Flash Marriage: In His Eyes

Chapter 357: An End to a New Start

–Livana–

Kelly’s body was delivered to the funeral home, David overseeing every detail with quiet devotion. She had no family, but she had us. A single bullet had claimed her life, piercing her forehead, yet they ensured she looked serene—almost beautiful, as though death had softened into sleep.

David did not cry. Instead, he stared at her face for so long, as if memorizing every line, every curve, as though he feared forgetting her. It was her face, her body, her silence. I could not linger there; the air was heavy, and I am pregnant. David insisted on staying, though Lore said David had endured sleepless nights.

My heart ached for him. He had fallen in love with someone who would never return love to anyone. A cruel fate, and I sighed, feeling the weight of sorrow for my brother-in-law.

Lore, restless as ever, pressed me for permission to leak Kelly’s information. But I could not. I would not breach that trust. Still, I had my ways. When our eyes met, I raised my brows.

"Oh," he grinned knowingly, reading my thoughts. "Anyway, talk to you later."

He pulled on a balaclava, the kind that made him look like a thief about to rob a bank. I arched a brow, amused, and then Alyssa appeared in her yoga pants and sports bra, her skin glowing with exertion.

I tilted my head as Lore brandished a paint gun.

"Oh, you two are playing cat-and-mouse?" I asked.

Alyssa smirked. "Exactly."

Lore laughed. "We haven’t run in a while. Alyssa needs practice—running for her life."

He tugged the balaclava over his face, absurd and endearing.

"Babe! Five minutes head start!" he shouted.

"Got it!" she replied, already poised to sprint.

A strange, adorable couple.

"Hold her," Deanne said softly, placing Aelia in my arms. She was three months old now, perhaps more, her tiny coos rising like music as she gazed up at me.

That was when Jane arrived with Logan.

"All is clear," she announced. I smiled at her, warmth threading through my voice.

"Then you and your husband may take months off if you wish. I’ll call you if emergencies arise."

"I’m fine~ I don’t need a break~~" Jane sang lightly.

"Thank you, Liva!" Logan chimed in, already dragging a suitcase. Before Jane could protest, he scooped her into his arms, carrying her effortlessly.

"Jane!" Sky cried, running toward her.

"Sky!" she called back,reaching out, looking a little dramatic.

"Bye, Sky," Logan said as my son stopped to wave, like he understood

"Put me down!" Jane hissed, wriggling, while I laughed, joy swelling in me.

I had not felt so happy in a long time. Yet even in joy, my thoughts turned to my mother. I must visit her. She had not touched my father, nor Carrie, nor Casey. But she had released her in-laws from confinement, returning them to the old mansion.

*****

In the afternoon, I prepared to visit my father and stepmother. My husband was consumed by business, and my little Sky had been trailing me like a shadow. Yet I could not bring him along.

"Mama, where are you going?" my one-year-old asked, his voice trembling with tears, still sweet and melodic.

"Baby, I need to take care of something," I whispered, kissing his soft head.

"No!" He shook his head fiercely, his tiny forefinger wagging in protest.

"I’ll take you to Dada, alright?" I soothed, wiping his tears. I dressed him carefully, packing his small backpack with wipes, diapers, milk, snacks, and towels. My armor was a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, shielding me from the world.

Outside, our car awaited, flanked by two large bikes and another vehicle as escort. We drove into the city, toward the Blackwell Group of Companies. Security guards met us, their presence sharp and disciplined, while Sky clung to my hand, running to match my stride. He giggled, waving at everyone.

"Hi!" he chirped, like a tiny celebrity basking in adoration.

We ascended to the 21st floor, where the conference room buzzed with tension. David’s assistant opened the door, interrupting the meeting.

"Dada!" Sky shouted, his voice piercing through the air.

Damon excused himself, approaching us. We remained outside, careful not to intrude.

"Take care of him. I have something urgent," I said firmly.

"Where are you going?" he asked, lifting Sky into his arms.

"I need to meet my stepmother," I smirked, kissing Sky’s cheeks, then his lips.

Damon’s hand traced my curves, protective yet possessive.

"Message me every hour," he ordered.

I arched a brow, sliding off my sunglasses.

"What did you say?"

"I need to make sure you’re safe. You heard me." He kissed my forehead. "Get back home ASAP."

This man—always trying to control me.

"I’ll try," I smirked. "Bye, baby." I waved, Sky waving back.

"Bye, Mama, I wav you!"

"I love you too."

Descending, I left two bodyguards stationed outside for Sky.

"Liv?" my father-in-law called. I smiled, embraced him, his kiss landing on my temple beneath my hat.

"What are you doing here?"

"Sky is in the conference room with his dad."

"Got it," he laughed. "Take care."

"Bye, Dad."

Outside, the car waited. I slipped inside, phone in hand.

Mom:I’m ending it now. But I feel bad for Carrie though.

I chuckled. No, she did not feel bad for Carrie.

Livana:Mom, ending her?

Mom:I’m kidding. Let’s escort her to a facility then.

Livana:Got it. Be there in thirty.

My thoughts drifted to Casey. She had always provoked my mother’s fury. This time, she would be sent back to prison—a harsher one, where freedom was a dream and death might seem kinder. As for her lover, my mother had other plans.

At the facility, I entered the room where Casey was kept apart from Carrie. My mother was already there. Casey’s eyes widened.

"Ines?" she whispered.

"Hello, half-sister," my mother smirked. "I’m here to collect debts."

I leaned against the doorframe, watching as Casey laughed, madness spilling from her lips. My mother seized her chin, glaring down.

"Do you know that Dad hates you? He wanted to kill you himself." Her laughter was sharp, tyrannical, chilling.

"You’re lying!" Casey spat.

"Grandpa is on his way," I said, tilting my head. "I pity you, Carrie. Even your husband despises you now."

"Liva, baby," my mother said smoothly. "Bring her lover here. And your father too."

"Sure."

I commanded the men outside. Soon, Casey’s lover was dragged in, bruised, bloodied. Casey’s eyes widened in horror.

"Isn’t he Carrie’s biological father?" I asked.

"Yes," my mother replied.

My father’s eyes blazed.

"You bitch!" he roared, striking Casey. My mother watched, entertained. I too was entertained—though beneath it, I felt the weight of power shifting.

My mother stepped out as masked men entered, locking the door.

"Kill that bastard," she ordered, pointing at Casey’s lover. Screams erupted.

"I’m starving," I murmured. My mother placed her hand on my shoulder, guiding me upstairs. Commander Rhys was in the conference room, eating while working. We joined her. Mom stopped her from rising, and we sat. I pulled out fried chicken dusted with parmesan, wiped my hands with wet wipes, slipped on plastic covers, and ate, ignoring the storm around me.

Mom discussed Kelly’s retirement. Acres of land, not here but in Greenland—secluded, hers alone. Half a million euros each month as allowance.

"By the way, your brother-in-law keeps trying to access her file," Rhys said.

"Yeah, I dealt with that," I chuckled. "I removed his access from the Nest."

"He’s desperate," Rhys muttered. "He could take other files, but he insists on Kelly’s."

"Hmm," I hummed, savoring the chicken. Lore encrypted her files so deeply that even I cannot access them. David insists, but we cannot. Kelly would kill us.

It is almost amusing. Kelly would hunt us if we dared. And perhaps, I would welcome that chase. But for now, Greenland remains our sanctuary, our empire of retirement.

"Oh, by the way, Blackwell will open a new branch. My husband will be sending people~~"

"Shit," Rhys cursed, turning to her laptop. "David is trying to override our system with his personal laptop. He did not bother diverting his IP address."

I laughed. I never expected David to go that far. But he is clever, relentless—that is why he is CEO of the Blackwell Empire.

And now, I know: I cannot keep Kelly from him anymore.

I continued eating the chicken, its crisp parmesan crust melting into savory warmth, telling Rhys it was fine. She kept her eyes on the monitor, tracking David’s relentless attempts to override Lore’s system. I imagined Lore still running across the acres of the Blackwell Compound, chasing his fiancée in whatever strange game they played—love turned into pursuit, devotion disguised as sport.

My gaze shifted to the monitor. There, my grandfather entered Casey’s prison cell. She called out for Reagan, her voice breaking, begging, kneeling. She could not walk—her body still broken from the injury my mother had inflicted two years ago. She clung to Grandpa’s leg, desperate, but he kicked her across the face, cursing her name.

Her cries filled the room—agony, sorrow, the sound of a soul unraveling. She was finished. Done. Not even her father could shield her now, not after what she had done to my mother, to me, and to Laura.

The air felt heavy, thick with despair and justice intertwined. I chewed slowly, tasting the salt and oil of the chicken, while watching her collapse into ruin. In that moment, I knew: her empire of deceit had crumbled, and no one—not blood, not love, not lineage—would save her.