Chapter 156 

Clara’s POV 

“Ah… how about wait for my order?” I snapped, shaking my head. “Damn, man.” 

He shrugged like a schoolboy who just got caught sneaking a candy bar. “She found out 

Current Moment… 

“Seriously, Marco,” I said, disappointment dripping from every syllable as I leaned against the doorframe, one hand resting casually behind my back where I held a surprise he’d never see coming. “Why did you hit her?” 

be found 

truth. 

hat was I supposed to do?” 

You’re really for nothing.” 

“Hey, take that back,” he said with a flirty smirk. “I’m good. In fact, I’m the best at cooking… and fucking.” 

I rolled my eyes and leaned further against the frame. “I’ll give you the cooking part,” I said dryly. “But the fucking part? No. Not even close.” 

He blinked. “If I ain’t… then who is?” 

A slow, wicked smile curled on my lips. “My brother.” 

His face twisted. “What?” 

“Ross Franklin,” I said, savoring the moment as memories of our time together flickered before my eyes. The sex–rough, hard, thrilling, and laced with the sweet taste of forbidden fantasy. “When it came to sex, he was the best.” 

“Wait. You fucked your brother?” Marco stumbled back half a step, confusion and disgust warring on his face.Too bad. His last emotion would be confusion and disgust. “What the actual_” 

I pulled my right arm forward and leveled the gun at him in one fluid motion. 

His eyes widened. 

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I didn’t hesitate. 

The shot hissed through the silencer, slicing the air like a whisper of vengeance–a soft, surgical bang. Right between the eyes. 

“Yes,” I replied. 

Marco collapsed in an instant, his body crumpling to the floor like a marionette with its strings cut–expression frozen in confused horror. 

And that soft, muted thud of death was more satisfying than any orgasm he ever thought he’d given me. 

Lucy’s POV 

Pain. 

It was the first thing I felt when consciousness returned. A sharp, throbbing ache pulsing at the back of my skull like a war drum. 

“Ow,” I whimpered, instinctively trying to reach for the source of pain–but my arms wouldn’t 

move. 

That’s when the panic kicked in, along with the memories. Clara. Marco. The new Queen Bee. 

I looked down. 

My wrists were tied. 

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Chapter 156 

Tightly, Bound to the arms of an old wooden chair with thick rope that burned against my skin every time I struggled. My legs were strapped too an secured to the chair’s legs. 

I was trapped. 

The room around me was unfamiliar–nothing like Clara’s apartment. The air was damp and dusty, thick with the smell of mildew and… something else. Something sharp and chemical. My eyes darted around, trying to make sense of it. 

The walls were grimy, half–covered in torn insulation. Huge stacks of ragged–looking sacks–filled with god–knows–what–were shoved into the corners like forgotten bodies. Overhead, a flickering yellow bulb buzzed relentlessly, the only source of light in the entire space. 

My heart started to race. 

“Where am I?” I whispered, my voice dry and hoarse. 

Then, a voice echoed from behind me–familiar enough to send a chill straight through my spine. 

“We’re in the basement of my apartment building.” 

I froze. 

Clara. 

She stepped slowly down the stairs and into the halo of light, her shadow trailing behind her like a dark, living cloak. She moved with an eerie calmness -too calm. Her eyes shimmered with amusement as she surveyed the dingy room, like she was giving me a personal tour of her favorite nightmare. “Isn’t it cool?” 

Her tone was light. Excited. Unbothered. Like a psychopath. 

I stared at her, unable to find words. My brain refused to believe what my eyes were seeing. 

“Oh Lucy,” she sighed. “We’re going to have so much fun down here.” 

“What the hell, Clara?” I snapped, my voice sharp with disbelief. My wrists burned against the ropes as I tried to pull free. “Who the hell are you?” I glared at her–this stranger in front of me, the girl I thought I knew. “I clearly remember I’d never even seen you before your first day at West Sterlingo High.” My eyes burned with betrayal. “So tell me… who the hell are you and why are you this to me?” 

She tilted her head and smiled wider, as if she was genuinely proud of her deeds. 

I yanked against my restraints, furious of her devilish joy. “Speak up, you bitch! Why did you tie me up? Is it because I found out that you’re the new Queen Bee? Is that it?” My voice trembled, but not with fear. With rage. “You really think kidnapping me will solve your problem? It won’t. If not today, then tomorrow—Kaiden and his team will find out the truth. And trust me,” I leaned forward as far as the rope allowed, “Kaiden will go easy on you if it’s just about the Queen Bee thing. But if he finds out you kidnapped me?” 

Inarrowed my eyes. 

“He’ll kill you.” 

Clara didn’t even flinch. 

“Yeah,” she said lightly, almost bored. “I’m gonna die anyway.” 

My brows pulled together. “What?” 

She gave me a small smile–detached, almost amused. “Oh, not literally. Just… socially. I’ll fake my death. And take your place.” 

My stomach turned. “What do you mean?” Lasked, dreading the answer. 

“I mean exactly what I said,” she replied, brushing imaginary dust off her dress. “But you won’t understand it if I just dump the master plan on you. No 

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Chapter 156 

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You need context.” Her eyes sparkled. “Yeah, that’s a great idea. So…” She clasped her hand like she wasn’t telling her villainous backstory, but a fairytale. “Let’s begin.” 

To be continued… 

AD 

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