CHAPTER SIX— ACCOMPLICE

The plan was simple: pay a visit to Matt in his grandmother's house since that was where he loved to stay for a while. A little bit of talking, and then bring up the discussion about wanting to run away.

I had no clue what I was hoping would come out of it and last night, I'd told myself that whatever the repercussions were, it was better than living in a hopeless marriage with that ruthless man who'd taken my first kiss without permission.

God, there were some nights when I lay, staring up at the ceiling and when I remembered that day he'd come into my room uninvited and eaten my mouth like I was his favorite meal, I felt the tingle between my legs.

I shook my head as the memory came swirling back. Now was not the time to start daydreaming about what those expert hands could do. I needed to figure out a way for my freedom rather than letting my body make a fool out of me. If my plans worked out, it was only a matter of time until I found a man who would love me and treat me how I craved to be treated.

Mother was reluctant about letting me go to Matt's house, because she was scared of what might happen. I gaslighted her with words that this would probably be my last shot at freedom and I was going to make the most out of it than stay in my room sulking all day. She reluctantly agreed but insisted that I take a guard with me. You know how the outside world is, Ariadne. Especially now that you're engaged to one of the most powerful men in this city. Your safety is more important than anything. I was tempted to ask her if my safety was important because she loved and was concerned about me or because of who I was going to be married to.

I hated her for that one decision she'd allowed Luca and my father to make in my life, but I wasn't a fool to remember how it worked in my world. Women had no power over the decisions of their husbands, let alone theirs. Sadly, that was soon going to be my fate too— if I didn't do something sooner.

I arrived at his grandmother's house, hit with the nostalgic moments I'd shared in this house. It was funny how much I'd felt comfortable in this shabby home compared to my mansion. The mansion felt like a prison and I was serving time until I would be moved to another prison.

“Oh my God, Ariadne, my darling!” Matt's grandmother, Nana gushed immediately she opened the door and saw it was me standing in front of it. Pulling me into a hug, I let her almost squeeze the life out of me. “I'm so happy to see you. It's been so long you came over.” She pulled away, giving me a once-over look. “I heard about your engagement to Luca. Pretty sad, right?”

I let out a laugh to stop the pain from seeping out of me. “Finally! You are the only one who says things exactly as they are.”

She offered me a small smile. “Your mother never had a backbone to begin with. And your father? Only God knows what deal he signed with the devil and is now trying to crawl out of it after it by using you as a sacrificial lamb.”

She was right, and couldn't have worded it better.

I let her pull me into the living room and my eyes searched around for Matt. “Where is Matt?”

Nana sighed, moving to the fridge. “Poor boy went over to see his mother. The woman won't stop pulling the victim card. She's my daughter but I am too old to have any qualms about calling someone out on their bullshit.” She glanced at me. “Excuse my English.”

I smiled. “None taken. So, when is he going to be back?”

She shrugged, placing a glass of Mango juice in front of me. “Maybe tomorrow. Nancy can be needy when she wants to be.”

I knew about Matt's relationship with his mother, but I didn't think it was like this. He never really liked to talk about her, and now I knew why.

“Now tell me dear,” Nana started. “What exactly are you going to do about this … crisis at your hand?”

“Crisis?” I was confused.

She raised a brow at me. “Don't tell me you have accepted your fate, child?”

“Well, no, but…” I trailed off. Was telling her my plan going to do anything? Could I even trust her? Sure, Nana treated me like her grandchild, but then again she was loyal to our society.

Nana laughed, bringing me from my train of thoughts. “Now, that is the look of a girl who has a plan but the wheels in her head are turning because she doesn't know who to trust.”

How did she…?

“Tell me what's on that beautiful mind, child.”

I hesitated for a minute, still contemplating, before I —

“I want to flee, Nana.” There. I finally said it.

A proud smile made its way to her face and she nodded. “Thought as much. You know I've been against the practice of our society for decades now. Especially when my sister married a devil for a husband and was never the same. Far more women have suffered in this evil practice and I think we've come to a point where it has to be condemned.”

“So, you are going to help me?” I asked slowly.

“Of course I am. I don't have the resources to help you run away safely, but I know someone far far away who is willing to accommodate you. She owes me a favor and won't hesitate to fulfill it.”

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. “Wow. And here I was worried that I would need to convince Matt with more than words to help me. Who would have thought my guardian was right here all along?” I teased and laughed.

“Well, it's a good thing you didn't tell Matt,” she told me. “I've known that boy since he started crawling to know that he is afraid of trouble and helping you reeks of more trouble than you can imagine. You are a daughter of the society and running a way is a crime punishable. Matt helping you could turn out much worse for him.”

“Then why are you helping me?”

She leaned back in her chair with a mischievous smile. “I on the other hand, I have nothing to possibly lose, now do I?”

We both held our stares and then I chuckled, shaking my head at this woman's confidence. “I guess you don't.” She hummed. “Thank you Nana. For doing this for me.”

She smiled. “I'm not just doing this for you, Ariadne. I'm doing this for my sister I couldn't save. Maybe this could be a way for me to atone for that sin after all.”