Vincenzo’s POVShe twisted in my grip, trying to break free. “I’ll never bend to you,” she snapped, her voice steady but filled with venom.I threw her onto the bed with force, this time ensuring that she stayed there. Her body bounced against the mattress, and I heard the chain rattle as it caught on the frame. She scrambled to sit up, but I was already towering over her, my shadow swallowing her whole.“Stay,” I ordered.Her lip curled, and she gave me a look that was almost too arrogant for my liking. “You’re wasting your time.”I reached down and grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look me in the eye. “It’s not about wasting time, Lyra,” I said softly, my voice dark. “It’s about making sure you understand your place. You don’t get to run from this. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”She pushed my hand away, but there was a hesitation in her movement. A slight tremor in her fingers. She was trying not to show it, but I could see it in the way she flinched when I touched her.
Meera’s POVThe boardroom felt suffocating, the air thick with tension. The usual hum of polite conversation had morphed into an endless squabble, each person fighting for their own agenda. The voices grew louder, overlapping, one accusation after another. Every word felt like a dagger to my chest, but none of them seemed to care. I stood frozen at the head of the table, my hands gripping the edges so hard my knuckles turned white."I told you this wouldn't work!" Raymond’s voice boomed across the room, his face flushed red. "We're not signing anything until we have a better guarantee.""I’m not going to keep going in circles with you!" Claire shot back, her arms folded across her chest, eyes narrowed. "Your numbers are a joke, Raymond. They were wrong from the start!"They didn't even notice me anymore, just locked in their own battle of egos and stubbornness. This was supposed to be the deal that would save my company, that would turn everything around. But instead, it felt like it
Meera’s POVI couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or if this was just another one of his manipulative tactics, but for a moment, I let myself believe in his words. For a moment, I wanted to believe that maybe he wasn’t just another obstacle, another player in this cutthroat game.I shook my head, a dry laugh escaping my lips. "You think it’s that simple?""It can be," he said softly. "But only if you stop pretending you have to do everything on your own."His gaze held mine, unflinching, waiting for me to say something. But what could I say? What could I possibly offer in a situation where I had already lost so much?"I can’t fix this," I said, barely more than a whisper, the weight of those words heavier than I could bear.Gabriel didn’t release my wrist, but his expression softened, his thumb still tracing gentle circles. "No one expects you to. But you don’t have to fight it alone anymore."For a second, just a split second, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, I w
Lyra’s POVI sat on the edge of the mattress, the rough fabric of the blanket pressed against my skin, as if it might offer me some kind of protection. My hands were shaking, clutching the fabric with a desperation I didn’t fully understand. My body still felt bruised, raw from what had just transpired. I couldn’t stop replaying the events in my head, the way he had pressed me against the wall, his lips frantic, hands gripping me with an intensity that felt like it could break me. It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t kind. It was forceful, wild, and I felt like I had been consumed by it.His touch had been suffocating, but it wasn’t just the physical strain that left me trembling. No, it was the fact that he had taken something from me. My virginity, my first time, something I thought I would give to someone who cared. Instead, it had been stolen from me in the heat of his hunger, and I was left feeling hollow. The tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t cry in fron
Vincenzo’s POVThe moment I told her the truth, her eyes glazed over with disbelief, as if I had just shattered everything she thought she knew about herself. She shook her head, lips parted in protest. For a brief second, I wondered if she was going to argue with me or run away. But instead, she rose from the mattress, the duvet slipping from her body like she was in a frenzy, desperate to disprove the words I had just spoken.“You’re lying,” she whispered at first, but there was panic in her voice now, a growing desperation that she couldn’t quite hide. “This—this can’t be real.”She came at me, her body trembling with a mix of anger and fear, and for a moment, I let her approach. I didn’t want to push her, not yet. I wanted to see her face, wanted to see the way she tried to fight it, tried to claw her way out of what was happening between us. But as she reached for me, as her hand came out to touch my arm—to convince me I was wrong—I couldn’t let her.I grabbed her wrist with a fo
Lyra’s POV“Lyra!” A familiar voice sent a cold shiver down my spine. Pushing my blanket off my body, I dashed towards the door, opened up quickly and ran down the stairs in my pajamas. “Dad, I told you Lyra has been lazing around, always wasting my time because she's got no responsibilities.” No responsibilities? I was literally the nanny in this luxurious mansion. Standing at the foot of the stairs, I watched as a redhead paced around the lounge, glancing at her wrist watch with each second that passed by. When she finally raised her head to stare at me, my heart skipped a beat, “Meera, I—” “I'm late for school because of you, bitch!” She snapped, charging towards me with flames dancing in her eyes. I swallowed hard, urging my feet to move out the way, but I knew better than running. I'd get punished over and over again, a never ending torture. Closing my eyes slowly, I anticipated the sharp pain on my cheeks, but it never came. Instead, a searing pain shot through my body as Me
Lyra’s POVUncle Luciano wasn't just an old friend of my uncle, he was old enough to be my own father. I'd never marry someone like that. Not now, not ever. For the first time in forever, I raised my head and took my stand, knowing that this single decision might ruin my whole life, “Getting married? Uncle Luciano is old enough to give birth to me.” My uncle snapped his neck towards me, his eyes glaring daggers at me. His eyes sized me up, amusement swirling in them,“I didn't just ask for your opinion, I'm stating a fact. You're going to get married to Luciano..” he paused for a while and cleared his throat, “To pay my debts. It's no big deal.” “No big deal?” I threw my hands in the air, my voice dripping with sarcasm, “then let Meera get married to him, let her pay for your debts instead.” My voice trembled as the words flowed from my insides, and I knew deep down I was going to regret it, but I just couldn't stop. I knew Uncle Zorah hated me, I just hadn't expected him to despis
Lyra’s POVIf sending letters was a thing of the past, my best friend—Tracy—and I were starting to bring it back. For the last few days, Uncle Zorah had shut me from the outside world—not that I was given free will in the first place. He seized my phone, my only company, and locked me up in my room. He was terrified I'd make an escape and ruin the marriage, but I wasn't just going to sit here and allow him send me off to some fucking old man with salt and peppered hair. I love Tracy with all my heart. She figured something was wrong when I obviously couldn't reply to her texts. She came knocking on my window days after and it became a habit to send letters down to communicate with her. Laying down on my bed, I read the last letter I received from her, grinning from ear to ear when she finally agreed to help me with my escape. She had climbed up a tall ladder to reach my window earlier, how hard could it be to do the same? I sighed out loud, folded up the paper and tore it in pieces
Vincenzo’s POVThe moment I told her the truth, her eyes glazed over with disbelief, as if I had just shattered everything she thought she knew about herself. She shook her head, lips parted in protest. For a brief second, I wondered if she was going to argue with me or run away. But instead, she rose from the mattress, the duvet slipping from her body like she was in a frenzy, desperate to disprove the words I had just spoken.“You’re lying,” she whispered at first, but there was panic in her voice now, a growing desperation that she couldn’t quite hide. “This—this can’t be real.”She came at me, her body trembling with a mix of anger and fear, and for a moment, I let her approach. I didn’t want to push her, not yet. I wanted to see her face, wanted to see the way she tried to fight it, tried to claw her way out of what was happening between us. But as she reached for me, as her hand came out to touch my arm—to convince me I was wrong—I couldn’t let her.I grabbed her wrist with a fo
Lyra’s POVI sat on the edge of the mattress, the rough fabric of the blanket pressed against my skin, as if it might offer me some kind of protection. My hands were shaking, clutching the fabric with a desperation I didn’t fully understand. My body still felt bruised, raw from what had just transpired. I couldn’t stop replaying the events in my head, the way he had pressed me against the wall, his lips frantic, hands gripping me with an intensity that felt like it could break me. It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t kind. It was forceful, wild, and I felt like I had been consumed by it.His touch had been suffocating, but it wasn’t just the physical strain that left me trembling. No, it was the fact that he had taken something from me. My virginity, my first time, something I thought I would give to someone who cared. Instead, it had been stolen from me in the heat of his hunger, and I was left feeling hollow. The tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t cry in fron
Meera’s POVI couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or if this was just another one of his manipulative tactics, but for a moment, I let myself believe in his words. For a moment, I wanted to believe that maybe he wasn’t just another obstacle, another player in this cutthroat game.I shook my head, a dry laugh escaping my lips. "You think it’s that simple?""It can be," he said softly. "But only if you stop pretending you have to do everything on your own."His gaze held mine, unflinching, waiting for me to say something. But what could I say? What could I possibly offer in a situation where I had already lost so much?"I can’t fix this," I said, barely more than a whisper, the weight of those words heavier than I could bear.Gabriel didn’t release my wrist, but his expression softened, his thumb still tracing gentle circles. "No one expects you to. But you don’t have to fight it alone anymore."For a second, just a split second, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, I w
Meera’s POVThe boardroom felt suffocating, the air thick with tension. The usual hum of polite conversation had morphed into an endless squabble, each person fighting for their own agenda. The voices grew louder, overlapping, one accusation after another. Every word felt like a dagger to my chest, but none of them seemed to care. I stood frozen at the head of the table, my hands gripping the edges so hard my knuckles turned white."I told you this wouldn't work!" Raymond’s voice boomed across the room, his face flushed red. "We're not signing anything until we have a better guarantee.""I’m not going to keep going in circles with you!" Claire shot back, her arms folded across her chest, eyes narrowed. "Your numbers are a joke, Raymond. They were wrong from the start!"They didn't even notice me anymore, just locked in their own battle of egos and stubbornness. This was supposed to be the deal that would save my company, that would turn everything around. But instead, it felt like it
Vincenzo’s POVShe twisted in my grip, trying to break free. “I’ll never bend to you,” she snapped, her voice steady but filled with venom.I threw her onto the bed with force, this time ensuring that she stayed there. Her body bounced against the mattress, and I heard the chain rattle as it caught on the frame. She scrambled to sit up, but I was already towering over her, my shadow swallowing her whole.“Stay,” I ordered.Her lip curled, and she gave me a look that was almost too arrogant for my liking. “You’re wasting your time.”I reached down and grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look me in the eye. “It’s not about wasting time, Lyra,” I said softly, my voice dark. “It’s about making sure you understand your place. You don’t get to run from this. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”She pushed my hand away, but there was a hesitation in her movement. A slight tremor in her fingers. She was trying not to show it, but I could see it in the way she flinched when I touched her.
Vincenzo’s POVI had finally gotten her. The stubborn little hellion, the one who had dared to speak back to me, who had made me lose my patience in front of everyone. Lyra. That woman was a problem, a puzzle I couldn’t wait to solve. If she thought her defiance would protect her, she had no idea what she was in for. The chain around her neck was a small token of my control, a reminder that she was mine now.As I descended the grand staircase of my mansion, my hand lazily resting on the polished wood of the railing, I felt a satisfaction in the air. This was going to be a night to remember. She wasn’t going to make things easy for me, I knew that. But nothing about this game would be easy. It never was.I passed a servant near the drink cart, and without a word, I motioned for a glass of wine. A small, subtle gesture. I didn’t need to say much. The servant hurried off to fill my request. The wine, deep and red, would be perfect—dark, heavy, just like the night ahead of us. I needed s
Lyra’s POVI flinched at his words, but said nothing. I couldn't. I wasn’t sure how to respond anymore. It was all a lie, all a game, and I was just a pawn caught in it. My mind was too clouded with fear, too heavy with doubt.The guards exchanged a glance before the second one spoke again. "We’ll leave you to get settled. Don’t try anything funny." His smile was dark, devoid of warmth, like he was looking forward to whatever came next.With a final, lingering look at me, the guards exited, leaving the door ajar. The heavy silence descended upon me once again.I hadn’t even realized how tightly I had been holding my breath until the air felt somewhat clearer, though no less oppressive. My heart still thudded painfully in my chest, my senses on high alert.But I wasn’t alone for long.The sound of footsteps approached from the hallway, soft at first, then growing closer. The door creaked open again, and a woman stepped into the room, holding a tray of food. She was tall, her figure gra
Lyra’s POVThe heavy chains rattled with every step I took, my heart a wild thrum beneath my ribs. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, the grim, overpowering odor of men and women bound together by fate. This place—this wretched place—wasn't unfamiliar. No, I knew it well. It was the other side of the cage I had once been locked in. The place I feared and fought against with every ounce of strength. But this time, there was no escape.I inhaled sharply, the sharp tang of metal stinging my nostrils. The guards' boots echoed behind me, their sharp, heavy steps a reminder of the power they held over my fragile existence. One of them, a burly man with a jagged scar that ran from his temple down to his cheek, glanced over at me, his eyes cold, unreadable. He didn’t speak, but I could feel the weight of his gaze, the judgment in his silence."Keep walking," the second guard snapped, shoving me forward with a force that nearly knocked me off balance. I stumbled but caught myself, grit
Lyra’s POV His lips twitched into something between a grin and a snarl. "You’re a firebird, aren’t you? I like that." He withdrew his hand slowly, the amusement never leaving his face. "You will be mine, Lyra. Whether you accept it or not.""Is that supposed to scare me?" I asked, my voice sharp. "Because it doesn’t."His smile faded, replaced by a steely look. "It will."I stared at him, defiant, refusing to let him see the flicker of fear that threatened to rise. I wasn’t going to bend. I wasn’t going to break."Maybe not," he mused, his fingers curling into a fist. "But I’ll make you want to be. And when you do, you’ll realize just how little control you ever had."The sharp wind outside the prison cut through me like a blade, but it wasn’t the cold that chilled me now—it was the weight of Miss Caroline’s words, still echoing in my mind, rattling through my chest like a death knell. I’m nothing. Her voice, venomous and cold, played on a loop in my thoughts, each repetition digging