Flash Marriage: In His Eyes-Chapter 301: Innocence

–Lore–

When I reached the Nest, Livana was already there—Sky sprawled across her lap as she issued commands with surgical calm. The command center smelled of ozone and warm circuitry, screens casting sharp blue light across her face.

I glanced up at the loft.

Aunt Ines was already there too, sleeves rolled up, fingers flying across multiple consoles like a conductor commanding an orchestra of war.

"Send Bishop White," Livana said, her voice cold and deliberate.

I slid into my chair and took control, the familiar hum of the interface syncing instantly with my pulse.

"Dabu."

Sky pointed at the screen.

I followed where his tiny finger landed.

I don’t know if he’s a genius—or if the universe just has a twisted sense of humor—but the spot he pointed to was the exact breach point. The hole where our people had removed the drive and discarded it during the evacuation.

And then I saw him.

A man who hadn’t followed the others into the panic room.

He stayed behind.

My spine stiffened.

"Liva," I said, pointing at the armed man on-screen.

"What is he doing?" Livana murmured.

She initiated evacuation protocols.

I canceled them.

The man looked straight into the hidden camera and began to sign.

Yes—he was mute.

And his signs were precise. Clean. Controlled.

My Queen, I’m sorry.

There is a mole in my team.

I am one of them.

The room went dead silent.

We watched as he slid a black drive into the opening—identical to the others, except for one detail.

A Pokémon sticker.

Mr. Mime.

The same character printed on the shirt he was wearing.

He closed the panel, the wall sealing perfectly—no trace, no scar, flawless camouflage.

Livana immediately covered Sky’s eyes.

"Stop!" I shouted, half-rising from my chair. "Don’t do it!"

He didn’t hesitate.

The gun lifted.

One second.

And then—

Gone.

I swallowed hard.

I looked at Livana.

She didn’t flinch. Her face remained composed, eyes frozen over like steel beneath ice. A Queen in mourning—but still a Queen.

She continued issuing commands.

Never, in all my operations, had someone taken their own life.

"Retrieve that drive," Livana said. Her voice wavered just slightly—barely—but I heard it.

"I’m sending Ox," Aunt Ines said from the loft. "He’ll retrieve the data."

"Mama..." Sky looked up at Livana.

She turned to me. "Lore, can you take Sky upstairs, please?"

I removed my headset.

She kissed Sky’s head gently. "Go with your uncle, okay? It’s very late, my love."

His lips trembled, but he wrapped his arms around my neck and waved back at her.

"Bye-bye..."

I carried him to the elevator, the Nest suddenly feeling colder, heavier.

When I reached my room, Alyssa was there—pacing, restless. Kai hovered nearby with nowhere else to go.

"What’s going on?" she asked as I passed Sky to her.

"It’s just a mess," I said quietly. I didn’t want her to see it. Didn’t want that image in her head. "You’re not allowed downstairs, Aly. Please... take care of Sky."

She nodded immediately.

I went back down.

Alyssa couldn’t follow anyway—code access, facial recognition, handprint clearance. Triple-locked. Absolute.

Damon was already there, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the rapidly flashing screens.

Above us, Aunt Ines continued barking orders from the loft.

I collapsed into my chair and stared at the footage as SWAT secured the area and verified the man’s identity.

Meanwhile, I tracked the drives.

They were moving.

"Ox is nearby," Aunt Ines said. "Two hundred seconds out."

"Lore," Livana said coolly. "Get it together."

I slid my headset back on.

I initiated self-destruct protocols on each compromised CPU.

Then I pulled the man’s file.

No parents.

No living relatives.

Only a little sister—dead from illness years ago.

We had funded them. Protected them. Provided everything.

And yet—

There was a flaw.

This wasn’t panic.

This was planned.

That drive... it wasn’t just data. It was evidence. A list. Every mole inside the Empire, secretly recorded.

He had been loyal. To Livana. To the Empire.

But he was trapped—walking a tightrope between threats and duty.

We sat in silence for thirty minutes after the drives and operators were secured.

All of them... except one.

The one we were grieving.

–Damon–

Watching my wife remain silent the whole day made my heart ache. That was how she grieved—quiet, restrained, devastating. That mute operator still chose to save the Empire, even after betraying his Queen.

"Mama," Sky mumbled, already missing his mother.

"I know you’re sad," I whispered, brushing my lips against his hair. "How about we go to the grocery?"

"More foodie?" he asked, his gem-like eyes glowing with expectation.

"Yes."

I took him to the pantry. Nearly empty. Jane soon arrived with a list of things to buy. The twins already had their small backpacks on.

"Car!" Zayvier tugged at my shirt. "Car, Dada!"

"Got it." I put Sky down, and he ran to Jane happily while she adjusted his adorable backpack.

"Diapers, towel, water," Jane rechecked. "Extra pants and shirt. You’re good to go."

"Yay!" Sky jumped, then quickly ran back to me, raising his arms.

I carried him to our bedroom. My wife was asleep. I laid him gently on the bed as he crawled fast and pressed a kiss to his mother’s cheek.

"Bye-bye, Mama."

I bent closer and kissed Livana’s lips—soft, familiar, mine.

"We’ll be going out to fill the pantry," I murmured.

"Mmm," she nodded sleepily and kissed Sky.

I picked him up and headed outside. The twins were already waiting. I squatted down; Zayvier climbed onto my back while I lifted Zendaya into my other arm as we made our way downstairs.

The trio giggled nonstop. When we reached the ground floor, I squatted again. Zayvier slid off my back, and I set Zendaya down.

"We’re going shopping! This is exciting!" Laura exclaimed.

"Yay!" The twins jumped while Sky clapped his hands.

Out front, a van was already waiting, followed by an SUV. I secured Sky in his seat first. Jane sat beside him.

We reached one of the largest grocery centers near the mansion. I placed Sky in the trolley while the twins held their mother’s hands. Damien walked beside me.

"Laura’s birthday is coming up," he whispered.

"So is yours," I muttered.

"It’s not important," he said dismissively. "Hers is."

"Alright," I said. "Let’s go out of the country. I bought her a rare bag. I want to pick it up personally."

"Where?"

"Paris."

"Okay." I nodded. I’ll need to find her a gift too. And Damien—he deserved something refined.

"Mommy!" Zendaya tugged at Laura as they walked ahead. "Wow, Mommy!" She pointed at a bear-shaped jar filled with chocolates. "Mommy!" She clenched Laura’s hand with adorable aggression.

"Adorable," I muttered. "If you and Laura ever have another baby girl, I’m adopting one."

"No way!" Damien shook his head. "But don’t worry. If anything ever happens to us, you two are their immediate guardians."

"Dada! Daddy!" Sky pointed at a large display of fish-shaped cookies. "Pish! Yummy!"

I reached for the packet. Inside were individually wrapped fish-shaped treats. Sky clutched it, eyes wide with delight.

The children grew more ecstatic—like they’d been released from a cage. Sky stayed put, but the twins? Damien was already chasing Zayvier, who dashed ahead with alarming speed.

"Jane!" Sky called loudly.

Jane turned her head, pausing mid-check of nutrition labels. I froze. He’d said her name—clearly.

"What’s her name again?" I asked, pointing at Jane.

"Jane!" He flashed his tiny white teeth at me.

"You’re right," I nodded, pride settling deep in my chest.

We moved through the aisles, the twins closely followed by bodyguards and their parents.

At checkout, Damien and Jane handled the payment. We settled at the food court. Sky ate happily while the twins stood near the frozen yogurt stall with their parents.

"Hello!" Sky chirped.

I turned. A little boy—around the twins’ age—was staring at him intently.

"Purple," the boy said, pointing at Sky’s eyes, before his nanny gently tugged him back.

Sky, ever generous, offered him one of his snack boxes.

"Thank you," the boy said, then looked up at me. "Why are his eyes purple?"

I smiled. "Genetics. His mom had purple eyes."

"Leally?" His eyes widened as he scooted closer to Sky, sitting beside him and staring openly.

I noticed the necklace around the boy’s neck. Familiar.

"Wow," he murmured.

"You play?" He pulled out a small car—likely a limited-edition Hot Wheels. "Car."

He produced another, and soon Sky was playing with him. The nanny smiled at me. I returned it, noting the bodyguard standing nearby.

Soon, the twins arrived. Zayvier stared at the boy—almost his height, just an inch shorter.

"Oh, Sky already found a friend," Laura said as she sat down. When Damien joined her, she draped her legs over his lap.

"What’s your name, handsome?" Laura asked the boy, studying his eyes.

"Andro," he replied. He pointed at her. "Pretty!" Then at Zendaya. "Wow, pretty."

"This boy has good taste," Damien said proudly, brushing Zendaya’s hair. "Sorry, buddy. My daughter can’t have a boyfriend. Not until she’s fifty."

I chuckled and shook my head.

The children began chatting, trading toys—Sky mostly traded snacks. Essentials always came first.

Damien leaned closer to me.

"Tyrona’s son," he whispered.

I nodded. The child hadn’t done anything wrong. He was innocent. Friendly.

And he looked genuinely happy playing with our three.

It would all depend on how Tyrona chose to shape him. But right now—here with us—I had the quiet, unsettling thought that he’d never really had friends before.

And for a moment, I watched him closely.