Chapter 297

Serena's POV

"Are you two putting on some tragic love story for my benefit?" Rachel's voice dripped with venom as she glared at me, her nails digging into Lucas's arm. "It's truly touching. Really."

I met her gaze without flinching. "You have no reason to refuse my offer."

A cold laugh escaped her lips as she shook her head. "If you hadn't come into the picture, Lucas and I would never have reached this point. My family wouldn't have fallen so far!" The pain in her voice was real, raw beneath the hatred.

I took a deliberate step forward, watching how her bodyguards tensed. "Then let Lucas go. Take me instead. I'll die with you."

The words left my lips with a certainty. In that moment, I realized I meant every word. For Lucas Harrington, I would sacrifice everything. The man who had slowly, persistently broken through every wall I'd built around my heart.

Rachel's eyes widened, genuine shock flashing across her face before it was replaced by something darker. "No. That's not what I want."

"Why not?" I challenged, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at my insides.

"Because," she said, tightening her grip on Lucas, "I want you to watch him die. I want you to live with that guilt for the rest of your miserable life."

I felt a chill run down my spine. I needed to change tactics.

"You overestimate my capacity for loyalty," I said coolly, watching her reaction. "It took me less than a year to get over Ian. Do you really think my faithfulness to any man runs that deep?"

The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. What Lucas and I shared was nothing like the shallow connection I'd had with Ian. Lucas had seen me at my worst, when my own family had turned against me. He'd stood by me when no one else would.

"Ian?" Rachel scoffed, her lip curling in disgust. "How dare you compare that weak man to Lucas Harrington! They're not even in the same league."

I'd struck a nerve.

"You know what?" Rachel continued, her voice growing more unhinged. "I originally planned to rig this place with explosives. We would all go out together in one glorious blaze."

"But I didn't have time," Rachel added, almost regretfully. "I was being watched too closely." She straightened, a smug smile playing at her lips. "Otherwise, none of you would stand a chance against me."

The bodyguards shifted uncomfortably. I could see sweat beading on their foreheads.

I took another step forward. "I'm the one you hate. I'm the one who ruined everything. Killing me would be your ultimate revenge against Lucas."

"Then why are you so eager to trade places with him?" she demanded, suspicion clouding her features.

I swallowed hard, deciding to give her the truth. "Because this situation began with me. I should be the one to face the consequences."

Her eyes narrowed, trying to find the lie in my words, but there was none.

I turned my attention to Lucas, my voice softening despite my best efforts to remain detached. "If I can't change anything in the end, Lucas, don't blame me."

His gray eyes-those eyes that had looked at me with such coldness when we first met, now filled with something so much deeper-held mine. "I don't blame you," he said quietly. "Just stay alive. That's enough for me."

My nose stung with unshed tears. Even now, facing death, his only concern was for me. The weight of his love pressed against my chest, making it hard to breathe.

"Enough!" Rachel shouted, her composure finally cracking. She pointed her gun at Lucas's temple, her hand trembling slightly. "I'm sick of this display!"

I couldn't look away from Lucas. The man who had helped me rebuild my life after Ian's betrayal. The man who had shown me what real love looked like.

And now I might lose him forever.

I felt a tear slide down my cheek, betraying the emotion I'd tried so hard to contain. "Please," I whispered, no longer caring about strategy or pride. "Take me instead."

For a moment, something flickered in Rachel's eyes-perhaps recognition of the genuine desperation in my voice. But then her face hardened once more.

"I said ENOUGH!"

Rachel's POV

I couldn't take it anymore. The way they looked at each other, as if the world around them had disappeared into nothing. Their eyes spoke volumes-filled with love, longing, and silent promises that cut through me like shards of glass. Every second I watched them felt like an eternity of torture.

"Enough!" I screamed, my voice bouncing off the concrete walls of the abandoned factory.

My outburst shattered their intimate moment. Lucas turned to face me, his gray eyes darkening with concern rather than fear. Even now, he looked at me with pity instead of love. That hurt worse than anything else.

For years, I had stood in his shadow. Rachel Thorne-always present, always loyal, always there when he needed someone. I had convinced myself that someday he would see me, truly see me. That one day, he would look at me the way he looked at Serena.

"I know what you're thinking," I spat at Serena, my voice trembling with rage and resentment. "You think you can use reverse psychology to make me let Lucas go? To choose death alongside you?" I let out a bitter laugh that sounded foreign even to my own ears. "I'm telling you, it's impossible!"

My fingers tightened around the small handgun I'd been gripping. My security team stood behind me, their weapons trained on both Lucas and Serena.

"No matter what happens..." My voice dropped to an almost feverish whisper. "I will never let Lucas go. Never. Yes, I will never let him go in this lifetime! Even if it means death, I will have him!"

The words hung in the stale air of the factory. I watched Lucas's expression shift subtly. A fleeting look of relief crossed his features-not for himself. He now understood my true intentions. My obsession was with Lucas alone.

He turned to Serena, who had begun to sob quietly. Her perfect face was streaked with tears, those same tears that somehow made her look even more stupid.

"Serena, don't cry," Lucas said, his voice low and tender. "This is the best outcome."

"Remember what I told you when I arrived? Take care of yourself. Take care of kids. Then, forget about me. Find a man you like and who likes you. Live well."

Each word was a knife in my heart. Even now, facing death, his thoughts were of her happiness, her future.

"Are you finished?" I asked coldly, my voice barely concealing the storm of emotions inside me.

Lucas lowered his head slightly. "I'm finished."

"Then come with me." I moved to his side, my security guard pressing his gun firmly against Lucas's temple.

As we began walking toward the back exit, memories flooded my mind. Sweet, painful memories of all the times I'd tried to make him notice me.

"Do you remember when I told you how much I love the ocean?" I asked, my voice taking on an almost dreamlike quality.

Lucas remained silent, his jaw tense.

"You probably don't remember," I continued, a bitter smile playing on my lips. "You only remember your promises to Serena. How could you possibly remember anything I ever said to you?"

We reached the back door, the cool night air hitting my face. It felt cleansing somehow, as if washing away years of pretense and unrequited longing.

"But it doesn't matter anymore," I said, more to myself than to him. "In the end, we'll be together forever, living in the ocean depths!"

I heard hurried footsteps behind us. Serena was following, desperately trying to reach Lucas one last time.

"Don't follow us!" I shrieked, my composure finally breaking completely. The thought of her intruding on our final moments together was unbearable.

I turned to face her, my vision blurred with tears of fury and desperation. "Stop interfering with Lucas and me! You don't deserve him, Serena! Get out of here! GET OUT!"