C3 The unlikely reunion

Liora’s POV

My alarm rang before the sun came up, dragging me from the deepest sleep I’d had in weeks. For a few seconds, I stayed still, staring at the cracked ceiling above my bed while my brain tried to catch up with reality.

Last night felt unreal.

A butler showing up at my apartment. Old documents. Family pictures. A story so ridiculous it sounded like something stolen from a soap opera. Apparently, I wasn’t just Liora—the broke stripper struggling to survive another week. According to Elias, I belonged to one of the richest and most powerful families in the country.

The Blackwoods.

Even thinking the name made my stomach twist.

I rubbed my face and sat up slowly. Maybe if I ignored everything long enough, it would disappear. Maybe Elias had mistaken me for someone else. Maybe those papers were fake.

But deep down, I already knew they weren’t.

The look in his eyes last night had been too serious to be a joke.

With a groan, I dragged myself out of bed and headed for the bathroom. I brushed my teeth half asleep, splashing cold water on my face as I tried to wake up properly. I had just spat into the sink when the doorbell rang.

I froze.

“Seriously?” I muttered. “Who even visits people this early in the morning?”

I already knew the answer before opening the door.

Sure enough, Elias stood outside looking painfully polished. His dark suit looked expensive enough to pay my rent for six months, and his silver cufflinks gleamed under the hallway light. He looked like he belonged on the cover of some billionaire magazine.

Meanwhile, I looked like I had lost a fight with a tornado. My curls were wild, my oversized shirt was wrinkled, and I was still barefoot.

His eyes flickered over me politely before he gave a small nod. “Good morning, Miss Liora.”

“You’re here early,” I said, leaning against the doorway. “Do rich people not sleep?”

A faint smile touched his lips. “I apologize if I disturbed you.”

I stepped aside with a sigh. “You’re already here, so come in.”

Elias entered carefully, like he was afraid to touch anything. My apartment wasn’t terrible, but it was small. Tiny kitchen. Tiny couch. Tiny everything. The kind of place you rented because life gave you no better option.

“I can make coffee,” I offered as I headed toward the kitchen. “I’ll need caffeine before dealing with life-changing family revelations.”

“You do not have to trouble yourself.”

“Too late,” I called back. “I’m already emotionally distressed. Let me at least pretend I have control over breakfast.”

To my surprise, Elias chuckled softly.

I made scrambled eggs and toast—the cheapest thing I could throw together quickly. Nothing fancy. Still, Elias ate the food without complaint, thanking me afterward like I had served him a five-star meal.

That alone softened me toward him a little.

Most rich people I’d met acted like basic kindness was beneath them. Elias didn’t.

After breakfast, I went to change.

I stared at my closet for a long moment before pulling out a simple cream-colored dress. Nothing glamorous. Nothing that screamed look at me. I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard, but I also refused to walk into some billionaire mansion looking sloppy.

When I stepped back into the living room, Elias stood immediately.

“Ready?” he asked.

“As ready as someone can be before potentially meeting strangers who claim they’re family.”

Outside, a sleek black car waited near the curb. It looked ridiculously out of place beside the old buildings in my neighborhood. People were already staring through their windows.

Wonderful.

I slipped into the backseat beside Elias while another man sat behind the wheel. The driver didn’t say a word the entire ride.

The city slowly changed around us as we drove.

The crowded streets disappeared. The buildings became larger. Cleaner. More expensive.

My nerves grew worse with every passing minute.

Almost an hour later, the car finally slowed down.

I looked out the window and nearly stopped breathing.

The Blackwood mansion stood ahead like something ripped from a fantasy movie. Massive stone walls surrounded the property. Elegant fountains sparkled beneath the morning sun, and perfectly trimmed gardens stretched across the enormous grounds.

It didn’t even look real.

“This is insane,” I whispered. “People actually live here?”

Elias glanced at me calmly. “Yes.”

“No offense, but your family might secretly be vampires.”

That earned another tiny smile from him.

The car stopped at the front entrance, and my stomach flipped painfully as I stepped outside. My worn shoes clicked against polished marble stairs that probably cost more than my entire apartment building.

Inside, I expected chaos.

A wedding was coming up, wasn’t it? I imagined stylists running around, assistants yelling, flowers everywhere.

Instead, the mansion was strangely peaceful.

And then I saw her.

Selene Blackwood stood near the dining table arranging plates by hand. No diamonds dripping from her neck. No army of servants hovering around her. Just a woman in a simple but elegant dress with her hair tied back neatly.

She looked up the moment we entered.

“Elias,” she breathed happily. “You found her.”

Then her eyes landed on me fully.

Warmth filled her expression instantly. Real warmth. Not fake politeness.

“You must be Liora.”

I shifted awkwardly under her gaze. “That’s me.” I paused. “Thanks for not having security drag me out.”

Selene laughed softly. The sound was surprisingly comforting. “I’m very glad you came.”

I didn’t know what to do with that kindness.

People usually judged me before even knowing my name.

“Okay,” I said carefully. “I still feel like I’m trapped in some weird reality show, so can somebody explain everything again? Slowly this time.”

And she did.

Selene patiently repeated the story Elias had told me the night before. The affair. The separation. My birth. The scandal that followed afterward.

She spoke gently, but every word made my chest tighter.

Because part of me believed her.

My omega instincts reacted strangely around her too. There was familiarity there. Something comforting beneath the surface that I couldn’t explain.

When she finally finished, silence settled heavily around us.

I folded my arms tightly. “So basically, my whole life has been one giant secret.”

Selene’s expression softened sadly. “I know this is overwhelming.”

“Overwhelming?” I laughed weakly. “Yesterday I was worried about paying rent. Today I apparently belong to the Blackwood empire.”

“You do not have to accept everything immediately,” she said quietly. “Take your time.”

“Trust me, I plan to.”

I grabbed my bag and stepped backward toward the entrance. “Thanks for the explanation, but I think my brain is close to shutting down.”

“Wait.”

Something in her voice stopped me.

“At least stay until after the wedding,” she said gently. “Please. Just a few days.”

I hesitated.

“Also… I’d really like you to meet my fiancé.”

I stared at her for a long moment before sighing heavily. “Fine. But if he starts barking orders or growling alpha nonsense at me, I’m leaving immediately.”

Selene laughed. “Trust me. He won’t.”

Right then, footsteps echoed behind me.

“Babe!” Selene called excitedly, her face lighting up instantly.

I turned around casually—expecting some terrifying, untouchable alpha billionaire.

Instead, my entire body went rigid.

No.

No way.

Standing there was the same man from last night.

The stranger from the club.

The man whose hands had been all over me only hours ago.

My one-night stand.

Shock slammed into me so hard the words escaped before I could stop them.

“You.”