Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 348

Chapter 348

AUTHOR’S POV.

“You are him,” he said slowly. “You are the real Lucius Stormvale.”

The words landed like a gunshot.

The bar seemed to fade into the background, the clink of glasses and the low murmur of voices, all of it dissolving into nothing.

Lucian went still.

Dangerously still.

For a long moment, he said nothing.

Damien swallowed. “It makes sense,” he rushed on, voice low but urgent. “The way you move. The way Cassian never quite fit but you did. The way Alina looked at you like she was looking at home even when she didn’t understand why.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened. “You’re reaching.”

“No,” Damien said. “I’m finally seeing.”

Lucian leaned forward now, forearms braced against the table. His voice dropped. “You’re playing with fire.”

Damien met his gaze. “So are you.”

Silence stretched between them, thick and electric.

Lucian’s eyes searched Damien’s face, calculating. Measuring loyalty. Risk. Consequence.

“If you say that name out loud again,” Lucian said quietly, “you’ll put a target on both our backs.”

Damien didn’t flinch. “Then tell me I’m wrong.”

Lucian didn’t.

That was answer enough.

Damien exhaled, something between awe and dread settling in his chest: “My sister was right, feeling the way she felt,” he murmured. “Her gut had been right all along.”

Lucian’s expression softened for half a second at the mention of Alina….just enough to confirm everything Damien already knew.

Damien didn’t flinch.

“Then tell me I’m wrong.”

Lucian didn’t.

That was answer enough.

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Damien leaned back in his chair, dragging a hand down his face. “So tell me something, then.”

Lucian looked at him, guarded again. “What?”

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Chapter 318

“Why have you been hiding?” Damien asked quietly. “Why are you hiding here, knowing fully well that someone is walking around wearing your name, claiming your blood, your legacy../and you’re not doing anything about it?”

Lucian didn’t answer right away.

Damien pressed on, the words spilling now, months of tension and confusion boiling over.

“The blood merger between Lucius Stormvale and Alina Evergreen…it’s you. You’re Lucius. You’re supposed to be the one getting married to her. So why are you folding your arms and watching while another man takes your place?”

Lucian’s shoulders rose and fell with a slow breath.

“It’s not like I’m not doing anything about it,” he said at last.

Damien scoffed. “Really? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re letting him win.”

Lucian’s eyes hardened. “I said it’s not the right time.”

Damien leaned forward sharply. “And when exactly is the right time, Lucian?” His voice dropped. “Or is it after my sister is married off to another man? After her life is sealed and locked away beyond your reach?”

Lucian’s mouth opened… then closed.

For the first time since Damien had walked into the bar, Lucian looked… restrained. Like he was holding back something volatile.

He glanced around them. The bartender polishing glasses too slowly. A man two tables over pretending not to listen. The low hum of conversation that suddenly felt too close, too curious.

“Get up,” Lucian said.

Damien blinked. “What?”

“Get up,” Lucian repeated, already pushing back his chair. “And come with me.”

Damien let out a short chuckle as he stood.

“Did I say something funny?“Lucian paused, turning just enough to fix him with a glare.

Damien shook his head, amusement creeping into his expression despite everything.

“You’re just as bossy as you were when we were kids, Lucius.”

Lucian’s jaw clenched. He stepped closer, voice dropping to a warning hiss.

“Stop calling me that.”

Then, through clenched teeth, “And follow me.”

Damien stared at him for a beat…then he laughed. Not mocking. Relieved. The kind of laugh that came when a truth finally stopped suffocating you.

“Yeah,” he said softly, grabbing his jacket. “Definitely him.”

Lucian didn’t dignify that with a response.

He turned and headed for the door.

Damien followed him out of the bar, the night air hitting his face as the door swung shut behind them….cold, sharp, and

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Chapter 348

alive with the promise that things were finally about to move forward.

The car hummed softly as it cut through the night, streetlights flashing in steady intervals across the windshield.

Damien hadn’t looked away once.

Lucian noticed. Of course he did.

At first, he pretended not to. Eyes on the road, one hand steady on the wheel, jaw set like stone. He gave Damien the courtesy of silence as he counted his breaths, focused on the lines ahead, told himself to ignore the weight of that stare burning into the side of his face.

Five seconds.

Ten.

A full minute.

Lucian snapped.

“Will you stop that.”

Damien blinked, genuinely innocent. “Stop what?”

Lucian finally turned his head, shooting him a sharp look. “Stop staring like a creep. It’s annoying.”

For a heartbeat, Damien just looked at him….then he laughed softly, shaking his head.

“I can’t help it,” he said. “I’m just… trying to be in your presence right now.”

Lucian scoffed. “That’s not a thing.”

“It is tonight,” Damien replied. “It’s crazy. You’ve been hiding in plain sight and none of us knew. None of us even suspected.”

He leaned back in his seat, still watching Lucian like he might disappear if he blinked.

“I worked with you in Elaris. Side by side. And it never crossed my mind.” He frowned. “And what’s worse…I didn’t even like you back then. Why didn’t I like you again?”

Lucian snorted. “You’ve never been the sharpest tool in the shed.”

It was said lightly. Almost fondly.

And just barely…..so barely it could be denied, Lucian’s lips tilted upward.

Damien caught it immediately. His grin spread.

“You’ve always been fond of dry jokes anyway,” he teased.

This time, Lucian didn’t fight it.

A real smile broke through, it was brief and, unguarded, but unmistakably Lucius Stormvale.

Damien’s chest loosened at the sight.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about, buddy,” he said. “It’s good to have

you

back.”

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Chapter 348

Lucian’s grip tightened on the wheel, but his voice softened.

“It’s good to be back, Dee.”

The nickname slipped out naturally, like muscle memory.

Damien froze.

Then his face split into a wide, disbelieving smile. “Yeah,” he breathed. “Definitely you.”

They rode in companionable silence for a few seconds after that, until Damien spoke again, almost absently.

“You know,” he said, staring out the window now, “what you’re looking for might just be in plain sight.”

Lucian’s brows furrowed. “Plain sight…”

“Yes,” Damien continued, unaware. “Sometimes the answer is right there and you’re too close to see it, just like you.”

Lucian repeated it. “In plain sight.”

Then again. Slower.

“In plain sight.”

His

eyes widened.

“That’s it.”

Damien turned. “That’s what?”

Lucian’s heartbeat kicked up, adrenaline surging.

“What we’re looking for….it might just be in plain sight.” He glanced at Damien, sharp and intense now. “You’re a genius,

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