Chapter 158

158 Sleeping Beauty

Lucian

I slipped into bed that night with a rare sense of hope curling in my chest. For the first time in weeks, it felt like we were inching closer to the truth.

Our investigation into my mother’s death had taken a subtle but promising turn, and while my father remained unaware, I knew I had to keep it that way-at least for now. Too much was at stake, and trust was a currency I couldn’t spend lightly.

One thing was certain: I’d be heading to Neev sooner than anticipated. Richard’s presence there made the perfect cover- my father wouldn’t suspect a thing. As far as he was concerned, I was still in the dark about his mysterious trip with my

mother.

When I got to the bedroom, Mara was already asleep. Typical of her, she hadn’t bothered to cover herself properly. The joggers were tossed aside, leaving her curled up in just my sweater and her panties. Some habits never changed. And this -this careless comfort-was one of the many things I loved about her.