Using Her own Death

Julian stood frozen, his breath heavy, his eyes locked onto Rose. The weight of betrayal pressed against his chest like an iron cage.

"Why?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, but the fury within it was unmistakable.

Rose clenched her fists, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Because I love you, Julian."

Julian let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Love?" He took a step forward, his presence towering over her. "You hired someone to kill my sister. And you call that love?" His voice cracked, raw with rage and pain. "Lucy is dead because of you!"

Isabella reached for his arm. "Julian, please... calm down."

He spun toward her, his eyes wild. "Calm down? She killed my sister—one of the most important people in my life—and you want me to calm down?"

Titan stepped forward hesitantly. "Julian, I—"

Julian's gaze snapped to her. "You what? You knew? You and Rose—" His voice dropped, dangerous and sharp. "You both killed her."

A sudden commotion at the entrance made them all turn. The door burst open, and the doctor rushed in, breathless.

"Lucy… she's alive!"

Julian's heart stopped for a second. "What?" His voice was barely audible.

The doctor nodded. "She's not even injured."

Julian's world spun. His hands clenched. "How? That's impossible!"

A familiar voice echoed through the hall. "Because I planned it that way."

Everyone turned as Lucy walked into the room, perfectly unharmed. The dim light caught the smirk playing on her lips.

"Bulletproof clothing," she explained casually, rolling her shoulders. "And the blood? Chicken blood. Pretty convincing, huh?"

Julian didn't hesitate. In two strides, he closed the distance and pulled her into a tight embrace. His fingers dug into the fabric of her jacket, his breathing uneven.

"Don't ever do that again," he muttered, his voice low and hoarse. "I thought I lost you."

Lucy chuckled against his chest. "So, you do care about me."

"No."

"Yes, you do."

Julian exhaled sharply, pulling away just enough to glare at her. "Fine. Maybe a little."

Lucy grinned, but her expression quickly turned serious. "Now, about them…" She gestured toward Rose and Titan, who stood tense, awaiting judgment.

Julian's jaw tightened. "What do we do with them?"

Lucy crossed her arms. "Titan stays. She's too important to me."

"Important?" Julian scoffed.

"Yes. Like a sister."

Titan's eyes widened, but she said nothing.

Lucy turned to Rose. "As for her… she knows too much about MII. We can't send her to jail. She'll work remotely. If she needs access to MII or this house, she'll go through me first."

Julian hesitated but finally nodded. "Fine."

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway. The LTFN crew had arrived, cameras rolling.

Lisa, ever eager, stepped forward. "Boss, can I—?"

Lucy lifted a hand. "Go ahead, Lisa. Record everything. Interview everyone. Make sure this goes live."

Within hours, the broadcast would become the most-watched news story of the year.

Julian eyed Lucy suspiciously. "You turned this whole mess into an opportunity for LTFN, didn't you?"

Lucy shrugged, her smirk returning. "Business is business, big bro."

And as the cameras rolled, the world watched, unaware that the real game had just begun.