chapter 5

Chapter Five

Rules Written in Blood

I learned quickly that mornings in the mansion did not feel normal.

No laughter.

No rushing.

No sound of a family waking up.

Only quiet footsteps, distant doors closing, and the strange feeling that someone was always watching.

I sat at the long dining table, staring down at my untouched breakfast again.

Across the table sat Lucifer Armstrong, calmly reading something on his tablet while sipping coffee like he didn’t run a world that terrified people.

His presence filled the room.

Even when he wasn’t speaking.Even when he wasn’t looking at me.

“Eat,” he said without lifting his eyes.

I jumped slightly.

“I am.”

“You’re moving food around your plate.”

I sighed and took an actual bite.

“How do you notice everything?”

Now he looked at me.

“That’s why I’m still alive.”

Fair point.

A man entered the room quietly and leaned down near Lucifer, whispering something in his ear.

Lucifer’s expression didn’t change.

But the air in the room did.

Colder.“Handle it,” he said.

The man nodded and left immediately.

I swallowed.

“Was that about… business?”

Lucifer leaned back in his chair.

“That word again.”

“You prefer something else?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“Control.”

The way he said it made my stomach twist.

Before I could reply, Mara entered.

“Sir,” she said, “the security team found someone near the outer wall last night.”

My fork froze.Lucifer didn’t react right away.

“Who?” he asked.

“We’re still checking.”

His eyes moved slowly to me.

Not angry.

Not accusing.

Calculating.

“Did you tell anyone you were coming here?” he asked.

“No.”

“Friends?”

“No.”

“Online?”

“No.”

Silence stretched.My chest tightened.

“You think it’s because of me?” I whispered.

“I think,” Lucifer said calmly, “that coincidences rarely exist in my world.”

My heart started racing.

“I swear I didn’t tell anyone.”

Lucifer watched my face carefully.

Like he was reading my thoughts.

Finally, he stood.

“Finish your breakfast.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”He started walking toward the door.

“Fixing problems.”

I hated how mysterious he was.

“Lucifer,” I called before I could stop myself.

He paused.

Slowly turned.

“What?”

I hesitated.

Then said the first thing that came to mind.

“Am I safe here?”

For a moment, something dark flashed across his face.

Not anger.Something colder.

More dangerous.

He walked back toward me.

Step by step.

Until he stood right beside my chair.

Close enough that my heartbeat got stupid again.

“Divya,” he said quietly.

“Yes?”

“You are the safest person in this entire city.”

I blinked.

“Why?”

His voice dropped lower.

“Because anyone who touches you…”

His eyes hardened.

“…touches what belongs to me.”My breath caught.

The words felt heavy.

Possessive.

Before I could respond, he walked away.

The door shut behind him.

And the entire room finally felt like it could breathe again.

An hour later, I was exploring the garden behind the mansion with one of the guards watching from a distance.

The air felt fresher outside.

Less suffocating.

I needed that.

But something felt wrong.

A strange feeling crawled up my spine.

Like someone was watching me.Not the guard.

Someone else.

I turned.

Nothing.

Just tall hedges and statues.

I exhaled slowly.

“Relax,” I muttered to myself.

Then—

A hand grabbed my arm.

I gasped.

A man pulled me behind the hedge.

“Don’t scream,” he whispered harshly.

My heart nearly exploded.

He wasn’t one of Lucifer’s guards.knew that instantly.

“Listen carefully,” he said quickly.

“You’re in serious danger staying here.”

My voice shook.

“Who are you?”

“Someone trying to keep you alive.”

“Why?”

“Because Lucifer Armstrong destroys everything he touches.”

Anger flared inside me.

“You don’t know him.”

The man stared at me like I was stupid.

“You really think you do?”

Footsteps approached.Fast.

The man cursed under his breath.

“Too late.”

Before I could react—

Several guards surrounded us.

Guns raised.

The man lifted his hands slowly.

“Well,” he muttered.

“That’s unfortunate.”

The guards grabbed him.

Hard.

I stumbled backward, shaking.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

One guard spoke into his radio.

“Sir, we found the intruderA long pause.

Then the reply came.

“Bring him inside.”

I didn’t need to ask whose voice that was.

And suddenly…

I felt very sorry for the man who had grabbed me.

Because I had already seen what happened to people who crossed Lucifer.

And this time—

Lucifer was going to be furious.

Hope you are liking it😊😊

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***