?<strong>Chapter 1044:</strong>


    “Why?” Verena’s eyes widened in confusion.


    She couldn’t understand why he didn’t want her to kill Belinda.


    It made no sense to her. Weren’t Kane and Lucas sworn enemies? Wouldn’t the simplest and most effective way to make Lucas suffer be to take the life of the woman he loved?


    Kane’s expression remained unreadable as he stated tly, “Because I said so. I have other ns for Belinda. Your only task is to focus on marrying Lucas. That’s all you need to worry about.”


    “But—” Verena pressed on, frustration creeping into her voice, only for Kane to cut her off coldly.


    “There’s no buts.” Kane’s eyes gleamed dangerously as he shot her a sidelong nce, his voice low yetced with an unmistakable warning. “Verena, when ites to Belinda, you’d do well to obey me without question. If you dare defy me again… You already know what I’m capable of.”


    A cold shiver ran down Verena’s spine. Her face paled instantly.


    She couldn’t understand. Why was Kane so adamant about not killing Belinda? Wasn’t it obvious that killing Belinda would be the most effective way to exact revenge on Lucas?


    Did Kane have feelings for Belinda?


    Could that be the reason behind his decision?


    After all, Belinda had a face that men would go crazy for.


    What Verena didn’t know was that Kane had three solid reasons for keeping Belinda alive.


    First, killing Belinda would undoubtedly provoke Lucas intounching a full-scale investigation. Lucas would stop at nothing to track down the culprit and exact vengeance. That was a risk Kane wasn’t willing to take.


    Second, true suffering didn’te from the death of a loved one. It came from being forced to watch that person fall for someone else. Watching Belinda slip from his grasp and into another man’s arms would be far more excruciating than her death ever could be to Lucas.


    And third—Darwin.


    It was tantly clear to Kane now that Darwin harbored feelings for Belinda.


    If he were to kill Belinda and Darwin found out about it, the consequences would be irreversible. Their rtionship would be damaged beyond repair, something Kane simply couldn’t afford. For these reasons, Kane believed he couldn’t kill Belinda.


    Kane turned to Verena once more. “Did you hear me clearly?”


    Verena swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod. “Yes. Don’t worry; I won’t do anything reckless.”


    Kane’s lips curled into a smirk before he kissed Verena. “That’s my good girl. Now, let’s not waste any more time.”


    He stood, effortlessly sweeping Verena into his arms before striding toward the bedroom.


    The next morning,


    Lucas arrived at Belinda’s ce bright and early, refusing to be anywhere else but by her side.


    Even after breakfast, he showed no intention of leaving.


    “Hurry up and go to work!” Belinda said to him.


    Lucas leanedzily against the couch. “I worked overtime yesterday and cleared my schedule for the next couple of days. I’ll head to the officeter.”


    Belinda rolled her eyes at him but didn’t argue further.


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