Fallen 154

Posted by Sara Lili, ? Views, Released on October 22, 2025

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CHAPTER 0154

Alaric’s POV:

The last thing I thought I would ever do–asides go to therapy–was to come here.

This was a bad fucking idea. I knew it from the moment I got in the jet. Knew it from the very second I landed in Louisiana and throughout the entire drive to my destination.

But there was nothing else I could do except this. I needed some kind of closure, and where else was I going to get it except here, in the Louisiana State Penitentiary?

Fuck, yes. I was here to see Meadow’s father–the man who was in prison for killing my father.

My fists curled on the surface in front of me and I stared down at it. I hadn’t seen this man in many years. And even before then, I never saw him enough. But I knew. I knew everything he did.

I couldn’t tell Meadow that I loved her when I didn’t have a clear conscience, and I would never have a clear conscience if I didn’t speak to Clint Russell.

A loud buzz signified his entrance, and I slowly raised my gaze, watching as two prison guards hauled Clint Russell in. He was dressed in the usual orange jumpsuit, his wrists cuffed in front of him.

I was so fucking glad that Meadow didn’t bear any sort of resemblance to him.

Clint Russell was a huge man, and even prison didn’t change that, although, he had aged accordingly in the past thirteen years. Scruffy beard that I was certain he was choosing to keep, bald head, and a hard expression on his face.

I wasn’t scared of him. I wasn’t scared of anyone. But I could see why and how Meadow would’ve been terrified living in the same house with a man who looked like this, treating her like she didn’t matter.

A friend, an acquaintance–that’s what he was to my father before he turned around and stabbed him in the

back.

And triggered a fucking chain reaction.

Clint’s gaze narrowed as he settled down into the seat across from me. Not like he was trying to remember where he knew me from. No. The man knew who I was. I was sure of it:

“Hm,” he scoffed, smirking. “Bold of you to come here, boy. I assumed you had enough resources to organize a video chat if you ever wanted to speak to me.”

The corner of my lips tilted up in response. He was right about that. “True,” I muttered. “But somehow, I thought it would be better to see you in person. You know, for… better communication.” My gaze shifted to the prison guards who brought him in.

They knew what to do. This was a conversation that was going to be completely private, no cameras, no recorders… nothing. A video chat wouldn’t have exactly assured that.

The guards nodded, and then they stepped out of the room, leaving me in here with my father–in–law.

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CHAPTER 0154

+25 BONUS

Clint Russell sized me up, his jaw working, and then his gaze fell to his wrists on the table between us. “Such a shame they cuffed me, like I’m a danger to anyone. Can you fucking believe that?” He chuckled, shaking his

head.

“Nice try.”

His smile fell, eyes flashing. “What do you want, boy?” he finally asked. “Haven’t seen you since that day in the courtroom when you testified against me. And now, all of a sudden, you’re here.”

A memory flashed in front of me.

Me–twenty years old on the witness stand, staring at Clint from across the room, looking into his eyes as I told the judge that I saw him pull the trigger on my father when I was thirteen, and that I was too scared to say anything because Clint had threatened to kill my brother and mother if I told anyone.

A weak, little thirteen year old boy. That was who I was when it all happened.

I shoved out a breath, leaning back into my chair without taking my eyes off him. “I hear you’ve been getting regular visits from your daughter.”

I wanted to know if he really fell for it. If he fell for Juniper’s lies and tricks, and all the things she confessed to while pretending to be Meadow.

Clint sneered at me, leaning forward. It was easy to read him. Way too easy. And I supposed that was one thing he had in common with Meadow.

“And I hear you put a ring on her finger.” His nostrils flared. “So what? You put me in prison and then proceeded to marry my daughter?”

I smirked. “You sound more offended that you’re in prison than the fact that I married your daughter, Clint. Do you not think you deserve to be in prison?”

For a moment, Clint’s eyes remained narrowed. His fists curled, and I knew he was resisting the urge of get out of that chair and come at me.

But he also knew that it wasn’t going to end well for him.

He let out a bitter chuckle, looking away. “I don’t know how many times you lot want me to say this, but I did not fucking do it.” His teeth were gritted together. “I didn’t kill your father, Ashford. I don’t know what the hell you think you saw, but it wasn’t me.”

My jaw tightened, and I tilted my head. “That so?” I muttered, keeping my voice low and steady.

Clint had always denied that he killed my father. But he was never cleared. The evidence was too strong, too potent. It was him. Everyone fucking knew that.

“Yeah,” he snapped, leaning forward again. And then he lowered his voice. “You know, I’ve had thirteen years to think about it, to replay that day over and over in my head, and I still can’t figure out why, for the life of me, you would stand there and lie about something like that. Why you would swear to tell nothing but the truth, and then look a man like me in the eye and tell an entire courtroom that you saw something that never happened.”

“I didn’t lie.” My voice was still calm. “And by the way, you should know better than to continue appealing for a

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release or pardon when you know I can easily keep you in here for the rest of your life.”

Which was what I planned on doing.

No way I was letting him out so he could hurt Meadow. I’d kill him myself before I let that happen.

The air between us thickened, and Clint’s cuffs clinked as he leaned back in the chair, scowling at me. “Why the fuck are you here, then?” he asked, tilting his head. “Thirteen whole years and you finally came to see me. If you didn’t lie, why else would you be here?” His brow arched. “Unless you feel guilty all of a sudden? For throwing an innocent man in jail?”

“You’re hardly innocent, Clint. And I know we both know that.”

“I admit, I did some shady things, and I will never apologize for that because that is how life fucking works. But I did not kill your father.” He paused. “You already knew that, though, didn’t you?”

I didn’t respond.

Clint’s eyes flashed. “You lied then on the stand, and you’ve been lying to yourself ever since.” He scoffed. You’re more like your old man than you think.”

My chest tightened. “Watch your fucking mouth,” I said quietly. How I managed to remain quiet? I didn’t fucking know.

Clint tilted his head again, his gaze dropping to the watch around my wrist and then back to my face. “Or what?” he drawled. “You gonna kill me too?”

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.