Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Designing a Trap

Lila’s POV

He let go of me but kept hold of my hand, our fingers intertwined as he led me toward the stairs. His steps were steady. The tenderness in his eyes hadn’t completely faded, but the cold sharpness of the Wolf King was already starting to creep in.

Just as we reached the turn in the staircase, we saw Zoe sprawled on the living room sofa, chugging a bottle of Coke.

When she saw us coming down, she let out an exaggerated sigh and waved a listless hand. “Oh, my aching back… Dad, do you have any idea how much walking I did tonight, taking Lilith to pick out a dress? My feet don’t even feel like they’re mine anymore.”

Jasper led me to the sofa opposite her and sat down, crossing his long legs. His posture was elegant and languid, as if the insecure man in the study just moments ago wasn’t him at all.

“If you were so tired, why didn’t you just end it early and come home?” I couldn’t help but ask. I knew this was part of the plan, but hearing Zoe say it still made me feel a little guilty.

“Things went even better than I expected.” She flexed her wrist, a cunning glint in her eyes. “Lilith is practically at the point of ’worshipping’ me now. Can you believe it? She actually thinks that just by sticking with me, she can get a ticket to next week’s art salon.”

I frowned slightly, a little confused. “Is that salon hard to get into?”

“For ordinary people, it’s an unattainable world of fame and fortune.” Zoe shrugged, her tone laced with disdain. “But for me, it just takes a single word. Lilith doesn’t know that. She thinks it’s the only ladder to high society, so she has to cling to me like I’m her lifeline.”

Jasper’s long fingers tapped gently on the armrest in a steady rhythm. “So, you plan to use this?”

“Exactly.” Zoe snapped her fingers. “My plan is to give her a little taste of it first. For instance, I’ll take her to a few small gatherings, let her feel that vain thrill of ’being the center of attention.’ Then, at the right moment, I’ll tell her that next week’s art salon is the real ’battlefield.’ Only there can she gain true recognition.”

She looked at us, the corner of her mouth curling into a meaningful smile. “When the time comes, I’ll make her understand that only I can help her. Only I can get her into the world she’s been dreaming of. And once she’s on my ship, there’s no getting off.”

I was a little stunned. Zoe’s methods were nothing if not ruthless and precise. “But,” I was still worried, “what if she finds out you’re just using her?”

Zoe laughed, a trace of scorn in her smile. “She won’t. She’s too desperate to win, too desperate to be recognized. She’ll automatically ignore the ’disappointments’ and only see the ’glory’ I bring her. Besides…”

She paused, her expression turning serious. “Lilith seems to know some inside information about you. She had too much to drink tonight and accidentally mentioned that her father—your uncle, Thorne—once warned her not to get too close to you. Said you were an ’ill-omened person’ who would bring bad luck.”

Jasper and I both flinched.

“An ill-omened person?” I repeated the words numbly, a chill running down my spine.

“Don’t listen to her nonsense.” Jasper immediately gripped my hand, the warmth of his palm transferring to me, soothing my inner turmoil. “She’s just been brainwashed. The Goodrich family and the Thorne Family are both trying to hide something.”

Zoe nodded. “That’s why we need to speed things up. Next week’s art salon is the perfect opportunity. I’ll let her be the star of the show in that circle, and then I’ll let her fall into an embarrassing situation over something minor. When that happens, I’ll play the ’hero saving the damsel,’ and she’ll become completely dependent on me.”

She looked at Jasper, a questioning look in her eyes. “What do you think?”

Jasper was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Proceed as planned. But be careful. Lilith might be vain, but she’s not stupid. If she senses anything unusual, she might bite back.”

“Don’t worry, Dad.” Zoe smiled confidently. “I was trained by you, after all. I’m confident I can handle a woman blinded by vanity.”

She stood up and stretched. “Alright, mission report complete. I’m going to take a hot bath and then sleep like the dead. You two… Mommy and Daddy, should get some rest, too.” She added a playful wink.

I shook my head helplessly, once again being called ’Mommy’ by my best friend, who was only a few years younger than me.

“Don’t worry.” He squeezed my hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of it, as if to soothe the anxiety stirred up by the words ’ill-omened person.’ “Zoe might seem flighty, but she knows what she’s doing. Since she said she’s confident, she’ll definitely have Lilith wrapped around her finger.”

I forced the corners of my mouth into a strained smile. “I know. It’s just… hearing her talk about Uncle Thorne gives me the creeps. Why would he tell Lilith I’m an ’ill-omened person’?”

Jasper’s gaze instantly sharpened, like a drawn, cold blade—sharp and icy. He was silent for a moment before speaking, his voice low and suppressed. “Lila, no matter what they said, you have to remember that it’s their fault, not yours. Your parents were innocent, and you…”

He paused, as if weighing his words, but in the end, it all dissolved into a sigh as he pulled me into his arms. “And you, you have me now. I will protect you, and I will uncover the whole truth. Until then, you just need to be yourself. You don’t have to carry anyone else’s sins.”

The warmth of his embrace seeped through my thin clothes, carrying a reassuring strength. I closed my eyes and buried my face in his chest, listening to the steady, powerful beat of his heart. All the chaotic fears and doubts seemed to be temporarily shut out.

After a long while, I lifted my head from his embrace and said softly, “Jasper, thank you.”

He lowered his head and gently nuzzled my forehead with the tip of his nose, his voice husky. “For what? It’s my responsibility, and… my choice.”

Just then, the muffled sound of a door closing came from upstairs, followed by the rush of running water—Zoe had started her bath.

Jasper helped me to my feet, but instead of heading back to the bedroom, he led me toward the study.

“Now,” he said, closing the study door. He turned and pressed me against it, planting his hands on either side of me to form an inescapable enclosure. “Let’s talk about your safety.”

I looked up at him, confused. “My safety? Isn’t Zoe the one dealing with Lilith? I promise I’ll be good and stay out of sight.”

He was silent for a moment before speaking again, his voice low and heavy. “Lila, about your uncle, Richard Thorne… I found something. Or rather, I found nothing at all.”

I froze, looking at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”

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