Chapter 5

I stood there, my breath uneven, as Elijah’s words echoed in my mind. I couldn’t let this continue. I needed answers. “Why aren’t you afraid?” I blurted out, my voice trembling but determined. “What if people find out about us? About what happened?”

Elijah, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, seemed completely unbothered. “Afraid?” He smirked, the corner of his lips curling up. “Of what? The family’s reputation? Their precious honor?” He pushed off the wall and took a step toward me, his eyes dark with amusement. “Annabel, I couldn’t care less about the family’s reputation. In fact, I’d enjoy watching them squirm.”

His words sent a chill down my spine. How could he be so cold, so uncaring? “What do you want from me, Elijah?” My voice was barely above a whisper, desperate for a way out. “What can I do to be free of you?”

He looked at me, his expression suddenly serious. “Free of me?” His tone was almost mocking. “Annabel, this… whatever it is between us… it ends when I decide. When I grow tired of you.” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, sending a shiver down my spine. “And who knows when that will be?”

His words hung in the air like a death sentence. My heart pounded in my chest, fear clawing at me. There was no escape, no end in sight. I was trapped, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. My knees felt weak, and I struggled to stay standing.

Seeing the defeat in my eyes, Elijah’s expression softened just a bit. “You’re smarter than I gave you credit for,” he said, taking out his phone and holding it out to me. “Hand me your phone.”

I hesitated but knew I had no choice. I reached into my pocket and handed him my phone. He took it, his fingers moving quickly over the screen as he added his number. When he handed it back, I glanced down and saw the contact name he had entered: Little Uncle. The irritation bubbled up inside me, but I forced it down, biting my tongue.

“Whenever I call,” he said, his voice firm, “you answer. No matter what you’re doing.”

I clenched my jaw, hating the control he had over me, but I nodded. What else could I do?

“I want to leave,” I said, my voice trembling with the effort to keep my composure.

Elijah stepped closer, and for a moment, I thought he might stop me. But then he reached for the door, unlocking it with a deliberate slowness that made my skin crawl. “You can go,” he said, his voice low and smooth, his eyes locking onto mine. “For now.”

As soon as the door was open, I bolted, not caring how desperate I looked. I needed to get away from him, from this nightmare. I could feel his eyes on me as I hurried down the hallway and out of his house, the cold air hitting my face like a splash of water. But even as I ran, I knew this wasn’t over.

As I drove back to the villa, the weight of what had just happened pressed down on me like a heavy blanket. I glanced down at the oversized sportswear I was still wearing—Elijah’s clothes. The thought of walking into the villa like this made my stomach turn. What if someone sees me? I could already imagine Damian’s reaction.

Pulling into the driveway, I took a deep breath, hoping I could slip inside unnoticed. But as soon as I opened the door, I froze. Damian was standing at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes narrowing as they landed on me.

“Annabel,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Where have you been?”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “I… I went out.”

Damian’s eyes raked over me, taking in the unfamiliar clothes. His expression darkened, anger flashing in his eyes. “Those aren’t your clothes,” he said, his voice barely controlled. “Whose are they?”

My heart raced. I couldn’t tell him the truth, but I knew lying wouldn’t help. Before I could respond, Damian’s hand shot out, grabbing me by the hair and yanking me closer. “Who were you with?” he demanded, his voice a growl, the force of his grip sending pain shooting through my scalp.

I winced, trying to pull away, but his hold was too strong. “Let me go, Damian!”

“Tell me!” His voice was like thunder, his eyes wild with rage.

I had reached my breaking point. The fear, the anger, the betrayal—it all boiled over. “A wild man!” I spat out, sarcasm dripping from every word. “Someone who actually wants me. Someone who isn’t off with his mistress every night!”

The words hit Damian like a slap, and for a moment, I thought I saw hurt flash across his face. But then his expression hardened, his hand tightening in my hair. “You bitch!” he snarled, and before I could react, his hand came down, striking me across the face.

The slap echoed through the hallway, the sting bringing tears to my eyes. But I refused to back down. “Go ahead, Damian. Hit me again if it makes you feel better,” I said, my voice bitter. “But if you won’t divorce me, then you’ll have to live with the green hat I’ve put on your head.”

His grip on my hair loosened as he processed my words, his face contorting in disgust. “The green hat…?” he repeated, his voice dripping with venom.

“Yes,” I spat back, my voice trembling with emotion. “The shame of knowing that your wife—your mate—has been with another man. You can have all the mistresses you want, Damian, but remember this: I’m not the only one wearing that mark anymore.”

For a moment, Damian just stared at me, his eyes blazing with fury and something else—something that looked almost like fear. Then, without another word, he shoved me away, turning his back on me as if he couldn’t stand the sight of me.

I stumbled back, my body shaking with the adrenaline, the anger, and the overwhelming sense of despair. I had hit him where it hurt. There was no turning back now.