TRADING MY CHEATING HUSBAND FOR THE LYCAN KING novel Chapter 97

+25 Points

CHAPTER 66: CLEVER GIRL

EMBER’S POV

“That’s the second time someone’s said that to me this week. I’m starting to find it insulting.”

“It wasn’t meant as an insult.” She shifts slightly in the bed, grimacing. “You’re right. I’ve been bleeding for

about four hours now.”

The casual admission steals my breath.

“Four hours. You waited four hours to get help. You could have died.”

“But I didn’t.” Her smile is sharp despite the pallor. “And now I have something you need.”

Of course she does. Because Rayana Cross doesn’t do anything without an angle, not even bleeding.

“What happened?” I ask. “The real story, not whatever performance you gave Knox.”

She studies me for a long moment, weighing something. Then she settles back against the pillows like

she’s preparing to tell a story.

“I couldn’t sleep earlier. Cancer does that sometimes, makes rest impossible even when you’re exhausted.

Her voice has lost its theatrical edge, gone flat and factual. “I was walking the halls around midnight.

Restless. I had no interest in the tasteless sex party. I was hoping to catch Knox alone… Maybe talk to

someone familiar. Then I saw someone entering this penthouse.”

My pulse kicks up. “Someone broke in?”

“Someone with a keycard, actually. Which means they either stole one or had inside access.” She pauses, watching my reaction. “I should have reported it immediately. Probably should have called security. But I

was curious. So I followed them inside.”

“That was stupid.”

“Hmm, perhaps.” She muses without heat. “But I’m dying, Ember. I have maybe a few months left if the cancer doesn’t accelerate. I wanted to know what was so important about Knox’s private space that

someone would risk breaking into the Lycan King’s penthouse during a Summit.”

“What were they looking for?”

“I don’t know. I hid in the hallway and watched them go straight for his office. They knew exactly where

they were going. Picked the lock on his safe like they’d practiced. Then went through his files with

purpose.” She shifts again, pain flickering across her face. “They were looking for something specific. I could hear them getting frustrated when they couldn’t find it.”

“How long were they here?”

“Maybe twenty minutes. Then they started heading back toward the entrance and I realized I’d positioned myself right in their path.” Another bitter smile. “Amateur mistake. They saw me. I saw the knife. And then I

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CHAPTER CLEVER GIRL

felt it Twice. Quick and an absolute fucker.”

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I’m having trouble processing this. Someone broke into Knox’s penthouse. Someone who knew exactly

where his office was, how to crack his safe, what files to search. Someone who was willing to stab a

witness rather than let themselves be identified.

“You should have screamed. You should have called for help immediately.”

“I did something better.” Rayana’s eyes are bright now despite the pain. “I followed them.”

“You followed them. While bleeding from stab wounds.”

“I’m dying anyway,” she says simply. “What’s a few hours less? I followed them to the service entrance. I

watched them get into a black SUV with tinted windows. And I got their license plate number.”

The room spins slightly. She followed her attacker while bleeding. Got information. And then waited hours

to trade it for leverage.

But something clicks into place as she speaks. The door.

Knox said it was locked, and he’s religious about security. But Rayana said it was already open when she

got there.

“The intruder,” I say slowly, piecing it together. “They left the door open when they went after you. They

were in a hurry to catch you before you could run, and they didn’t bother securing the penthouse behind

them.”

Rayana’s eyebrows lift slightly. “Clever girl.”

“That’s why the door was unlocked when you crawled back. They left it open during the chase.”

“Gold star for Ember.” She winces as she shifts position. “Yes. They stabbed me in the stairwell, thought I

was down for good, and fled. They didn’t bother going back to lock up after themselves. Sloppy, really.

Amateurs.”

I stare at her, processing. It fits. It all fits.

Except for one thing.

“How do I know you’re not lying?”

Her eyes sharpen. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” I cross my arms, studying her pale face. “How do I know you didn’t stab yourself for attention? Wouldn’t be the most dramatic thing you’ve done to get Knox’s eyes on you. You show up at this Summit unwanted, play the dying ex–girlfriend card at every opportunity, manipulate your way into every room he’s in. And now suddenly you’re bleeding on his floor with a convenient story about intruders and license plates?”

Something flickers across her face. Surprise, maybe. Or grudging respect.

CCHAPTER CLEVER GIRL

“You think i stabbed myself. Twice. In the abdomen. For attention.”

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“think you’d do almost anything to matter to him again.” I don’t flinch from her gaze. “So yes. I’m asking. Why should I believe a single word out of your mouth when you’re the most unreliable person I’ve ever met? When you don’t even bother hiding how badly you want him back?”

The silence stretches between us. The heart monitor beeps steadily. Rayana’s expression cycles through

something complicated before settling into something almost like respect.

“Fair,” she says finally. “That’s fair. I am manipulative. I am desperate. And I do want Knox, even though I

know I can’t have him.” She pauses, her voice losing its theatrical edge. “But I’m also dying. And dying has a way of clarifying what actually matters.”

She meets my eyes directly.

“I didn’t stab myself. I couldn’t have reached the angle on the second wound even if I wanted to. And I

have nothing to gain from lying to you about intruders when the truth is far more useful as leverage.” A

ghost of her sharp smile returns. “Think about it, Ember. If I wanted Knox’s attention, there are easier ways than bleeding out on cold marble for four hours hoping someone would find me before I actually died.”

I want to argue. I want to poke holes in her logic. But she’s right. The wounds, the timing, the license plate

she has no reason to fabricate.

She’s telling the truth. Or at least, enough of it to matter.

“Fine,” I say. “Why didn’t you go straight to security with this?”

“Because security would have taken the information and sidelined me completely. They’d have put me in the medical wing under guard and kept me away from everything important.” She meets my eyes directly.” I got a better idea instead. A trade that gives everyone involved what they want.”

“And what is that?”

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