"Don't wander off. I’ll meet you in an hour," Alexander said as he handed Vee his sleek black card, his tone clipped. His icy-blue eyes flicked to Dysis briefly, softening for a fraction of a second. "Get what you need. Vee, stay with her."Dysis hesitated, the weight of his gaze making her stomach churn. “Are you not coming with us?”“I have something to take care of,” he replied, his voice firm. Without waiting for her response, he turned and strode toward the parking lot, his tailored coat billowing behind him.“Come on,” Vee said, her tone softening as she tugged Dysis toward the glass doors of the luxury mall. “Let’s get those shoes sorted out.”The mall was bustling, its opulent atmosphere overwhelming. Chandeliers sparkled above them, and polished marble floors reflected the designer stores on every corner. Dysis felt out of place in her worn sneakers and simple dress, but Vee’s confident stride gave her the courage to follow.---Inside a boutique with walls lined in expensive
The Levi mansion loomed with an oppressive silence, its grandeur overshadowed by secrets. Alexander sat at his desk, his expression a mask of calm, as John handed him the report.Thomas Salmon was dead. The cause of his demise was murky.Leaning back in his chair, Alexander’s icy-blue eyes narrowed. Dysis didn’t need to know. The man who had sold her like a commodity wasn’t worth mourning. But the thought of her learning the truth from someone else gnawed at him. It was a small fear he’d never admit, but he couldn’t push it aside.“Dispose of this,” Alexander said flatly, pushing the report toward John.John hesitated, glancing at the file before meeting his gaze. “Sir, if Max Carter is involved—”“For now, this stays between us,” Alexander cut him off, his voice hard.John nodded, the tension in the air palpable as he left. Alexander remained, alone with his thoughts. For the first time in a long while, his mind was consumed with guilt, an unfamiliar and unwelcome feeling.**Dysis h
Dysis reclined in the chair, her fingers gliding along the spine of the book on her lap. The words merged into one, her thoughts wandering as she attempted to concentrate on the tale, yet Sofie’s voice resonated in her head, unyielding.“Know your place, slave.” The phrase lingered like a poisonous whisper, each repetition a cruel reminder of the tension between her and Sofie. Dysis clenched her jaw, forcing herself to push the memory aside. She had to stop thinking about it, stop letting it consume her. Sofie's presence merely reinforced the power dynamic she could never evade in this world. She turned the page of the book, but the words didn’t sink in. Instead, her thoughts surged, attempting to understand all that had transpired—the increasing unease she experienced in Sofie’s presence, the instances when Alexander’s focus appeared to waver, and the oppressive burden of an unexpressed tension among them. “What type of connection do Alex and Sofie share, anyway?” she whispered t
Alexander Levi was heading home, the soft drone of his car and the city lights blurring by providing scant comfort to the fatigue pulling at him. He had recently departed from the firm after a taxing day, his mind consumed by an increasing discomfort he couldn’t disregard. His phone buzzed loudly on the console, its vibration disturbing the quiet. He kept his gaze on the road while reaching for it and pressing the call button. “Milo,” he said, his tone composed but tinged with a subtle command. However, Milo’s voice on the other line was far from calm. “Sir, there’s an issue.” Alexander's grip on the wheel became firmer. "Speak?" "It is Dysis." "She’s missing." The vehicle jolts a bit as Alexander suddenly stops, his heart racing in his chest. "What do you imply by *missing*?" “She’s gone,” Milo said, frustration and panic bleeding into his tone. “Her personal guard, Vee, was last seen escorting her out of the mansion, but they never made it back. None of our teams can track he
Alexander strode past John, his footsteps echoing sharply through the marble corridors of the Levi mansion. The tension in the air was suffocating, every member of his household aware of the storm that had descended.Entering his office, he found Milo waiting, a laptop open on the desk and surveillance feeds streaming across the screen. Milo stood as Alexander entered, his expression grim.“What have you found?” Alexander demanded, his tone cold and impatient.Milo adjusted his glasses and turned the laptop toward Alexander. “We traced Vee and Dysis to the edge of Ravenhold, near the industrial district. The car disappeared into one of the tunnels, and we lost the signal. It’s a dead zone—no cameras, no tracking.”Alexander leaned over the desk, his icy-blue eyes scanning the footage. His jaw tightened as he replayed the moment Vee and Dysis vanished.“What about the men at the perimeter?” he asked.“They saw nothing,” Milo replied. “Whoever orchestrated this planned it carefully. No
Dysis’s thoughts raced as she devised a frantic strategy. She leaned back against the wall, feigning sleep as she heard the footsteps of one of Max's bodyguards getting closer. The lock snapped, and the stout door groaned as it opened. “Food,” the man growled roughly, setting a tray down on the table. Dysis remained motionless, breathing steadily, her heart racing within her chest. She could sense the ribbon pressing into her wrists, so tightly that the skin was starting to tear, blood running down her hands. The bodyguard approached, bending down to see if she was alert. It was this moment or not at all. Gathering all her power, Dysis raised her restrained hands, surprising him with a sudden blow to his face. He staggered backward with a grunt, and before he had a chance to regain his balance, she pushed him with her shoulder, causing him to slam into the table. Adrenaline rushed within her as she ran toward the door. She banged it closed behind her and secured it with shaky fin
Dysis’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes darted between Vee, who whimpered weakly in the guard’s grasp, and Max, whose expression was calm but deadly.“You wouldn’t,” she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.“Try me,” Max said, his tone sharp. “I have nothing to lose, I’ve already done far worse, Dysis. Don’t test how much further I’m willing to go.”Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she absorbed the impact of his words. Her thoughts raced, seeking an escape, a passage out of this nightmare. However, regardless of the direction she faced, she sensed confinement. “You’re running out of time,” Max said, holding the contract and a pen out to her. “Sign it, and I’ll let her live. Refuse, and she dies right here, right now.”Dysis’s hands trembled as she reached for the pen, her vision blurring. Was this really her only option?No!. Dysis’s expression turned steely, her eyes brimming with defiance as she faced Max’s icy gaze. "You and my dad are identical," she hi
Max was seated at his desk, sleeves pushed up, carefully wiping the blood from his hands using a white handkerchief. The red marks blotted across the cloth, a glaring reminder of his cruelty. The slight metallic odor hung in the atmosphere as he took off a handcuff from his wrist, its edges still stained with Vee’s blood. The door slowly opened with a creak, revealing a guard who entered, his face white and his hands trembling. He hesitated, unsure if interrupting Max in such a moment was wise. “Speak,” Max growled without looking up, his voice low and menacing. The guard gulped, the words catching in his throat. “Another attack on the territory, boss,” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. Max finally stopped, folding the bloodied handkerchief with an eerie calmness. He stood and turned to face the guard, his eyes narrowing. The faint click of his shoes against the floor as he moved closer made the guard’s knees weak. “Again?” Max muttered, his tone sharp enough
Adam sat in his study, the weight of his years pressing down like an iron chain that had long rotted yet never loosened. The room was gently lit, the flames flickering on the shiny mahogany walls, casting unsettling shadows that seemed to whisper of past wrongdoings. A glass of whiskey sat untouched beside him, the amber liquid reflecting the glowing coals, its warmth mocking the coldness in his heart. Across from him, Milo stayed silently watchful, his sharp gaze scrutinizing the man who had once been a formidable giant at the peak of his strength. Now, Adam appeared diminished in some way—not in height, but in how regret had started to settle into the lines of his face.Adam breathed out, rubbing a worn hand across his face. "It's odd," he whispered, nearly to himself. "You go on believing there’s always extra time… until one day, you see that there isn't." Milo stayed quiet, understanding it was best not to interject. He had discovered long ago that occasionally, silence was the
The moment he entered the hall, the air became heavy.The hush was immediate. It was as if the entire mansion drew in, and then simply remembered to hold the breath. Lucian's arms locked around Dysis, holding her in place. She was weakened, her hands loosely gripping his wrist to support her, her body refusing to obey.But none of that mattered. Not to Alexander.His gaze was glacial, cold and merciless. Icy-blue eyes froze Lucian in position, like a wolf who spotted another by the side of his prey.“Step. aside.”The words themselves calmed, and what rendered them so terrifying.Lucian didn’t blink, didn’t let Dysis go. His green eyes remained locked on Alexander, not in defiance, but in something worse—concern.“She nearly fainted,” replied Lucian, his voice steady and controlled. “I was tending to her."A muscle in the jaw of Alexander tensed. He didn't utter a word, but the tenseness could be sensed, so tight the smallest misfire would spring.Dysis felt a rush of fear. Her head w
The moment they arrived the security at the estate doubled. Guards were at the entrance while inside the premises the tension was charged.Alexander wasted no time at all giving orders, his voice imperious and sharp as he spoke to his troops. Dysis stood off to the side, noticing the way that all of them sprang at his every word.He was himself present. He was at easeGone was the man who had looked at her with something so vulnerable standing by the side of the road. In his place was someone untouchable.“Get every bodyguard on the ready,” Alexander instructed Milo at the front door to wait for their arrival. “Nobody sees this house without me knowing about it first.”Milo nodded hastily, already getting out his phone.Dysis crossed her arms. “What about me?” she asked.Alexander’s gaze turned to her. "You stay here."She scoffed. “That’s it?”“That’s everything,” he told me, coming closer to me, his voice lowering to a deep timbre. “You're not leaving without me again."Dysis glared
Laughter filled Dysis’s room as she and Brayden played together, his small hands eagerly stacking blocks into a wobbly tower. Every time it collapsed, he let out an exaggerated gasp, eyes wide with delight before urging her to help him build it again."You have to be careful, Brayden," Dysis teased, placing a block with precision. "If it falls again, I’m blaming you."Brayden grinned. "Nooo! You did it last time!"Brayden's small hand tugged at the hem of Dysis’s dress, his bright blue eyes wide with curiosity. “Can I stay with you a little longer?” Dysis hesitated, glancing toward the open door where Silver had left moments ago. The mansion was vast, and the boy likely felt lonely despite its grandeur. Additionally, she had developed an affection for him in a manner she hadn’t anticipated. “Okay,” she murmured gently, tousling his golden hair. A wide smile emerged on Brayden’s face as he hopped onto the soft rug in her room. He pulled out several toy soldiers from his pocket and
The morning sunlight streamed through the grand windows of the Levi estate as a maid carefully fastened the last button on Dysis’s dress. It was a gentle, flowing garment featuring an intricate floral pattern, the material airy against her skin. It was a gentle, flowing garment featuring an intricate floral pattern, the material airy against her skin. The soft pastel shades complemented her, giving her an elegant yet subtle look—precisely the type of presence that wouldn’t attract excessive attention. "You look lovely, miss," the maid remarked respectfully, stepping back to appreciate her handwork.Dysis managed a small smile. "Thank you."A knock at the door interrupted them, and another maid stepped in, bowing slightly. "Miss Dysis, Lady Lili has requested your presence at the dining table for breakfast with the family."Dysis blinked. "She… requested me?"The maid nodded. "She wishes to apologize for her behavior at the party."An apology? That surprised her. She hadn't had much i
The morning sunlight streamed through the thick curtains, creating a gentle illumination throughout the room. The soft buzz of the mansion was far off, smothered by the heavy walls, with just the noise of consistent breathing in the gap between them. Dysis lay still, her body tense, fully aware of the weight draped over her waist—Alexander’s arm. His presence was overwhelming, his warmth pressing into her back, his grip firm as if holding her there on instinct. Her heartbeat betrayed her. It drummed too fast, too erratic, as if her body hadn’t gotten the message her mind was screaming: This doesn’t mean anything. She inhaled sharply, trying to shake off the disorienting pull of him. Carefully, she shifted, attempting to slip out of his grasp. But before she could move an inch, his grip tightened. “Alexander,” she murmured, her voice quieter than she intended. He grumbled in response, low and rough, not fully awake—but unwilling to let go. Her breath caught. He was still a
He caught it effortlessly—of course he did—and raised an amused brow. “Violence? After everything I just did for you?” “You call making fun of me ‘helping’?” she snapped, burying herself deeper under the covers. “And don’t act like killing a spider is some grand heroic act. You were probably just showing off.” Alexander smirked, tossing the pillow onto the bed. “If I was showing off, I’d have made sure you were watching.” Dysis let out an exasperated groan and turned away from him, pulling the blanket over her head. This man is impossible.A beat of silence passed. Then she heard the rustle of fabric, followed by the dip of the mattress. Her body went rigid. He was on the bed. “W-what do you think you’re doing?” Her voice was unexpectedly high-pitched, causing embarrassment. Alexander reclined against the headboard, extending himself next to her as if he were meant to be there. “Getting comfortable.” Dysis peeked out from under the blanket and glared at him. “Go to your
Dysis groaned as she sat up, untangling herself from Alexander’s arms. Her dress was ruined—ripped in several places thanks to the chaos from earlier. She sighed, trying to pull at the fabric, but the intricate design made it impossible. She hadn’t dressed herself—four maids had helped her into it before the party. She glanced at Alexander, who was now propped up against the headboard, observing her with a grin. “Could you assist me in getting out of this dress?” she inquired, feeling flustered. Alexander raised a brow, amused. “Are you asking me to undress you?” Dysis’ face heated. “No! I mean, yes—but not like that! Just the back—ugh, forget it!” She marched to the bathroom before he could poke fun at her anymore. Inside, she battled with the dress for about five minutes before it dawned on her something dreadful—she had no other outfit. “Alexander!” she called through the door. “I need something to wear!” He chuckled from the other side. “So you do need my help after
The party had descended into a low hum of whispers as the last guests made their way toward the exit. The evening, meant to be a celebration, had become a spectacle of half-spoken truths and mounting tensions. The question on everyone’s mind, though unspoken, was clear: What did Dysis really mean to Alexander Levi?As Alexander and Dysis stood by the grand doorway, ready to leave the mansion, the weight of the night seemed to press down on them both. Dysis’s mind raced, still processing the stares, the whispered gossip, and, most significantly, the possessive look Alexander had given her earlier. Despite her growing connection to him, the entire evening had left her uneasy, as if everything around them was shifting. “Are we really leaving?” she asked, her voice softer than she intended. Alexander, ever the enigma, met her eyes with his usual unreadable expression. “We are.” She gave him a brief nod, turning her attention to the large wooden doors ahead. But just as they were abo