Page 180 of Lust & Lies

“I have a plan,” I told them. “And this plan involves Mr. Park stepping down and handing the reins to Tristan.”

Aiden nodded, but I could see the relief in his eyes.

“We can make that happen,” he told me. “I’ll talk with my brothers later today. I’m sure after I tell Tristan about everything grandfather has done, he’ll be on board with forcing him to step down.”

“There’s more,” I told them. “My plan will require the help of others.”

“Say the name and I’ll make sure they’re on board,” Aiden told me.

“I need you, Tristan, and Ethan. Along with Gertrude and Sam. I also need my team members, Seo-Jin, Fuse, and Viper.”

“But Viper has already betrayed you,” Aiden pointed out.

“I know. I need her present for what's coming next. But she won’t know what’s happening. Only Seo-Jin and Fuse will. I want to show Mr. Park that he hasn’t won. I want to show him that we will destroy anyone who stands against us. Though he gets to live, I want him to live the rest of his days knowing that we are walking our own paths, living our lives the way we want, not the way he’d planned them for us. I want to show him that he no longer has control over us. That will be his punishment.”

Aiden leaned forward and kissed me on my forehead before whispering, “Thank you, love. I know letting him live isn’t easy for you.”

“I do it for you,” I told him. “Not him.”

He cupped my face, thumbs brushing my cheeks as he peered into my eyes.

“I love you, baby,” he whispered.

“I love you too,” I told him, unable to tear my gaze away from the man who’d stolen my heart so many years ago.

“I’m still here,” Gertrude muttered.

Oh, right.Clearing my throat, I turned her way as Aiden sighed.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

“Mmmhmmm,” she hummed. “Tell us the plan, so we can know exactly what you need from us. And remember, Tristan and Ethan can’t come here. The Watchdogs are preventing that. And according to Seo-Jin, Mr. Park has been informed of your memory loss and wounds. Since your contract isn’t up yet, he wants you brought directly to him as soon as you’ve recovered enough to walk. I may have told Seo-Jin to tell him that you wounded your leg.”

“Good. That works in my favor. I’ll take two weeks off as you’ve suggested. During that time, I’ll work out and...”

“If you’re working out, that’s not taking two weeks off,” Gertrude interrupted me.

“Well, I’ll wait a week before I start working out to get my strength and stamina back. How about that?”

“A week is still too soon. You’re not invincible, Noe. You need to rest and heal. And you’re not in this fight alone. You have us. Stop trying to do everything yourself,” Gertrude told me.

“For once, I agree with Gertrude,” Aiden co-signed.

“And,” Gertrude added. “When I say rest, I mean rest. No sex either. I don’t need you pulling out your stitches.”

I looked to Mr. Co-signer to see his response.

“I mean, she’s no doctor, after all,” Aiden shrugged. “We can’t take her word on everything. I say we get a second opinion.”

I burst out laughing as the two of them bickered over Gertrude’s qualifications. Once they were done arguing, we got back down to business, and I told them my plan. Aiden took a little more convincing than Gertrude did.

“I don’t like this plan,” he told me, shaking his head. “Any plan that separates us doesn’t work for me.”

“I’ll be safe until you get there,” I promised.

“You don’t know that for sure,” he said.

“I have a handy gadget she can take with her so we can monitor her at all times,” Gertrude offered. “With it, we’ll be able to listen in on her conversations while we’re apart.”