closing the door behind me.

Damon stood there, his face grim.

"She left with Jane," I said. "She mentioned something about work out of the country. Didn’t give details."

He turned sharply, already dialing someone on his phone. I heard him speaking fluent Southern Korean as he walked off.

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

Damon’s about to lose his damn mind.