Chapter Eight: Trapped Heavy air, suffocating, as I crept down the dark corridors of the mansion, my bare feet making no sound on the cold marble floor. My heart was racing, pounding in my ears so loudly I just knew it would be heard. My breaths were shallow, fear clawing at my throat, but I pressed on.I couldn't stay here anymore. I didn't know where I'd go or what would happen to me, but anywhere was better than this place-better than putting up with Bianca's cruelty and Damian's indifference.I reached the front door, the large ornate handle glinting in the faint moonlight spilling through the high windows. Freedom was so near I could almost taste it. My shaking fingers reached out and skimmed the cold metal, when a gruff voice shattered my tenuous hope."And where do you think you're going?"My blood ran cold, and I was rooted to the spot. Slowly, I turned to find Bianca standing behind me. The silk robe was hanging loosely on her thin frame, her arms were crossed over her chest
Chapter Nine : The Weight Of Sillence The darkness in the room barely spread to the corners when I shut the door behind me. It was that harmless, almost not-heard click of the latch that sounded like the last nail hammered into a coffin. This room, small as it was, was my only pedestal to unravel myself. But here, too, the walls seemed to encroach on me, choking with reminders of my failure.I leaned against the door, sliding down until I sat on the cold floor. Knees tucked to chest, arms wrapping tightly about them, as if holding myself together could stop the ache inside. Hot, endless, tears started before I could stop them, carving silent trails down my cheeks.Why had I thought I could endure this?Every moment here reminded me of how helpless I felt. Seven years, seven long years-serving Damian, paying off the debt i owe- Being in Damian's cold mansion is far better than staying here. I thought I am there to serve Damain, how come serving his girlfriend too? It wasn't in the dea
Chapter Ten: Damian's Thought Damian's PovThe night was still, but my mind wasn't. I was sitting in my dimmed study; the amber glow of the desk lamp cast shadow patterns on the walls. The drink in my hand had remained untouched for hours, the ice melting in it, diluting the amber liquid.But nothing diluted the thoughts churning in my head.Her face just wouldn't leave me.Lena.I leaned back in the leather chair, my eyes fixed on the ceiling as her image flickered in my mind: those wide, frightened eyes, the way her slight frame seemed to shrink as Bianca stood over her, spitting cruel words even in my presence.I had watched it all, watched as Bianca stripped her of what little dignity she had left.And I had done nothing.No, it wasn't true. I'd done something. I'd let Bianca take her away even when I knew deep down she doesn't have a good intention towards her.I squeezed my eyes shut, clenching the glass so hard it was in danger of shattering.It hadn't been my choice-not reall
Chapter Eleven : Taking What's MineDamian's PovI couldn't sit still anymore.From my clenched fists to the heat rising in my chest, my entire body screamed for action. I knew exactly what I needed to do, and I had no longer a doubt left. I had allowed her to suffer enough, and now it was time to fix this.I got into the car, my heart pounding in my chest as the tires screeched against the road, slicing through the night like a knife. Bianca's house was far enough from mine that the ride gave me ample time to think, but my thoughts were more like a haze, really.Anger. Frustration. Guilt.What had I done?She had begged me, pleaded with me, and I had just let her go. I had allowed Bianca to drag her into this nightmare. I had stood by and told myself I didn’t care.But now, the thought of Lena in that house, enduring Bianca’s cruelty, made my blood boil. I didn’t know how I had let this go on for so long.I had to stop this.It came into view, and the mansion sat coldly in the distan
Chapter Twelve: A Glimmer of HopeLena's PovThe hum of the car engine filled the silence, but it did little to drown out the pounding of my heart. I sat stiffly, my hands gripping my skirt so tightly my knuckles turned white. Damian sat beside me, his profile sharp under the dim light from passing streetlamps. His jaw was clenched, his hands gripping the wheel with tension that made me wonder if it might snap under the strain.I wanted to speak, to ask him why he'd come for me, why he'd stormed into Bianca's house like a raging storm and pulled me out of that hellhole without a word. But the words were trapped in my throat, tangled with the fear and confusion that had consumed me since the moment he appeared at Bianca's door.I stole a glance at him, but his face didn't give anything away. His gaze was fixed on the road, his brows furrowed as if wrestling some invisible demon.Why? The question screamed inside my head, louder than the roar of my own heartbeat. Why would he care?The
Chapter Thirteen: "Promises in the Dark"Lena's POVThe house was quiet, far too quiet. The kind of silence that seemed to press against the walls, lingering in the shadows like a secret no one was willing to speak. It had been hours since Damian left for his usual business, and though I should've felt relief, all I could feel was the weight of the loneliness that came in his absence.I couldn't remember the last time I had time to myself, to just breathe and think. The weight of Damian's power and intensity constantly smothering me, but I knew that wouldn't last long. Damian always came back, he always commanded attention. I wouldn't have long before he did again, and I wasn't sure what I would do with that.It was then that I heard it-footsteps at my door. Not heavy, powerful steps like Damian's but light and cautious.I got up from the bed, heart racing. Could it be him? No. He would've called first. He always did. Yet, this presence that lay beyond my door felt different. I approa
Chapter Fourteen: Whispers of DefianceLena's POVThe morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, a stark contrast to the storm that had raged within me throughout the night. Sleep had evaded me entirely, my mind replaying Alex’s visit over and over again. His voice still lingered in my ears, his promise echoing in the hollow chambers of my heart."I will come back for you."I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor as if the answers I sought could be found there. My chest was heavy, weighed down by the memory of his touch, the gentleness in his eyes, and the warmth of his voice. For the first time in years, I'd felt something other than despair.Hope.But hope was dangerous.It had been years since I'd let myself hope for anything, especially freedom. This life, Damian's world, it had stolen every fragment of me that once had dared to dream of a better tomorrow. And now, Alex had dared to hand that hope back to me, lighting a spark I wasn't sure I was strong enough to nur
Chapter Fifteen: Fractured ChainsLena's POVThe house was quiet, an eerie silence wrapping itself around every corner like a heavy fog. Damian had left earlier in the day, and I should have felt relief in his absence. But instead, I felt this weird heaviness-a mix of confusion and resentment.I sat cross-legged on the plush rug in the center of my room, staring at the locked door to my balcony. I wasn't allowed out there. In fact, Damian didn't let me do much of anything. For all it mattered, the world outside these walls was another planet, unreachable and forbidden.But why?That was the question that bothered me constantly. Sometimes Damian acted like he cared, like I was something fragile he needed protection from. Other times, he was cold and detached, his words cutting through me like shards of glass. It was as if he couldn't decide whether I was his prisoner or something more.My fingers absently traced the embroidery along the edge of the rug, my mind floating to the instance
Chapter Ninety Nine: The Final GambitDamian's POVThe room was still except for the metronomic tick of the ancient clock on the wall. My shoulder ached from the gunshot wound, the ache a dull reminder Lucas had fired the shot.He had shot me.Not Bianca. Not one of her brainless mercenaries. Lucas. My own brother.Rafael sat across from me, arms crossed over his chest, annoyance etched into his posture. He had not said a word since we returned to the safe house, but now his temper was flared."We have to talk about this," he stated.I didn't say anything."You hesitated," he pressed on, his voice a little harsher this time. "You had a chance to take him down, and you didn't do it."My jaw was set hard. "He's not the enemy."Rafael laughed. "He shot you, Damian."I knew that. I felt that. But something in Lucas' eyes that moment—right as he took the shot—gave me the assurance that there was still something left of him. Something of himself that wasn't taken away entirely by Bianca's
Chapter Ninety EightThe Hunt BeginsDamian's POVThe air stank of smoke and blood. The safe house was still, save the steady hum of the city beyond. I stood in the window, gripping the hem of the curtain as I leaned into the darkness. Each shadow, each waver of motion seemed a possible threat.Bianca had crossed the line this time.Lucas… I did not know if he had survived the explosion. And if he did, I was certain of one thing—he would not stop until he had my head. Bianca had done her work to him, poisoned his mind, and now he was just another enemy I had to get rid of.A forceful rap on the door broke my train of thought."It's me."I recognized the voice immediately—Rafael, my most trusted right-hand man. I opened the door wide enough to let him in before closing it behind him. He was dressed in black, his expression grim."We discovered something," he said, handing me the folder. "You're not going to like it."I opened it up, looking over the photographs inside. The first was a
Chapter Ninety Seven: BetrayalDamian’s POVThe moment Lucas pulled the trigger, everything exploded into chaos.I barely dodged the bullet, rolling behind a metal crate as gunfire erupted across the control room. My men stormed in, firing at Lucas’s guards, while Lena took cover beside me, reloading her gun.Lucas had made his choice.I wouldn’t hesitate anymore.I checked the crate, gun pointed at him, but he'd already taken cover behind a steel pillar. No sign of Bianca—she'd vanished in the chaos, snake that she was.Coward."Damian!" Lena yelled, her voice authoritative. "We need to move forward!"I nodded, motioning to Nikolai. He tossed a smoke grenade into the room, and within seconds, thick gray smoke choked the air.Lucas's men started to cough, confused.It was my chance.I raced forward, dodging wild shots, until I was mere feet from him. I wanted answers. I wanted to know why my own brother had betrayed me.I tackled him to the ground.We crashed onto the hard floor, punc
Chapter Ninety Six: The First StrikeDamian's POVThe second those words left Nikolai's lips—"Your brother is behind this"—something inside me snapped.For years, I'd kept the past secret, convinced myself that he was dead, that the betrayal he'd committed was the last I'd ever have from him. I'd moved on. I'd built my empire without him.And now he was here. Not only here—plotting with Bianca to bring me down.I should have known better."Where is he?" I spoke in an icy, detached tone. That Damian of old—the one who would have restrained himself because of blood ties—no longer existed.Nikolai wiped the blood from his battered lip and exhaled. "He's been lurking in the shadows for years, Damian. He's been pulling strings as we've been distracted with Bianca. We underestimated him."I clenched my teeth, focusing. No rage allowed, no time to let this treachery sink in.We had to strike first."Bianca wants you to be reckless," Lena whispered. She was standing beside me, her eyes firm b
Chapter Ninety Five The Breaking PointLena’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating.Damian was at the window, his shoulders rigid, his jaw so tight it appeared that it would crack. I could see the storm raging in his eyes—the conflict he waged in his mind. Bianca had offered him an option, but we both understood it was no option at all. It was a trap, a ruthless game designed to break him.Surrender to Bianca, and she triumphs. Stand up to her, and she might still win.I didn't believe it."I am not going to let you," I said firmly, though with terror ripping my chest asunder.Damian didn't look at me right away. His fists were tightly bunched at his waist, and when he finally looked at me, his dark eyes locked with mine in a fierceness that caused shivers along my spine."Lena, you don't understand," he said to her, his voice clenched. "If I don't stop her now, she'll destroy it all. She's already getting too close—to powerful. If I push her too hard, she'll manipulate you to
Chapter Ninety Fivee: The Ultimate BetrayalLena's POVThe room felt stifling.I could hear the muffled hum of conversation in the distance, a reminder that we were not alone. But in this cold, dingy room, it felt like the world had narrowed down to the two of us—me and Damian. Or me, Damian, and the traitor.Damian's face was unreadable. His jaw was set, his fists buried at his hips. But his eyes—those dark, black eyes—reflected an emotion I had never witnessed.Betrayal."You?" His voice was smooth, deadly almost, but I could sense the storm brewing beneath it.The man standing before us—**one that Damian had trusted, one with whom he'd been friends for years—**shifted awkwardly. But their eyes didn't show any remorse. No guilt. Just cold calculation."You shouldn't be surprised, Damian," said the traitor."This was always going to happen."My stomach tightened. I had witnessed Damian rage on numerous occasions previously, but this. this was different. It was the kind of silence tha
Chapter Ninety ThreeThe Betrayal and the EscapeLena's POVThe darkness was thick with tension, it curled around me like a strangling shroud. My ribcage slammed tight against my thundering heart. I held Damian's hand tightly, and my breath expelled short and shallowly. We were running. We couldn't help it.Bianca's soldiers were close. Too close.The forest behind the cabin loomed before us, its shadows stretching out like ghostly fingers in the light of the moon. We didn't have time to linger. Damian pulled me along, his grip tight but urgent, and we plunged into the shadows, our boots crunching through dead leaves and twigs.Behind us, the sounds of those who pursued us reached my ears: murmurs, the breaking of twigs now and again, swaying of branches. They were advancing, hurrying, and they knew these woods as well as we did."Quickly," Damian gasped, his breath no louder than the pounding of my heart.I did. God, I did. My legs ached, my lungs heaved for air, but I pushed myself
Chapter Ninety TwoSafetyLena's POVThere was unease thick in the air as Damian gripped the steering wheel, his eyes darting from the dark, winding road ahead of us to the rearview mirror. The engine rumbled low, the only sound between us, but I felt the pressure of everything that had never been said resting on my chest. We had been on the road for hours, and yet the feeling of being chased never wavered.I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, my fists clenched in my lap. My mind ran over the past few hours in a cycle. Bianca had known where I was. She had orchestrated this. If Damian hadn't saved me, I shuddered at what could have happened. And yet even now, I didn't know if I had gotten away or was merely delaying the inevitable.The car careened widely as Damian navigated onto a dirt path, the tires crunching over rocks."Where are we?" I finally cut into the quiet. My words trembled ever so slightly more than I wished, but I was too drained to care.Damian maintained his concentra
.Chapter Title: The Breaking PointDamian’s POVThe cold bite of the metal chains on my wrists had long since turned from pain to numbness. Hours—maybe even days—had passed since Bianca's little speech, but time lost all meaning when locked in a dark, airless room. The single and only thing that mattered was escape.I replayed every word she'd said, every hint she'd dropped regarding her final play. She was after Lena. That in itself had anger searing through me, hot and unforgiving.I had to do something. Now.The problem? The heavy steel cuffs binding my hands and the two guards—Luca and Rian—stationed outside.They were sure, arrogant. Bianca had them thinking I was broken, too frail to strike back. That was their mistake.I let my body fall forward, feigning exhaustion, letting my breathing come in thin, uneven pants. The tramp of boots was heard in the hallway outside the door. A moment later, it creaked open, and the room was lit with dim light.Luca came in first, followed by