Ruined By Your Blood

Chapter 16: Legacy and Lies

The air in the VIP pavilion lounge became cold for no known reason.

Luther raised his eyebrows a little and relaxed his guard slightly. "You are Thomas Durkan's daughter. I thought you would be in charge of the parade."

"Please," Ivy said with a small laugh, waving her hand as she walked toward him smoothly. She looked out from the terrace and began to speak seriously, matching Luther's intense mood. "My father thinks the poor areas are just numbers on a map. He doesn't see the broken buildings or the families losing their homes to big companies. I read your report on the Elena housing case, Luther. What you did—using their own financial records against them—wasn't just good legal work. It was justice. I wish more people in our position were brave enough to do that."

Standing close to Luther, Sienna suddenly felt a sense of danger. Behind her glasses, she watched Ivy carefully. She did not see a friend; she saw a smart and dangerous person. Ivy was skilled. She spoke perfectly, but Sienna could see the strong ambition hidden behind her kind words.

Luther, however, gave Ivy a real, thankful nod. "I didn't think anyone in your father's campaign actually read those reports, Ivy."

"I read everything," Ivy said, moving a little closer. Her voice became low and intimate as she looked into his eyes. "I have wanted to talk to you for a long time, Luther. But you are always so private. It takes a literal court battle just to see you in public."

"I prefer the shadows," Luther said with a small, polite smile. "Less noise."

"Maybe you just haven't found the right person to spend your days with," Ivy said playfully, smiling brightly as she lightly touched his arm. She didn't hold the touch for long.

Sienna bit her lip hard. A sudden, strong feeling of jealousy hit her, surprising her completely. It was a scary feeling. She was supposed to be a secret agent on a dangerous mission. She had told Luther the night before that they were not together, but seeing Ivy touch his arm made her want to pull out her gun and kick everyone out of the room.

Luther stepped back quietly and politely, but he still looked friendly. "The sunlight in this city is usually too bright, Ivy. I try to only hang out with a few people."

"Then I will just work harder to get in," Ivy said calmly, looking at him with strong determination. She turned her head slightly and looked at Sienna, who was standing very still in the back. Ivy kept smiling, but her eyes became cold as she carefully studied the bodyguard. "Your security is very strong, Luther. She hasn't moved or looked away once since you arrived."

"She's just doing her job," Luther said. He sounded very protective, and Ivy noticed his eyes look at Sienna with a brief, warm expression.

"Of course," Ivy said softly. She looked at Sienna for a moment before turning back to Luther, quickly putting on her friendly, social face again. "The main meeting is starting soon. Will you walk to the auditorium with me, Luther? I want to hear what you think about the new zoning rules before my father tries to ruin them during his speech."

"Lead the way," Luther nodded.

As they walked down the large marble hallway, Ivy stayed near him. She spoke quietly but with energy about housing laws, acting in a way to make sure he kept listening to her.

Sienna walked two steps behind them. Her hands were clenched, and she felt a confusing mix of wanting to protect Luther and feeling very jealous.

They stopped when they heard a conversation from the center of the hall's stage. Ivy and Luther walked towards them, followed by Sienna. They sat down in one of the VIP chairs in front.

Senator Arthur Vaughan sat in the middle of a long, shiny wooden table. Mayor Thomas Durkan and several important party leaders sat on both sides of him. Behind them, campaign banners showed their names in large, bright letters.

"The foundation of our platform has always been, and will always be, the preservation of the Capital's core legacy," Arthur's voice boomed through the high-end sound system, using a smooth and fake friendly tone. He looked at the front row and smiled professionally at Luther. "We do more than build roads and buildings; we protect our children's futures. My son, Luther, shows this through his recent work on new laws in the lower districts. The Vaughan family name represents many years of strength and one shared goal."

Mayor Durkan leaned into his microphone and nodded to the cameras. "That is right, Senator. Our families have worked very hard for this city. This upcoming election isn't just about policy—it's a referendum on legacy. We are protecting our households from the chaotic elements trying to destabilize our economy."

Under the VIP seats, Luther sat with his mouth tightly closed, gripping his pants hard. Every word out of his father's mouth felt like a physical insult.

Sienna stood two steps behind his chair with her arms behind her back, looking very cold and stiff. Behind her glasses, her eyes watched the exits, but she was mostly watching Luther's shoulders move after what his father said.

The stage lights dimmed and few of the reporters left so the meeting could turn into a private, fancy dinner on the Pavilion's big glass terrace.

The outside patio was full of covered tables, champagne, and laughing politicians enjoying the afternoon sun. But Ivy Durkan did not want Luther to talk to anyone.

Smoothly and easily, she led Luther away from the main area toward a private table with a white cloth. It was in a quiet corner of the stone balcony, looking down at the neat gardens.

"Two menus, please," Ivy told a waiter walking by. She spoke in a firm, quiet voice before sitting down across from Luther.

Sienna moved into place quickly, stepping three steps away to steady herself against a stone pillar. From there, she could see the whole terrace clearly—and she could see Ivy's face very clearly too.

Ivy rested her arms on the table. The bright sun shone on her brownish-blonde hair as she gave Luther a warm, friendly smile. "You made it, Luther. I watched you while your father was speaking. I thought you were going to break that wooden chair with your hands."

Luther pulled his tie loose quickly, looking angry. His eyes matched the shadows on the porch. "He's a liar, Ivy. He talks about 'making a better future for children,' but his company workers are kicking families out of their houses in the working areas. It is disgusting."

"I know it is," Ivy murmured softly. Her eyes showed so much sympathy that it made Sienna feel uneasy. Ivy reached across the table, almost touching Luther's hand. "That's exactly why I wanted to pull you away. You shouldn't have to put on a fake smile for those corporate donors. I know how deeply you care about the law, Luther. I know you want a system that actually protects people."

Luther looked at her, and his shoulders relaxed a little as he looked into her eyes.

"I understand you," Ivy continued. She tilted her head and smiled beautifully. "You are different from others in this city, Luther. You have a soul. It's incredibly attractive to see a man who refuses to be bought by his own father's empire."

Hidden behind the pillar, Sienna clenched her hands tightly in her pockets, her nails digging into her skin. She felt a strong, painful surge of jealousy.

'She's using his goodness to get past his defenses.' Sienna desperately wanted to walk out and stop them, to tell Luther that everyone in the Upper District was untrustworthy. But she could not. She was just Sienna Nilsson, the emotionless bodyguard.

Luther gave Ivy a small, thankful nod, hough his expression remained guarded. "My life is a danger here, Ivy. My father wants me gone before the election night."

"Then let me help you protect it," Ivy replied smoothly. She leaned in a bit closer, her tone shifting effortlessly back into a light and playful again. "We should collaborate on the new municipal housing draft next week. Over a private dinner, perhaps? Far away from the Civic Pavilion. Just the two of us, discussing how to actually fix the lower districts."

Luther stopped and looked serious. "A private draft? Your father wouldn't approve of you helping me change his city rules, Ivy."

"What my father doesn't know won't hurt him," Ivy said playfully with a charming voice. "Consider it a secret alliance."

Before Luther could respond, Ivy looked up. Her eyes stared directly at Sienna, who was standing still like a statue by the stone pillar. Ivy kept smiling, but her eyes became very sharp as she studied the bodyguard's stiff, unmoving pose.

"Your bodyguard is still watching us, Luther," Ivy said with a small laugh, though she sounded like she was looking down on him. "She stands so straight. It is almost scary. Does she ever take a break, or does she just watch you breathe all day?"

Luther did not smile. His whole attitude changed immediately. His eyes looked at Sienna with a strong, protective kindness that showed his true feelings. "She does her job better than anyone in this city, Ivy. I would be dead many times over without her. She stays exactly where she is."

Ivy's eyes widened slightly. She realized something important as she heard the strength in Luther's voice. Looking at Luther and the guard, she sensed the hidden tension between them. A small, dangerous smile appeared on her face.

"Of course," Ivy said, sounding curious and a little dangerous as she picked up her drink. "It is hard to find a good protector, Luther. I just hope she knows exactly what she is protecting."

Sienna looked calm and cold, but inside her uniform, her heart was beating very fast.