Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 207

207 Her Final Gift

Mara

We lingered outside Martha’s room longer than we should have. None of us wanted to leave, especially Darian. He stood there, silent and heavy, like grief had rooted him to the spot. Lucian gently urged him to stay behind, to rest, but Darian refused. He needed action. He needed distraction. And so, he followed

Lucian to headquarters to face the storm waiting there.

I returned alone to the mansion, and the silence inside was suffocating.

This Chase situation was already spiraling. What had started as background noise was now threatening to tear everything apart. Who would’ve thought we’d lose half our military presence in a single day? Even Vander hadn’t faced anything like this in his reign.

Once inside, I didn’t go to my room. My feet carried me instinctively toward Martha’s. I had to understand. Had to seesomething-anything-that would make sense of her decision.

The room was dim. I pulled the blinds open, letting sunlight spill across the floor, revealing a space that

was… empty.

I stood frozen for a moment.

Her closet: bare.

Shelves: cleared.

Drawers: vacant.

She had sold everything. Her entire life in this room vanished. What was left had been arranged just enough to look untouched. But I knew the difference. I could smell the absence. Something was gone, and it wasn’t just clothes or perfume. It was her.

No cameras had been installed in the residential wing. We’d thought privacy was more important than

surveillance. Now it felt like a mistake.

I sniffed around, hoping for a trace-something that would point to what had happened. Then I found

them.

Two envelopes. Tucked beneath the bed. One marked Darian. The other, Lacy.

Neither was sealed. My hands trembled slightly as I opened the first.

“My darling Darian,”

“I’m sorry I did this, but it was for your good. Alaric will stop bothering this family once I’m gone. Please, cash the check and start your tech firm. I believe in you. I know it will succeed. I love you.”

Tears welled in my eyes as I opened the second letter.

“My sweet girl,”

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20 Her Final Gift

“I’m sorry I had to do this. I hope one day you’ll forgive me. You and your brother come first, always. Your

father swore he’d get even-I know he’ll stop once I’m gone.”

“Take the check and leave the island. There’s a beautiful world waiting for you-one full of wonder and peace.

Don’t look back. You’ve suffered enough. You deserve a life that’s free.”

“Your looks, your body-they’re a gift, not a tool. Use them for you. Build yourself up. Love yourself. Never live

like the girls in Goldenpeak. That’s not your destiny.”

“I love you.”

The last line blurred on the page as tears streamed down my cheeks.

Martha hadn’t run. She’d prepared. She’d planned her exit not just from this house, but from the lives of the people she loved, believing-perhaps wrongly-that her absence would be the cure.

And now she was hanging on by a thread in a hospital bed.

If she died, these letters would be her last words. Her parting gifts.

And suddenly, I wasn’t just mourning her choices.

I was mourning her.

Martha loved deeply-but in twisted, tragic ways.

She’d lied to Vander for Lacy’s sake, fabricating a life so her daughter could have stability and protection. Then she’d tried to end her life for Darian’s sake, hoping her death would stop Alaric from pursuing vengeance against him and Emma.

The letters didn’t say it outright, but they didn’t need to. Anyone with sense-and access to this room- could piece the truth together. If someone had been in here before me, if they’d read those letters… it wouldn’t take long to figure out that Lacy was Martha’s daughter. And if that truth leaked, Darian’s secret

would unravel with it.

I prayed whoever came in was only after the poison. That they panicked and left before noticing the envelopes under the bed. Before reading too much. But there was no way to be sure.

I clutched the letters tightly and kept searching. Desperately.

But there was nothing left. Martha had erased herself thoroughly.

Eventually, I gave up and headed back toward the left wing. My muscles ached from the tension, and I just wanted to soak-let the hot water strip away the stress of hospitals, secrets, and whispered goodbyes.

As I crossed the hall, my phone rang-sharp and urgent. I’d left it behind before breakfast, never imagining the day would spiral like this.

By the time I reached it, the ringing had stopped. I looked down.

Fourteen missed calls.

207 He Final Gift

All from Mary.

My stomach sank.

I called her back instantly.

“Hello, Luna Mara,” she answered, breathless and frantic.

“Mary-calm down,” I said, trying to keep my own nerves from fraying. “Tell me what happened.”

Her next words chilled me.

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