CHAPTER 6

Lilia sat on the edge of the bed, the glow of her phone casting a faint light across the room. The message from Mark had been sitting there for what felt like an eternity, unread but not ignored. Each word he wrote seemed to pull at something deep inside her—something she thought she had buried long ago. Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitant to engage, yet unable to shake the raw pull of his apology.

“I made a mistake. I never wanted to hurt you, but I need you to know the truth. It was never just her. I was never happy with her... I was just too afraid to tell you. Please, come talk to me. I’ll explain everything.”

Every syllable felt like a weight on her chest. She hadn’t heard from Mark in so long, and now, in the midst of everything, here he was again, asking for a second chance. The words tore at her—she wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that they could go back to the way they were, before everything had fallen apart. But the bitterness of betrayal still lingered in the corners of her heart. Could she really forgive him? Could she trust him again?

The sound of the mansion outside her room, distant and sterile, echoed in her ears. Damian’s presence loomed over everything now—over her life, her choices, and even her emotions. He had taken everything from her, and yet, she still couldn’t shake the pull Mark had on her. Was it love? Or was it the remnants of something that had long been broken?

Lilia sighed, tossing the phone aside. She couldn’t focus on the message anymore. But the truth was, the pull to respond to Mark, to feel something more than the suffocating grip Damian had on her, was growing unbearable.

She rose from the bed and paced the room, her mind spinning. Could she really just walk away from everything? Escape this world she had been forced into to find something—someone—that would make her feel alive again?

The night outside seemed to invite her escape. The cool air, the quiet whisper of the trees, the promise of a moment that was truly hers. Without thinking further, she grabbed her coat, slipped out of the room, and moved quietly through the mansion. Her heart pounded as she passed the silent hallways, avoiding any trace of detection. The house felt like a prison, every step she took a reminder that she was watched, controlled, and trapped. But tonight, she would break free, if only for a moment.

***

The garden outside was just as quiet as she remembered, the lights casting long shadows on the path. The air was crisp against her skin as she walked quickly, her shoes silent on the cobblestones. It was dangerous, she knew that. She wasn’t supposed to be out here, especially not now, with everything that had happened. But the need to see Mark, to understand him, to feel the warmth of their past again, was too much to ignore.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she ignored it. It could be Damian. It was always Damian. His presence was a constant reminder that she had no real choices, that every move she made had been calculated, every decision manipulated. But tonight, for this fleeting moment, she would have control. She would make her own choice.

She arrived at the small gate at the edge of the estate, just beyond the mansion's walls. Mark was waiting there, leaning against his car, his eyes lighting up as he saw her approach. For a moment, she wanted to forget everything—forget the rules, the manipulation, the contract that bound her—and just be with him.

“Lilia,” Mark’s voice was low, but there was a relief in it that made her chest tighten. “You came.”

She stopped in front of him, hesitating for just a moment. His eyes were full of regret, but also something else—hope. She couldn’t remember the last time someone looked at her like that, as if she were worth something more than just a pawn in a game.

“I didn’t think you would actually show up,” she admitted, her voice shaky despite her best efforts to stay composed.

Mark stepped forward, his expression softening as he reached out for her. “I’m so sorry for what happened. I never wanted to hurt you. But Lilia, I need you to know the truth. I wasn’t happy. I was afraid... of losing you. And I was too weak to face it.”

Lilia felt a lump form in her throat as he reached out to touch her hand. His touch felt familiar, warm, like it had once before. She could feel her walls start to crack, the icy barrier she’d built around her heart beginning to crumble.

She wanted to speak, wanted to tell him how much he had hurt her, how everything had changed. But before she could, Mark leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. The kiss was gentle but full of desperation. It was a kiss filled with regret, with longing for what they had lost.

Lilia froze, her heart racing in her chest. Part of her wanted to pull away, to stop him, but another part of her—an aching, broken part—wanted to feel something real again, to feel the warmth of his embrace. She couldn’t fight it. Not tonight. Not when everything felt so broken.

But just as quickly as it began, the moment was shattered.

A car engine roared from behind them, its headlights slicing through the darkness like a blade. Lilia pulled away, her breath ragged as she turned toward the source of the noise.

Damian. Of course, it was Damian.

The car screeched to a halt, and the door swung open. He stepped out, his tall figure cutting through the night, eyes cold and unfeeling.

“Lilia,” Damian’s voice echoed across the quiet garden, sharp and accusatory. “I see you’ve decided to go behind my back.”

Mark’s face paled, but he didn’t move. Damian’s presence was commanding, his anger palpable, yet Lilia could see the flicker of something more in his gaze. He wasn’t just angry—he was hurt, betrayed, and she could see it in the tightness of his jaw and the stiff set of his shoulders.

Lilia’s heart pounded in her chest, but she didn’t know what to say. The situation had spiraled too far too quickly. She couldn’t think, couldn’t process the weight of Damian’s cold stare.

“Damian, I—” Lilia began, but Damian interrupted her, his voice low and controlled.

“Don’t say anything, Lilia. I’ve already seen everything I need to see.”

He turned to Mark, his eyes narrowing. “You have no place here. Don’t think I won’t deal with you later.”

Lilia stood frozen, her body tense as Damian's gaze turned back to her, full of authority and control. “You think you have a choice in this, Lilia?” His voice was steady but dangerous. “You belong to me now. And you will do exactly as I say.”

Lilia’s mind raced. She had hoped for a moment of freedom, but in that one instant, her fleeting escape had been crushed by the very man who had trapped her from the beginning. And now, with Mark standing silently beside her, the reality of her choices became all too clear. There was no going back.

***