Love In Disguise: Rebirth of the Heiress
Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Chapter 95

The coffee shop was secluded and exclusive, the kind of place where secrets could be whispered without fear of being overheard.

Jason and Lucian were already seated when I arrived, their expressions contrasting as always, Jason smirking with his usual cocky charm, Lucian brooding like a storm cloud, both dressed in black.

One would think someone died.

I slid into the booth, my coffee order already waiting for me. "Well," I began, leaning back against the plush seat, "you’ll never guess what Jessica told me today."

Jason raised an eyebrow, sipping his espresso. "Do tell. She’s always full of surprises."

"She wants to marry Gabriel."

Jason choked on his coffee, coughing violently as Lucian’s eyes narrowed. "You’re kidding," Jason finally said, setting his cup down with exaggerated care.

"I wish I was," I replied, smirking at his reaction. "I mean the two of them suit each other. She even asked for my blessing."

Lucian’s lips twitched, his first reaction betraying a flicker of amusement before his usual stoicism returned. "How thoughtful of her."

Jason wiped his mouth with a napkin, grinning. "Actually, that’s perfect. Let them tie the knot. They deserve each other—and everything that’s coming to them."

I sipped my coffee, watching them. "Oh you are definitely right."

Jason nodded, his smirk sharpening. "Oh, absolutely. Two snakes coiled together? Let them choke each other out."

Lucian leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes fixed on me. "What about your end, Kiara? What are your next steps with them?"

I shrugged, swirling my coffee absentmindedly. "I’ll keep the pressure on, let them dig their own graves. But enough about Gabriel and Jessica. What about Joselle? What’s the plan there?"

Jason’s smirk faded, replaced by a cold intensity. "Joselle," he repeated, his voice low. "She’s slippery, I’ll give her that. But she’s not untouchable."

Lucian inclined his head. "She’s currently keeping busy. Modelling gigs, promotional shoots, her latest one is at the Metropolitan Pavilion in two days."

Jason’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the table. "She’s not the problem. It’s the guy who was with her the day I died. I still don’t know who he is, but we need to find out. He’s key."

I frowned, leaning forward. "What do you know about him? Anything?"

Jason’s jaw tightened. "Not much. Just that he was close enough to Joselle to be involved in everything that went down. If we’re going to take her down, we need to figure out his role."

Lucian’s gaze didn’t waver as he added, "There’s also the matter of her show in two days. It could provide an opportunity."

"An opportunity for what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jason’s smirk returned, colder this time. "To rattle her. To remind her that she’s not as untouchable as she thinks."

I sighed, setting my cup down. "Fine. I’ll look into it. But I’m not dressing up for any fancy events."

Jason chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "We’ll see about that."

Lucian’s gaze remained on me, his voice calm but firm. "In the meantime, we need to keep gathering information on the man from that day. Every detail matters."

I nodded, already running through ideas in my mind. "I’ll dig into Joselle’s contacts, see if I can trace him through her network."

Jason’s expression darkened slightly. "And be careful. Joselle’s not like Jessica. She doesn’t just play dirty—she’ll destroy anyone who gets in her way."

"Noted," I replied, my tone dry. "Anything else?"

Lucian tilted his head slightly. "One more thing. The guy with Joselle—his name might be in the Lincoln family archives. It’s worth checking."

Jason groaned, rolling his eyes. "Oh, great. A trip down memory lane. Just what I needed."

I smirked. "What’s the matter, Jason? Don’t want to reconnect with your roots?"

"Not when my roots are trying to strangle me," he shot back.

Lucian ignored the banter, his gaze steady on both of us. "Focus. If we’re going to do this, we need to stay ahead. Joselle and her accomplice won’t wait for us to catch up."

Jason nodded reluctantly, his smirk fading into a grim line. "Alright. I’ll head to the archives. Kiara, you handle Joselle’s network. And Lucian..."

"I’ll keep tracking the accomplice," Lucian said smoothly.

Jason glanced at me, his smirk returning faintly. "Think you can handle it?"

I rolled my eyes, finishing my coffee. "Just worry about your part, Jason. I’ve got this."

Lucian stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "We’ll regroup in three days. Don’t get careless."

As I stood to leave, Jason shot me a wink. "And remember, Kiara—dress to kill. It’s a show, after all."

I smirked, shaking my head as I walked away. "You’re insufferable, Jason."

"Thank you," he called after me, his laughter following me out of the coffee shop.

****

Two days after.

Lucian’s home was quiet except for the occasional flicker of sound from Harold, the ever-chattering cup.

I sat before a mirror, makeup brushes scattered around me, finishing the touches on my look. The room was dimly lit, the kind of lighting that made everything feel like a dream.

Lucian sat nearby, his fingers gliding effortlessly over papers. Every so often, he’d glance up, his dark eyes unreadable. He was always busy, always engrossed in something I couldn’t quite understand.

"Do you ever miss home?" I asked, setting the brush down and turning to face him.

He paused, his pen hovering above the paper. "Home?"

"Yeah. The other world. Where you came from," I clarified.

Lucian leaned back in his chair, his expression softening just a fraction. "I think about it every day," he admitted, his voice low and measured. "It’s a place unlike anything you’ve ever seen. A place where time doesn’t flow as it does here, where the stars shine brighter and the air have this faint rose smell.."

I tilted my head, curious. "It sounds...beautiful. What was it like? To live there, I mean."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "It was everything. A world where purpose wasn’t just a concept but a living force. Every soul had a role to play, a balance to maintain. But now..." His gaze darkened. "That balance is shattered. Corrupted.."

I watched him closely, noticing the flicker of passion in his eyes. He rarely spoke like this, and when he did, it was mesmerizing.

"You’ll get it back," I said softly. "You’ll save it."

Lucian’s eyes met mine, his expression unreadable. "I hope so," he murmured. "I have a brother. He’s...trapped. If I can’t restore the balance, he’ll be lost forever."

"You will save him," I said with quiet conviction. "I believe you can."

For a moment, Lucian didn’t respond. Then, he gave a small nod, his gaze lingering on me longer than usual.

Just as the silence settled into something comfortable, Harold chimed in, his voice sharp and cutting through the moment. "Excuse me, esteemed guests," he said, his lid rattling slightly.

Lucian sighed, clearly not in the mood for Harold’s interruptions. "What now?"

"There’s a...visitor," Harold announced with a dramatic pause. "A cat, to be specific."

I frowned, glancing at Lucian. "A cat?"

Harold huffed. "A metaphorical one. Jason is waiting."

Lucian rolled his eyes, setting his papers aside. "Of course, he is."

I stood, smoothing out my dress. "Let’s not keep him waiting, then."

Lucian didn’t respond immediately, his gaze lingering on me for a second longer before he nodded. "Good luck."