Lost Cause

The Lost CausePerfect Crime Series - Book 4 Clara Lewis Copyright © 2023 Clara Lewis – All rights Reserved This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.www.claralewis.com Contents Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Continue Reading the Series Review This Book Also by Clara Lewis About the Author Connect With Clara PrologueWhen I saw her, I knew I must have her. She wasn’t as young as I had hoped her to be. There were age lines between her brows when she frowned, and sometimes when she laughed, crow’s feet crinkled the ends of her eyes. Normally, such things would have turned me away. But, instead, it seemed as though I had grown complacent and desperate. I shake my head as I stare at her. No, I was never desperate. I just learned how to value the worth of an immensely beautiful woman. All I know is that our children will have the best genetics. With my brain and her looks, they could conquer the world. I see her laugh again at something her annoying colleague had said. He was a big, dumb man that should worry about the demons he fights in his head rather than the ones he spends eternity hunting down. I often catch him staring into the distance with nothing but a blank stare. And it pains me to see my future wife attempt to coddle him. I make a mental note right then and there to ensure that when we have a son, he will grow up to be a man, just like me – his father. She will love him as a mother but never coddle him. I caught her name the other day. The taste felt sweet when I tried to say it into the wind for the first time. And when I spoke it, the letters sounded like wind chimes on a breezy day. It was perfect. Paired with my surname, it would be even better. Promises and sweet words easily sway young girls. I must admit that they are naïve, and while they are easy to mold into whatever I like, I do tire of how dumb they get. And I soon realized that as the years' pass, these girls tend to listen less and less. I could just remember her. She was perfect for me, pretty and obedient, and she knew her place. I thought we were happy until one day, I got home, and she was no longer there. Witch. She deceived me all these years and then took everything I loved - my son, my money, and my heart to live with people that didn’t even care about her. As I looked over at the parking lot, where the woman laughed at another unfunny joke from her other colleague, I saw a spark of intelligence in her. She will be difficult to tame. After all, her job has trained her to be wary of people like me. That was one thing that they got wrong. I wasn’t dangerous. I had standards, and the rest of the world couldn’t see them. They’re all a bunch of hypocrites, too. They always talked about how unfair the world is and how people are stubborn and don’t follow the rules. I know it’s a bunch of lies. Not one person out there has pure thoughts. Everyone has a darker side that encourages them to act and do what’s right to get what’s theirs. I am just one of the few enlightened enough to listen. I can just imagine this woman by my side. Her beauty was blinding despite her age. Her voice was melodic, and her brain was admirable. I’ve watched her a few times in the office, with a scowl on her face, intently reading pieces of paper that gave her no proper answers. It was cute. Sometimes, I could tell when she solved something. Then, her face would light up and look smug for a minute. That meant she was smart, too. She was older, and I knew that would plague my mind for months. It will take a long time for her to learn where her place is. But, of course, it would be at my side, and she would be my partner for eternity. I just know how stubborn this woman will be. But, instead of being annoyed, I strangely found my adrenaline beginning to pick up. It was the tell-tale sign of a challenge. Goodness knows I love a challenge. Broken girls are a thing of the past. But I still remember how they screamed, cried, and complained. My ears were so close to bleeding out from all the noise they would make. After all, what did those self-help books say as advice? Never stay in your comfort zone. Don’t limit yourself to what’s familiar. There is more to just the broken and defeated girls. And for this woman, I am willing to put in a little more work. She was worth it. I heard the sound of her car starting, and instinctively I followed suit. I’ve been following her for a while now, and it still strikes me just how easy it was to get this close to her without her ever turning around and finding out.