Chapter 2
In the Boston Municipal Court.
“All rise, the bailiff commanded.
*After due consideration, the court finds the defendant not guilty of kidnapping and assault. Lira Faulkner is hereby acquired and released.”
As Lira walked out of the city jail, Xander was waiting for her, just as she had expected. Over the past week, her family had stopped by to see her. but she’d refused to meet them, and they hadn’t bothered to come back
“Are you okay?” Xander asked when he noticed her standing frozen in place. He stepped forward and raised a hand to ruffle her hair, but before he could, Lira flung her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.
His heartbeat thrummed against her cheek, strong and steady, and a lump rose in her throat.
The last time she’d held him, his heart had already stopped beating
“Uncle Xander…” she choked out.
Kander’s hand paused above her head and then settled gently. He chuckled softly. “It’s been ages since you called me that.”
Lira sniffled and looked up at him. Tm going to call you that every day from now on”
Xander was her half–brother’s uncle by blood, and she’d always called him that, too. The irony was that while her brother hated her to the point
of wishing her dead, his uncle was the only one in the world who ever truly cared for her.
In her previous life, she fell for Xander. Once she came of age, she stopped calling him “Uncle.”
Xander mistook her intense emotions for the aftershock of her ordeal. He rubbed her head soothingly and said, “You’re safe now, Lira. I promise I’ll make sure whoever set you up pays for this.”
He was certain she’d been framed, and he wasn’t about to let it slide.
But Lira had no interest in revenge this time. In her previous life, her obsession with justice had cost Xander his life and left her still unloved by
her
parents. She was exhausted.
Now that she had been given a second chance, she wasn’t going to make the same mistakes again.
This time, she wanted to live differently.
By the roadside, in a black car, a tall man lay reclined in the passenger seat. His long legs stretched over the center console, his posture relaxed, his gaze unreadable as he stared out the window.
Octavio Melendez’s voice broke the silence from the driver’s seat. “I told you, with Xander around, there’s no way Lira would end up in jail You didn’t believe me, but now you can relax, right?”
“Sure,” the man replied, his voice cool and flat. He turned his gaze away from the window and said, “Let’s go.”
Octavio hit the gas, the car gliding forward. “Where to?”
“Home.”
Octavio raised an eyebrow, surprised. “You? Home? Since when do you ever want to
back there?”
The man’s eyes drifted back to the window. After a long pause, he munered, “I need to get chewed out.”
Octavio snorted. “You’re already a major general at thirty–basically the family’s golden boy. Who’s going to Jay a hand on you?”
“I put in my resignation from the military, the man said nonchalantly.
Octavio was dumbfounded. It took him a moment to find his voice. “You did that for Lin?
The man didn’t reply, but the silence spoke volumes.
Octavio cursed under his breath. “Brent Franco, your old man’s gonna kill you.”
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4 Chapter 2
A black Maybach pulled up in front of the Faulkner family’s estate. The driver stepped out and opened the done for får
“You sure you don’t want me to go in with you? Xander asked, his voice laced with concern
Lira shook her head firmly.
In her past life, she turned to Xander for everything, and it tarnished his reputation. People criticized him for medeling in his furose brother–in–law’s family affairs.
“Uncle Xander, I’ve got this,” she said, flashing him a determined smile, Tim unstoppable now.”
Xander could tell something had changed. She seemed tougher.
He was glad she’d grown, but the thought of what it had cast her broke his heart
“Alright,” he said. “Don’t let them push you around. If you need me, just give me a call. I’ll always have your back
Unspoken was the promise: no matter how big the mess, he’d clean it up for her.
In her previous life, all her confidence came from his unwavering support
“Okay,” she replied after swallowing the lump in her throat and managing a smile. She got out of the car and stond to the leave. Only after the car disappeared did she turn and walk through the front gares.
L
