Flash Marriage: In His Eyes-Chapter 287: The Manipulator

–Livana–

I sipped my wine slowly, letting the glass linger against my lips, savoring not just the taste but the stillness it demanded from me. The crystal was cool, smooth—grounding. Around me, the staff moved with rehearsed precision, every step measured, every breath controlled. I watched them the way a hawk watches the ground: calm, detached, yet ready to strike at the slightest disruption. One wrong movement—just one—and I would notice. I always did.

My gaze flicked briefly toward Louie, who stood a short distance away, posture relaxed yet eyes razor-sharp. We didn’t need to exchange words. The air between us was already thick with understanding, a silent agreement forged through years of blood, loyalty, and strategy.

No one gets closer to the babies.

That was the rule carved into stone tonight.

Every entrance was fortified with X-ray sensors, layered surveillance, and biometric scans. Anyone who came in or out was recorded, logged, and dissected into data points. This wasn’t paranoia—it was love, sharpened into vigilance.

The party flowed on seamlessly, music weaving through laughter and clinking glasses. I watched as the eighteen candles flickered, their flames trembling as if aware of the weight this age carried. A few speeches followed. Gina took her time, her voice warm and emotional, as Alyssa’s only best friend. She spoke with sincerity, the kind that doesn’t need embellishment, and I allowed myself a small smile.

Then came the messages from her mother and father. Their words were followed by action—as it should be. A commercial building, already alive with tenants, already profitable. The funds had been transferred seamlessly into Alyssa’s accounts, clean and efficient. No loose ends.

More gifts followed. Her mother presented her with a property—another anchor, another layer of security. Damon delivered my gift on my behalf: a pair of shoes and a bag, elegant and understated, tailored to Alyssa’s taste. Then came his personal gift—a car. I noted the way Alyssa’s eyes lit up, joy spilling freely.

David followed with a penthouse in Paris.

Expensive gifts. Strategic ones.

Each asset quietly whispered the same message: You are protected. You are powerful.

She was radiant—truly happy—and that was the point.

Lore was the last to present his gift. A small metal box, cold and unassuming, with a timer embedded into its surface. Alyssa pouted immediately, clearly offended by its stubborn refusal to open. Lore only laughed, that careless, infuriating laugh of his.

That boy—always simple on the surface. Loudly declaring he was too young to marry, as if youth ever stopped men like us from making dangerous choices.

But Aly was no longer a minor. And Lore was already twenty.

Time had quietly removed its excuses.

My attention shifted sharply to another monitor. I raised a finger, pointing at a maid who slipped through a side exit with far too much urgency.

"It’s not one of ours," I said calmly.

Francis nodded once, already tapping his device. Efficient. Loyal.

We traced her origin within seconds and intercepted a single tray of soup before it reached the floor. Chef Wally had prepared everything with obsessive care, his pride evident in every garnish. My mother and Jane had assisted alongside our Chef Agents—Pawns trained not just to cook, but to detect. We replaced the soups methodically and ran forensic checks on several other items.

No food poisoning tonight.

I exhaled softly, crossing my arms as the tension eased by a fraction. My fingers brushed the earpiece connecting me to all Nests, each one awaiting my command. This party would proceed flawlessly. I would allow no chaos—no fear—to touch this night.

With a few precise commands, the board adjusted itself. My pieces moved exactly where they needed to be.

I looked back toward the celebration. Alyssa was curled up with the twins and Sky, laughter spilling freely as cameras flashed. Love wrapped around them like armor. Then the lights dimmed, music shifting into something livelier, and I moved closer to the large screen.

Damon, David, and Alyssa stood at the center of the dance floor.

Alyssa’s gown transformed into a mini dress, elegant yet playful. The trio launched into choreography—modern, energetic, unrestrained. And my husband... my husband looked adorable, trying his best to keep up. He laughed openly, smiling without restraint, moving without the weight he usually carried.

He looked cheerful.

Younger.

Not the dangerous, composed, devastatingly sexy man the world feared—but something softer, brighter. Still powerful. Still mine.

I realized then that I hadn’t seen him like this before. He was always controlled, always sharp-edged. Seeing him like this—unguarded—stirred something warm and possessive in my chest.

I watched until the music faded and my sister-in-law stepped forward, microphone in hand. She giggled, lifting her foot to show the customized sneakers I had gifted her.

"So, these shoes are the only ones in the world," she said, voice trembling slightly. "My sister-in-law customized them just for me."

Her lips wobbled. Tears followed.

"I love her so much," she continued. "And I hope you also love this dance—along with your ever-so-serious husband."

Damon chuckled, and then the twins and Sky ran toward them, laughter erupting as the music resumed. Alyssa wiped her tears, still dancing.

"I love you, Liva!" she called out.

"I love you too," I murmured, the words meant for no one else but her.

I wanted to be there—among them. But I stayed where I was. Watching. Protecting.

The party carried on beautifully. Dancing. Food. Games. Laughter layered upon laughter.

Lore caught my attention again. He sat in a corner with Chef Wally, eating far more than necessary, undoubtedly praising yet another dish. Sky, exhausted from joy, drifted toward him and climbed effortlessly into his lap. Jane followed with special food just for my son.

My adorable Sky.

"You really can’t go there?" Francis asked quietly beside me.

"I want to," I admitted.

He nodded once. "I’ll find the one who leaked your info."

His tone was firm—promise-like.

"It’s fine, really," I chuckled softly.

They had no idea.

None of them did.

It was Lore who leaked it.

–Lore–

I honestly didn’t expect the adults to out-party the kids.

Apparently, the twins’ parents had an early-morning meeting, so once the twins were zipped into their bear pajamas—ears, tails, the whole adorable payload—they were deployed straight to my room like unattended packets on an unsecured network.

But not just them.

Sky too.

They immediately initiated a coordinated mutiny and insisted on going to Alyssa’s room.

So, like the responsible sysadmin I am, I escorted the entire chaos cluster down the hall, knocked once, then opened the door.

The kids flooded in. Choco followed like a watchdog daemon.

The room was slightly messy—controlled chaos. Alyssa sat in the middle of it all, unboxing gifts like it was Christmas morning on fast-forward.

I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe, just observing. Monitoring. Logging everything.

The kids screamed and rushed her all at once.

Alyssa gasped, eyes darting around.

"Lore!" she hissed.

She was still wearing the tiara. Makeup slightly smudged. Mini gown wrinkled from joy and exhaustion.

I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo.

Evidence.

She looked adorable. Criminally so. Honestly, all of them did.

"Wow, Tata!" Zayvier clapped his hands. "More gifts!"

Alyssa laughed. "On Christmas, you’ll have even more gifts too."

Zayvier immediately hugged her neck like he was afraid she might log out of existence.

That’s when I noticed Choco.

He was sniffing a box by the bedside table.

Growling.

Low. Warning-level.

I tilted my head. Red flag. Unauthorized object detected.

"Lore," Alyssa said, pointing. "Can you help me with that gift?"

The same box.

The only one not on the table.

"That’s weird," I muttered. "Did you put it there?"

"No."

I picked it up. Heavy. Density didn’t match the declared contents.

She pulled the pink ribbon, frowned.

"Why does it smell funny?"

The lid opened.

White.

Still.

Dead.

Everything froze.

She screamed and shoved the box away, scrambling up as she pulled Zayvier back.

"Tita?" Sky called.

I snapped the lid shut instantly. Hard reset.

I looked at Alyssa—shaking, pale, eyes unfocused.

"That cat—" she pointed.

"Hey," I said calmly. Too calmly. "Hold the kids, okay?"

She nodded, already moving.

"It’s dead?" Zendaya whispered. Her lip trembled. Then she screamed and clung to Alyssa.

"I’ve got it," I said. "Go to my room."

She didn’t argue. She grabbed the kids and moved.

I took the box downstairs.

Straight to the game room, where the adults were mid-discussion. I set it beside the pool.

Silence.

"What is it?" Laura asked. "I heard Zendaya scream."

Livana stood and approached. She opened the box.

Didn’t flinch.

"Whose cat is this?"

"It was in Alyssa’s room," I said. "One of the campus strays. She feeds it."

Those cats weren’t strays, really. Chipped. Registered. Protected. Monitored.

I glanced at Jane—frozen in Logan’s arms.

Everyone has trauma.

This kind turns people into monsters.

"Fuck," Uncle Hardin muttered.

Amiliee rushed upstairs immediately.

"We’ll investigate," Livana said, already locking eyes with Damon—who was already on his phone.

"I’ll pull the records," I muttered.

I went back upstairs. Found them on my bed. Amiliee holding Alyssa tightly.

I went straight to the bathroom and scrubbed my hands like I was erasing corrupted data.

"We’ll check all the boxes," Amiliee said softly.

"It’s fine, Mom," Alyssa murmured.

"We’ll have the dogs sniff everything," I added. "Choco flagged that one."

Amiliee nodded.

"Can they stay here for a while, Lore?" Auntie asked.

"Of course," I said. "I’ll babysit. And audit."

She kissed Alyssa’s head and left.

I pulled out my laptop—the heavy one. The one Louie and I built for situations like this.

No brand. No serials. No mercy.

Playback mode.

Timestamp analysis.

Two maids. One butler.

Gift cart.

There.

That box—top of the stack.

Misplaced? Or deliberately rerouted?

They exited quickly.

I dug deeper. Cross-referenced feeds. Pulled metadata. Ran the image through my private database.

Instant hit.

I was mid-trace when—

"Wow."

I flinched.

Alyssa stood behind me. Babies flanking me like sentries.

"So that’s how it works?" she asked.

"Yup," I said. "But you should take a bath. Gifts can wait."

"But I want to open this one now."

She placed a metal pyramid on the desk.

"How do I open it?"

I grinned. "No idea. Hack it."

She groaned. The babies copied her perfectly and followed her out.

I laughed.

"I don’t want to go back to my room," she muttered. "Can I borrow your clothes?"

My brain blue-screened.

Borrow my clothes?

Fatal error.

But she was already heading to the bathroom.

And I just sat there, staring at my screen—pretending my heart wasn’t doing something dangerously stupid in my chest.