The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 20

**One Step Changes Everything**
*By Ruby Parker*

Neil’s heart felt heavy as he clasped Lumi’s hand in his own, squeezing it gently yet firmly. “Lumi,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing, “there’s nothing to fear. No one will ever let you go. If anyone has to leave, it will be her. She’s the outsider here, not you.”

“Neil…” Lumi’s voice trembled, breaking under the weight of her emotion as she pressed her face against his chest, seeking solace in his warmth.

Nearby, Venus stood with an air of calm that contrasted sharply with the turmoil surrounding them.

She had witnessed this scene play out too many times to count.

Lumi had made promises over and over again to return her rightful place, but deep down, Venus knew those words were hollow, mere whispers in the wind.

Every time Lumi vowed to make things right, her brothers would look at her with pity, while their gazes toward Venus grew more hostile, more accusatory.

Venus’s eyes flicked to Axel, who was watching her intently.

His gaze was sharp, almost predatory, as if he could slice through her with a single look.

“Neil, make sure you take care of Lumi,” Axel said, his tone icy and devoid of warmth. Without waiting for a response, he seized Venus by the wrist, dragging her away from the comfort of Neil and Lumi.

Lumi lifted her head, confusion etched on her face. “Where is Axel taking her?”

“He’s probably going to teach her a lesson,” Neil replied nonchalantly, his eyes betraying a hint of concern. “Just lie down and don’t get up again.”

He knew Axel’s temper all too well.

Venus might have had the audacity to slap him once, but she would never dare lay a finger on Axel.

In their family, Axel’s word was law, and everyone knew it.

Neil could almost envision the confrontation that awaited them. Axel would undoubtedly put Venus in her place, and it would be a spectacle worth watching.

Once they reached the rooftop garden, Axel finally released her wrist, the air thick with tension.

“What were you attempting to do to Lumi this time?” he demanded, his voice slicing through the cool night air like a knife.

Venus chuckled softly, the sound almost mocking. “Do what? I was merely passing by, Mr. Burn. Why so uptight?”

His expression darkened, the sharpness in his eyes intensifying. “You expect me to swallow that? What’s next? Are you going to tell me that was just another coincidence, like that haunted house incident?”

“What else could it possibly be?” Venus shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “It’s not my fault your family clings to me like I’m a life raft.”

Axel’s jaw clenched, his frustration mounting. He had come up here seething, but her words only served to provoke a bitter laugh from him.

“So that’s your narrative, is it?” he said, his voice rising. “You followed Rayne and Lumi just to find an opportunity to hurt them, and now you’re turning the tables on us?”

It struck him as absurd. How brazen could Venus be to place the blame on them?

All this time, the clingy one had always been her.

Her eyes no longer acknowledged him.

Axel took a step forward, but her cold voice halted him in his tracks.

“Mr. Axel,” she said, her back still turned, “you’re the one clinging to me now. Try not to act like a piece of gum stuck to my shoe, alright? It’s quite annoying.”

With that, Venus strode off the rooftop, leaving Axel standing there, his brow furrowed, his chest tightening with an emotion he couldn’t quite name. “I’m annoying?”

Loss?

Why on earth would he feel that way about Venus?

She was a troublemaker, always had been—a girl with a reputation so chaotic it made people shake their heads in disbelief. From the moment she had entered his life, Axel had never thought much of her.

Hearing her declare that she found him annoying should have brought him relief. He should have felt liberated, finally free from the troublemaker who had turned his world upside down.

So why did it feel so different?

Why did he feel this sense of loss? What was happening to him?

Just as Venus stepped off the rooftop, she noticed several men in black suits scattered about, searching for someone. Before she could fully comprehend the situation, a group of bodyguards spotted her and rushed forward, their movements swift and purposeful.

Her eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation. “That doesn’t look friendly,” she muttered under her breath, her muscles tensing in anticipation. Venus shifted into a defensive stance, ready for whatever confrontation lay ahead. If they wanted a fight, she was more than prepared to give them one.