CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Luther was lost. He didn't know what to do... On one hand, he wanted to check out with Lara how she felt. On the other, he was afraid she would discover who had triggered the sequence of events leading to the twins' birth to become public knowledge.

He hadn't ever thought the reporters would dig out her secrets to hit the Clayton Family. And never would he have asked for help if he knew.

The least he could do was offer a way out, but how?

He had an appointment with Gabriel in the same bar where they had agreed to investigate Grace and Steve.

«You're late,» he said when the reporter finally arrived.

«I was working. I couldn't come earlier because I had a lead. Turns out the Clayton couple is more than just heartless. I have to ask you something though: is there a reason why they're biased towards their son?»

Luther almost opened his mouth to answer. That was Gabriel's journalist tone, the one that got him answers. However, he wasn't there to provide him with more food to feast on.

He was there to get some justice. This time, for Lara and not himself.

«I said you could ruin the couple, but not the kids. Lara is innocent. Even David is, regarding me.»

Lara's brother had been terrible towards her, but it had nothing to do with Luther's adventure in prison. For that, only Grace and Steve were at fault.

«It was an accident,» Gabriel said. «I thought I would find out something more if I asked for help. And I did, in fact. Just, I didn't think my colleague would publish everything so soon. Look at it from the right direction: Grace's reputation won't be unscathed after this. I found out she's working really hard to make people think she's close to Nate Woods when - in fact - they don't even talk.

Lara Clayton cut all ties, meaning she's not following her mother's instructions around Nate Woods. It's not enough to say she's not a gold digger, but Robert's son can rest assured: he won't have Grace as an extra leech.»

«Lara is no leech,» Luther said, his tone cold. Icey like the winter.

His eyes glared at Gabriel with a dangerous light.

«I can't know it. I was worried, at first. But since she's not related to the Clayton couple anymore, there's a chance she met Nate by chance and fell in love like any regular couple.»

«It's what happened, in fact,» Luther said. «If anything, theirs is a fairy tale. Lara suffered a lot after meeting Nate. I'm relieved they are happy now.»

«But why wasn't he there when she gave birth to his children? What made them live apart for so long?»

Luther shrugged. What could he say without bringing even more damage? He better stayed silent and hoped for the situation to solve itself.

«I hope that this is not the only new information you bring me. I sincerely hope it,» he said, instead. «The damage is done, and we can just leave Nate and Lara to solve it. But what about Grace?»

«She'll be hit by this. She threw her daughter out of the home. It's not something the sympathetic public opinion can forgive.»

«It's not enough. She'll survive this. I want to ruin her completely.»Nôv(el)B\\jnn

«Unfortunately, I could find no lead related to your case.»

Luther scratched his chin, annoyed. Had they left no traces? Was it possible?

They weren't as smart or competent. Their plan had worked because of sheer luck and Luther's blind trust. He would have never imagined his brother would ruin his life.

«Also,» Gabriel said, «I found out she had twins! Can you imagine it? Poor girl, she must have suffered a lot. But she did give birth to them. You're a grand-uncle now!»

Luther's blood pressure rose again.

«Tell me something I don't know!» he thundered, making even the old and deaf barman turn in their direction.

«You were aware?»

«They're Nate's children. I'm friends with Melanie Woods and Lara's uncle. Of course, I know!»

And he knew even more about them. But he wouldn't talk about it with anyone else. It was a secret the Woods had protected for generations. It wasn't his place to reveal it to the world.

Not to mention how the world wasn't ready to hear about it.

«Let's move on with our plan,» he said.

He would have obtained his revenge and then confessed everything to his niece. If Nate Woods had asked for repayment, Luther would have gone to prison for a second time with a clear conscience. He had nothing else to give in exchange but his time.

«Continue working on Steve. Grace loves her reputation too much to leave traces, but there must be something about my brother that you can use.»

Gabriel considered the matter, nodding at Luther's words.

«I can try. As far as I know, he's weak. He lets his wife make all the decisions and has no complaints whatsoever. He didn't say a word when he lost his daughter to a scandal. And I doubt he will say anything now.»

«He'll just hide behind Grace,» Luther confirmed. «He hasn't changed. Twenty years at the head of a company weren't enough to make a man out of him.»

Not to mention how Steve could have thought what Grace said to be true. If that was the case, he wouldn't have even tried helping Lara.

«That woman's net of lies is so intricate that I'm still trying to figure out some things,» Luther confessed. «But I can't stop my revenge just because of curiosity. Let's get it over with. I have a niece to repay for this, so don't take too much time.»

«She won't be hurt by this,» Gabriel pointed out. «Maybe a little at the beginning, but it will be over very soon. And she'll be Woods's wife in everyone's eyes. You did her a favour, actually.»

«No, I betrayed her,» Luther rebuked. «After I said I wouldn't let her be involved in my revenge. I lied.»