Top Assassins Call Me The Lady Boss-Chapter 134: To him, or to her

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Four

She had watched from the backseat as the armored gate slid shut behind them; each metal plate a reminder she’d come dangerously close to something she hadn’t intended.

She rested her head as she relaxed in the chair. She shut her eyes and none of the men dared to ask her any questions.

After minutes of driving, she heard the sound of gates opening. It was when she knew they had gotten to their Villa.

The rain-slicked driveway blurred as they got to her Suite. Her men filed out, their rifles secured, and posture taut. When she raised her head, she saw her father. None dared meet her father’s gaze.

For once, silence felt heavier than any gunmetal.

Her father stood at her front door, the wind tugging his robes as he paced; unusual, unnerving. No matter what she had done, he had never emerged to meet her outside the Villa gates before. He would always call her to his library but today, he was here.

That twisted her stomach.

She stepped forward, unsnapping her holster as she exited the car. Guards parted like water, giving her room. Her boots hit the stone pathway before she looked up. There he was, tall and still, every inch the patriarch.

Every inch judging.

He folded his arms, rain spattering his sleeves.

"What did I hear..." he began, voice low, old bones clicking like a metronome. "Is it true you went to Ahmet’s Villa to exact revenge?"

She met his eyes. Cold. Measured. "Part of the plan."

He lifted a brow. "Plan?"

"Yes." She took a breath. "I needed to survey their defenses. See how fast they could lock down. It was just the perfect moment since they had Cole. Perfect moment to test. I needed to know my men were ready to. Now I know for sure, we are ready. They sealed the gate in nine seconds. Lights shut down in four."

Her father watched her, expression inscrutable as thunder rolled overhead.

"You studied their systems?"

"Locked down timelines, power grids, fail-safes. If this ever goes hot... When the time ever comes, we will know which buttons to press, and what to do."

He nodded, flat and slow.

’’Demir returns tomorrow," he said. "He inherits. You do your duty."

She stood still as stone.

There was no thunder, no lightning. No dramatic gasp of protest from the wind. Just the silence... and those two words.

Inherits. Duty.

Her throat tightened, but she forced it open.

She swallowed. "I will."

The words left her lips like ashes.

And just like that, it was dismissed. Not with anger. Not with blame. That, she could handle.

But this? This was colder than any punishment she had ever dealt.

She had bled for this empire. Killed for it. She had carved out enemies, scorched threats into dust, and given her youth, her body, and the last threads of her soul just to uphold the name that sat atop their crumbling dynasty.

He never used to say it, though everyone knew Demir was the one inheriting... even though she knew.

And now... Her adoptive father was saying it. She has always thought the crowning would just happen. No prior notice or invite.

Did Demir deserve the throne?

Was he not the son who went away? Or who got sent away?

Now she knew why he was here. She thought of it and many things ran through her mind but now she knew why... Her adoptive father had called him.

To crown him. Demir knew this. Why didn’t he tell her?

Why was everyone betraying her? 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

She clenched her jaw, careful not to let the tremble reach her father’s ears. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing what that one line had done to her.

She knew who she was to him. She was in a position. Never a person.

Marco didn’t say she should lead beside him. Not even guide him. She was nothing but a duty.

Just that one bitter decree.

And what burned more was that she did not say anything back. She couldn’t even ask what she was to the Villa or to her adoptive father.

She could just nod like the perfect ’daughter’ and whisper "I will," even as her lungs begged to scream.

Something she had spent years burying finally whispered in her head, ’Is this all I will ever be?’

He just turned and walked away, leaving her to the stones and her thoughts.

******

The hot water blurred the old scars on her back. She let the steam cloak her and cover the adrenaline, the guilt, the bruise of her own doubts. For an hour, she let the silence wash over her, and for the first time since leaving Ahmet’s gate, she felt... calm.

She slid onto the cold tiles afterward, water dripping from her hair. She thought of Cole. Of her father’s demand. Of Demir. Ahmet and even Markus.

A chuckle left her lips. Aside from all these men, Cole was probably the only person among them all who would lay down his life for her, and yet he was the only person she thought could betray her.

The rest did except Cole. And even when she realized her mistake and almost banished him from the Villa, he didn’t want to leave and gave her the alternative of taking his leave.

She for once regretted the choices she had made lately.

When she got out of the bathroom, she sat quietly in her chair. Her mind was still blank and thinking about nothing. She just stared at the door as if someone would barge into the room.

Then suddenly all the thoughts came rushing in that they became unbearable. She stumbled into the hairs of her gym, her breath sharp as she singled out the heavy bag. It swung back and forth like a pendulum she couldn’t stop.

Her gloves snapped against it, one right hook, two lefts, the bag swinging away and returning under her fists. Sweat mixed with tears; burning, cleansing. She didn’t check the clock.

And she didn’t stop until her body screamed enough to make her forget everything.

Only then, did she hear the soft click of the door before Matilda stepped in.

"Food’s ready," Matilda whispered.

Asli nodded without looking up, still breathing hard. "Thank you."

Matilda drew back. When she spoke, her voice was small. "You... okay?" This was probably the first time in a long time she had heard Asli thank her

Asli slowed. "You resume training soon."

Matilda swallowed. "I got shot. It was the first time... please—"

Asli raised a hand. "You said you were fine."

Matilda closed her eyes, hurt flickering. "I didn’t want you to worry."

There was a pause after that.

"Cole’s back. He’ll be training you."

Something snapped.

Matilda straightened, her eyes settling on Asli’s gloves that were still on. Her eyes tightened as she reached for Asli’s hand. Before she could, Markus appeared in the doorway.

His sharp eyes flicked between Matilda and Asli. His lips curled... was that concern? Relief?

Asli moved first, drawing her gun from her belt, pointing it low at Markus. Red lights gleamed in the barrel.

Matilda yelped. Markus didn’t flinch. He looked at her, tempered steel.

"Markus—" Matilda’s voice wavered. "It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t his intention to... it was mine, Asli."

Asli’s eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Markus stepped forward. "Matilda, go inside... just go. This isn’t about you! I’ll handle this."

She hesitated, eyes moist, then fled.

Asli’s gun stayed trained on Markus.

"You and your men better stay away from her," she warned quietly. "Or I won’t hesitate."

He smirked. "Well.. thanks for the vote of confidence. It means I can come to you. She’s the only person I need to stay away from."

She let out a breath. "Stay away. That was your only warning."

He nodded reluctantly. "I’ll... stay... for now."

Asli pocketed her gun. "Leave me the fck alone."

She began to move to the door.

Markus followed. He didn’t seem nervous.

"He said you’d better talk to him," Markus murmured. "Either meet at the usual spot... or he’ll come to you."

She bristled. "I would have to lose my mind to walk back to that house."

He stayed silent and then spoke again. "He said just this once. He wants to talk."

Asli didn’t move at first, but then—"No." She turned. "He wants to lie to me. Do you think not killing you means I fancy you? I am avoiding any suspicions from my dad. Ahmet, I don’t need to hide that I hate him. I will kill him the moment I set my eyes on him."

Markus was quiet for a long beat, then nodded. He probably was thinking why she hated them that much.

But she wasn’t thinking anymore. Not about him, not about their betrayal or her goddamn feelings.

"Well, I’m only telling you, if you don’t go to meet him, he will come here to meet you."