Fallen 71

Posted by Sara Lili, ? Views, Released on September 11, 2025

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APTER 0071

Alaric’s POV:

“We got her out, sir. She’s home safe, like you asked.” Trip’s gruff voice sounded out of my phone’s speaker.

I rose to my feet, making my way toward the floor–to–ceiling windows of my penthouse. My hand curled at my side, the other tightening around the phone pressed to my ear.

Fucking hated this.

“Good,” I replied coolly. “Don’t let her out of your fucking sight.”

I started to end the call, but Trip called out again. “Sir, what about Tyler Cross? What happens when he gets back from work and sees his missing girlfriend on the couch or something?”

My lips twitched in annoyance. “Nothing happens. Juniper will want to tell him the entire truth. Let her. It’s about time he knows I have his ex–fiance in my possession. Maybe then he’ll fully understand what he walked into by accepting the promotion.”

And I knew he wasn’t going to quit. Tyler had a lot of debt that kept on piling up. The fucker had also started to gamble to take his mind of the fact that his girl was missing. And now, he was addicted.

And I was paying him well enough for him not to want to leave.

“And what about your wife?” he asked hesitantly. “Does she know her sister is out yet?”

My heart pulsed at the mention of Meadow and I clenched my jaw. “No. Although it won’t be long before

Juniper contacts her.” I lowered my voice, feeling my eyes twitch. “Remind the men stationed at the house. If Meadow leaves that fucking compound from right under their noses, they’ll have me to answer

to when I get back. And I’m not in a generous fucking mood.”

“Got it.”

Instead of shoving the phone into my pocket, I opened up the feed for Meadow’s room.

I knew she was going to be in there. In the two days since I left, she had barely left her room except to

have some food.

Nova had been at the house for a while yesterday, but apart from that, Meadow was mainly focused on her laptop, preparing for her online classes and doing more research probably.

She was upset with me, I knew that much–Hell, even I was fucking pissed at myself, but apart from that, she was being hard on herself.

And it was all because of me.

1/3

CHAPTER 0071

+15 BONUS

But I didn’t say all that to her because I wanted to. I said it because I had to.

Behind me, I heard the ding of the elevator, signaling someone’s arrival.

“Seriously?” An annoyed voice scoffed.

“You’re late,” I stated simply without turning around.

“You’re the one who set up a meeting in fucking Las Vegas, Alaric. This isn’t where we were supposed to

meet.”

Slipping my phone into my pocket, I finally turned around, narrowing my gaze at her. “I told you, Clarissa. If you want to meet with me, it has to be on my own terms.”

Clarissa smirked, running a hand through her hair. “Right,” she said flatly. “Or maybe you just didn’t want to risk being seen with me.”

My jaw ticked. “I answer to no one.”

She stepped forward, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she pursed her red lips. “Except Meadow.” She dragged her eyes slowly up my form. “I suppose you’d hate for her to find out the truth.” She stopped in front of me. “Have you released my other niece yet?”

I curled my fists at my sides, taking my time before I answered.

Clarissa let out a soft laugh. “Oh, come on, Ric. You can’t have expected that I’d play along for too long. You went for both my nieces. I’m not stupid enough to think that it’s just a coincidence.”

When Clarissa had sent me a text last night that seemed a lot like a fucking threat, I lost it. She was going to ruin what I had with Meadow even before it started, unless I gave in to her demands and released Juniper. However she found out that she was locked up in a psych ward, it didn’t matter.

What mattered was keeping the truth from Meadow.

And Meadow thought so too, seeing as she was keeping her own secrets from me, not telling me that Clarissa was her aunt. Though I didn’t expect her to.

I was only playing along. I knew everything about Meadow and her family. Well, almost everything.

“I didn’t think you’d ever come back to Seattle.” That wasn’t an explanation. Clarissa deserved no

explanation from me.

She shrugged, reaching a hand out to play with my tie. “Maybe I just missed you that much.”

Staring down at where her hand met my tie, I smirked. “Or maybe you heard from my mother that I got married, and you swooped in, thinking it was a random woman. Until you saw your niece at the party. At my side. As my wife. Did my mother tell you I can feel her?”

2/3

CHAPTER 0071

+15 BONUS

Clarissa used to be obsessed with the fact that she was the only one I could feel. And she let that get into her head, thinking that I was never going to let her go because of how much I needed her.

She was wrong.

Clarissa’s eyes flashed, her face flushed with envy. But she covered it with a laugh.

“You were in the bathroom with her, weren’t you?” I continued. “Before you came to talk to me, you were

with her.”

My mother told me what she did to Meadow, but when I confirmed again earlier today, she said it happened before she went into the bathroom. I had no idea how long Meadow had seen me talking to

Clarissa, but she used that as an opportunity to check my car’s GPS history.

But I would bet anything that Meadow and Yvonne spoke at the party.

The moment Clarissa opened her mouth, I knew that whatever was about to come out was a lie. “Don’t even think about lying to me right now, Clarissa.” I kept my voice low and calm.

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I spoke to her. No reason to lie about that.”

I nodded, looking away for a second as I ran my palm across my mouth. “What did you talk about?”

“What?”

I snapped my gaze back to her brown ones. “What did you tell Meadow, Clarissa?”

“Nothing that concerns you, Al-” A gasp tore from her throat as I wrapped my hand around her neck, jerking her toward me.

Her skin was warm and soft, her pulse beating beneath my touch. I had never wanted to NOT feel

someone so much in my life.

I bared my teeth. “What. Did. You. Tell. Her?”

Clarissa smirked as her eyes darted to my mouth. She leaned in. “Mmmhm,” she gave a breathy moan.”

Fucking missed you manhandling me like this, baby. We were barely out of teenagehood and yet, you

were already a sexy, sexy man.”

I simply tightened my grip. She rolled her eyes, heaving an annoyed sigh. “Relax, Ric. I didn’t tell her you’re the reason her father’s in prison.”

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.

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Fallen

Score 9.9

Status: Ongoing Type: Alpha Native Language: English

Fallen Summary & Review: Fallen

Meadow Russell arrives at an upscale hotel, heart fluttering with excitement and nerves. She’s about to marry the love of her life, Tyler, in a small, private ceremony — just the two of them. Clutching her bag, she approaches the front desk with a smile. “Hi, I have a reservation. Meadow Russell.”

But from the very first second, something feels off.

The receptionist’s red-painted lips curl into a mocking sneer, and her colleague exchanges a strange look with her. Meadow’s cheerful tone falters as confusion settles in. The woman scoffs, “You’re kidding, right?” The disbelief in her tone makes Meadow’s stomach twist. She frowns, insisting there must be a mistake, but both receptionists continue to look at her with something close to pity — and something else she can’t quite name.

Then comes the shocker.

According to the hotel records, she’s already checked in. Two hours ago. With a man. The receptionist even claims to have spoken with her — complimenting her “cute top.” The same white crop top with the word “BRIDE” written across it that she’s wearing now.

Meadow tries to rationalize it. Maybe Tyler had checked in under her name. Maybe it’s a simple mix-up. She laughs nervously and explains that her fiancé must have done it for convenience. But both receptionists seem unconvinced. One of them finally sighs and hands her a spare keycard, muttering, “I hope you get things sorted out.”

On her way up to the room, Meadow’s heart pounds in her chest. Something feels horribly wrong, but she refuses to believe it. Tyler would never do anything to hurt her. They’ve been planning this wedding for months — their dream elopement. She tries to calm herself, breathing in and out as the elevator ascends, but her hands won’t stop shaking.

When she finally reaches the room and swipes the keycard, her worst fears materialize before her eyes.

The moment the door opens, the sound hits her first — muffled moans, heavy breathing, the rhythmic creak of the bed. Then she sees them.

Her twin sister, Juniper, straddling Tyler, his hands gripping her hips as he thrusts into her without restraint.

The world stops. The bag slips from Meadow’s trembling hands and lands with a soft thud. The scene before her feels like a cruel joke — something ripped out of a nightmare. Her vision blurs with tears, her body frozen in disbelief.

For a full minute, she just stands there. Watching. Waiting. Hoping someone would scream “gotcha” and end this cruel trick.

But there’s no misunderstanding to clear up. No mistake. No illusion.

Her twin sister moans again, whispering, “Yes, that’s it, baby,” as if to drive the knife deeper into Meadow’s heart.

Something inside her shatters.

“Juniper…? Tyler?” she finally manages to whisper, her voice barely recognizable.

They both turn, startled. Tyler’s face twists in shock, then panic. He pushes Juniper off him, stammering, “Meadow, I swear, I thought she was you!”

It’s a pathetic excuse. One that doesn’t even make sense.

Juniper doesn’t even bother covering herself. She just smirks, tossing her messy hair over her shoulder like a queen enjoying the chaos she’s created. “Oh, please,” she scoffs. “It’s time we drop the act. This has been going on for a while.”

Meadow stumbles back, staring between them. “What are you talking about?”

Her twin rolls her eyes. “You really didn’t think he loved you, did you?”

It hits Meadow all at once — the hotel mix-up, the receptionist’s strange looks, the duplicate “Meadow Russell” check-in. Juniper had stolen her identity, her name, her wedding — and the man she loved.

Tyler tries to approach her again, naked and unashamed. He grabs her jaw gently, his expression hard. “You thought I loved you, Meadow? No. Juni’s the love of my life.”

The words pierce like knives.

Every memory — every kiss, every late-night conversation, every promise he made — turns to ash. She had believed in him completely, trusted him with her heart. And all along, he’d been sharing that same intimacy with her twin sister.

Meadow stares at Juniper, still unable to process it. The last time she saw her twin was two years ago. They’d grown apart after Juniper’s endless trail of lies and manipulation had driven a wedge between them. Juniper had always been the beautiful, daring, chaotic one — the one who got what she wanted, no matter who she hurt. But never, not in her darkest thoughts, had Meadow imagined she would do this.

Juniper laughs again, the sound sharp and cruel. “She’s in shock, baby. Maybe we should help her out of her misery,” she says mockingly, then pulls Tyler into another kiss right in front of her.

That’s when Meadow realizes this isn’t a mistake. This isn’t a sudden betrayal. It’s a plan.

Her sister had known exactly what she was doing. She had tracked Meadow down, learned about the wedding, and swooped in like a vulture to destroy what little happiness she had built. The matching outfit, the fake check-in — all of it was deliberate.

The pain turns into rage. Her tears blur her sight, her breath coming out in shaky bursts. Every muscle in her body screams at her to turn around, to run far away from the two people who’ve just ripped her soul apart.

But she doesn’t move.

She stands there, trembling, her heart breaking piece by piece as she watches her sister smirk and her fiancé — her almost-husband — stand there unashamed, not even offering a shred of remorse.

Tyler and Juniper exchange a look, and she realizes — they’re enjoying this. They want her to see. To suffer.

Meadow’s hands ball into fists. She feels like she’s watching her life crumble in real time, and there’s nothing she can do but breathe through the ache and pray she doesn’t collapse.

Every part of her screams that this is the moment she loses everything — her trust, her love, her family.

And yet, deep inside, a spark ignites — not of despair, but of something darker. A promise that this won’t be the end of her story.

Because betrayal that deep doesn’t fade. It carves itself into your bones. And Meadow Russell — heartbroken, humiliated, and hollow — walks out of that hotel room knowing one thing for certain.

She will never forgive them.

And one day, they will both pay for what they’ve done.