Home / Romance / The Devil's Game / Chapter 2 - Testing Boundaries

Share

Chapter 2 - Testing Boundaries

Author: Tabitha
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-19 05:26:33

The days after blurred together into one long stretch of misery. Ayra caught no sight of either her sister or her father during the next three days, secluded as she was in her corner of their mansion. 

The absence of Lisbeth she could deal with - her elder sister was not the most likable of people - but the fact that her father had all but abandoned her twisted her insides in hate and loathing.

Occasionally her thoughts turned to Lucian and her impending... Wedding, as it were. 

She also couldn’t stop replaying the cold certainty in his voice, the way he had claimed her without a second thought, as if her life was nothing more than another business deal to him. 

It terrified her more than she cared to admit, and while she didn't hold much of an idealized view of her marriage, she did not want it to be... This. 

She'd spent hours upon hours poring over the contract, studying every word, every clause futilely, just because she refused to sit on her ass and cry like a little girl. 

The legal jargon wasn't particularly dense, hence a major in Liberal arts like she could understand that while Lucian did not own her on paper, and their marriage was mutually beneficial to both the Cyrus family and hers, it did little to secure her autonomy or rights in the sham of a marriage. 

It would be a breach of the contract if they divorced each other within twelve months - hells, she had no right to serve Lucian divorce papers for whatever reason!

The document bound her to him—her life, her freedom, everything she had was now under his control. 

She combed through the fine print late at night four days later, eyes burning from lack of sleep, out of a lack of something to do. Sitting still felt dumb and doing anything else felt like the height of unproductivity.

Every inch of her being screamed at her to find a way out; to break free from the approaching gloom of a future that was becoming Lucian’s plaything. 

The 28th was coming far too quickly and the thought of what awaited her on that day and after was enough to make her stomach churn in fear and revulsion.

She tossed the contract into a corner and ran a hand through her hair. To God, she needed to sleep, but thoughts of marrying the Director sent shivers down her spine every few minutes. She had only slept intermittently in the past four days, her waking hours almost always heralded by tears. 

"Jars," she called, her voice raspy from days of sobbing. "Play me some music."

The sound system in her room gave a small beep as it was booted on. The soothing melody of a sad blues song began to play from its speakers. 

"Shuffle," Ayra commanded and the upbeat tune immediately replaced the previous song.

Ayra closed her eyes, trying to lull herself into sleep when the lyrics of the song's chorus registered in her brain and she was jerked awake instantly.

~Chase me, Chase me~

~And I'll run to the world's end~

~Where the skies are blue and your eyes can't reach~

She shot to her feet, a sudden surge of adrenaline-boosting her as she reached for the contract and read it in its entirety once more. 

She was through in minutes - her version of the contract did not have many terms - but she read it once more, feverishly this time, just to make sure.

Five minutes later she pumped her fists in the air, a cheerful cry of victory finding its way out of her throat. 

"Yes! Yes! Damn yes!"

Her father was gone, having all but abandoned her the moment she’d signed herself away, and she was left with nothing but the sharp edge of betrayal and the weight of her bleak future.

But now—now there was a chance.

Ayra’s pulse quickened as realization sank in. There was no explicit mention of confinement, no written obligation to stay until Lucian came for her. 

Even better, there was no repercussion on the deal between the Cyrus family and hers if she somehow fell off the face of the earth. It was a rather glaring loophole. How had he not noticed this? 

No, how had her father not noticed it? He was easily the smartest man she knew. Or, perhaps, had he known all along and simply expected her to be too terrified to act? Ayra chuckled with schadenfreude. Oh, she was not afraid to run. 

Even better, if she left now, she might be able to slip away before anyone even realized she was gone. The thought sent a rush of adrenaline through her veins, the first spark of hope she’d felt in... days!

The 28th.

Six days.

He most certainly had not given her that deadline out of generosity. 

But he had underestimated her. Or, perhaps, did not believe his 'property' could grow legs and run. She cackled to herself. 

Ayra paced about her room, her mind spinning with possibilities. Where could she go? Who could she turn to? 

The answers were bleak—she had no real connections, no friends who wouldn’t ask questions, no... 'family' willing to help. 

Her father had made sure of that when he sold her off like some kind of asset. Like a fucking item.

She clenched her fists at the thought, the jagged spikes of betrayal and hurt that had been lodged in her heart fusing slowly into anger. 

But she took a deep breath and pushed the emotions aside. It was not the time for it quite yet. 

She didn’t need anyone. Not now. All she needed was to be smart, careful, and meticulous in her steps going forward. 

Ayra shoved the contract into the briefcase it came with, her hands trembling, her mind racing. She needed a plan. 

.....

Good plans didn't come easy, Ayra found out by the next morning. Good plans were a bitch to come up with. 

She'd noticed that there had been an increase in the house guards in the past few weeks, and now she suspected it was due to the deal between her father and Lucian. 

Having been surrounded by security personnel her whole life, she could spot more than one or two suspicious figures within the roster of people patrolling the mansion. 

They were more heavily armed than the type Ayra was used to, their eyes steely and steps more akin to professional thugs than bodyguards. 

They looked just as likely to put a bullet in Ayra as they were to keep thieves out. She could easily infer that they would not simply let her waltz out of the house. 

She paced the length of her room, her gaze flicking to the small bag in the corner of her room from time to time. If she was going to do this, it would have to be tonight. No waiting, no second-guessing. 

She ran a hand through her hair, pulling at it in frustration as she realised she couldn't do it alone. She needed someone to move her out; public transport was off the table as her father could track her down too easily, and she didn't know how to drive.  

There was no helping it. If she stayed, Lucian would come, and when he did, it would be too late. 

Grabbing the bag, she began tossing in essentials: clothes, toothbrush, some cash - anything she could carry that wouldn’t weigh her down. 

She took a moment to buy a train ticket bound for a night journey to throw her father off, backed up her important files and photos to her memory card and popped it out. 

She hesitated over the next part but eventually broke the phone and tossed it into the trash. It had cost a pretty penny. Now she couldn't go back due to cold feet. 

The plan took shape as Ayra moved around her room and she decided to move that very night. 

She felt the weight of her decision press down on her with every passing minute, the nagging doubt gnawing at her. 

Running from someone like Lucian wasn’t as simple as walking out the door and disappearing. He was the director of THE fucking Consortium. He had resources - people, connections - things that could track her down no matter where she went. 

And, despite her father's recent pathetic showing, she knew he was terrifyingly smart. He would look for her. And if she messed up even once, he would find her. 

But Ayra wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet.

At exactly 9 pm that night she slipped out the door, the hallway of the building eerily quiet. The moon was not out that night, and the darkness outside felt like both a blessing and a curse. 

As she descended the stairs, her heart thudded louder with every step. This was it. She was doing this. She was going to disappear.

She walked boldly past the few guards she met within the house without bothering to explain herself. Their gaze on her was sharp and gauging, but Ayra disregarded them and strode for the garden exit. 

When the door leading to the garden came into view, she went down a side corridor and jogged up the side stairs to the second floor. She came across a window with an overhang from the first floor right beneath it as well as a hedge directly beneath. 

She scanned the area and spotted a guard facing away from the house and towards the fence. Ayra breathed out and stepped out the window, slid silently down the overhang, and dropped quietly behind the hedge. 

The guard turned, alerted by the thump of her feet, and she lay flat on the ground while his flashlight scanned dialleddge. Soon he lost interest and she got to her feet and crept forward. 

She knew the house like the back of her hand; she didn't believe she could avoid their eyes if she truly tried. 

.....

The cool night air hit her like a shock when she stepped outside, the city’s pulse thrumming in the distance. She kept her head down, blending into the crowd of pedestrians moving down the sidewalk. 

Her heart pounded fiercely in joy as she made her way down the street, her lips threatening to split apart from the urge to smile. 

She had done it. She'd escaped. While a guard had seen her in the end, they hadn't been able to stop her before she scaled the wall. But it was alright. The train ticket should throw her father off her tail for at least a day. 

She walked quickly and pushed her way into the first phone booth she found. 

She had planned to walk until she found one, but with the weather being in the middle of winter, the night was far too cold for it, hence she had hailed a taxi and drove for almost an hour before getting to where she was. 

Fingers trembling, she dialed the only person she felt she could trust. The phone rang twice before a familiar voice answered.

"Hello?" Sarah, her best friend, answered. 

"Hi. Sarah, it's Ayra calling."

“What? Ayra? Is everything okay?” 

Ayra took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. “I need to get out of the city. Can you help me?”

"What? Wait, Why?"

"Just... I'll explain later. I just need your help."

"Alright, where are you? I'll come pick you up."

Ayra searched the street and found a sign not far from her. 

"Winston Street. I'm in the phone booth right now."

"Alright. Just sit tight. I'll be there in... Thirty minutes tops."

"Thank you." 

Ayra hung up and sighed. 

Twenty minutes later, someone knocked on the booth. 

"That call was a bad choice. Not the call itself but who you called," the stranger said. 

While she was unable to see the person clearly through the frosted glass, she would recognize the voice anywhere. It was her father.  

The first plan is done. 

She always knew Sarah was a bitch. 

Related chapters

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 3 - Lucian's Isa

    The sleek black car hummed quietly as it sped along the highway, the city lights casting fleeting shadows across Ayra’s face. She sat stiffly in the backseat, her arms crossed tightly, eyes staring blankly out the window. Her father sat beside her, his face set in a stern, unreadable expression.For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was suffocating, thick with unspoken anger and confusion. “I don’t understand why you did this,” her father finally broke the silence, his voice low and filled with disappointment. “Do you have any idea what you’ve risked? What you’ve put at stake?”Ayra didn’t respond at first. She continued staring out of the window, her heart pounding as she tried to contain her emotions. She clenched her fists in her lap, her knuckles turning white as a mix of shame and frustration churned in her gut. Getting caught was all part of her plan, yes, but confronting her father was still decidedly uncomfortable. She thought it would be Lisbeth who

    Last Updated : 2024-10-19
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 4 - Ayra's Despair

    The cold hit Ayra hard as she was dragged back into the mansion, but it was nothing compared to the chill in her chest.Her father’s iron grip on her arm, his men trailing like shadows, and the oppressive silence, crushed her.She didn’t cry. Didn’t scream. She wanted them to believe she'd spent all her fight in her escape attempt. Now she was a shell of the determination she once carried. The mansion loomed in the dark like a silent judge. Its halls, so familiar, felt foreign and sterile.She barely registered her father’s clipped, furious whispers to the guards. All she could feel was the weight pressing down on her. Oh, she knew the escape attempt would have failed - she had planned for it to fail, after all, as her father was simply too cunning a fox that a singular attempt would see her free - but perhaps deep down inside her, she had wished he would have let her go. Just... turned a blind eye. The days blurred into a suffocating haze of monotony. Ayra’s room was no longer her

    Last Updated : 2024-11-20
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 5 - Pushing Buttons

    Lisbeth leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed in that haughty way Ayra had come to despise.She looked immaculate, of course, her dress tailored to perfection, every strand of hair in its rightful place.Ayra, in her hastily thrown on clothes and with an aura of depression she couldn’t shake, felt a fresh wave of resentment.Lisbeth had always been good at making her feel small without even trying - or maybe she was trying, all the time.Anyway, the point stood; Ayra did not like Lisbeth one bit.“I see captivity hasn’t done much for your style, little sis,” Lisbeth began, her tone dripping with mock sympathy."Honestly, I thought you’d at least attempt to look presentable. But I suppose it’s hard to care when you're only so so.”Ayra clenched her fists, the nails biting into her palms. Don’t react, she chanted within her mind. Don’t give her anything. She’s waiting for you to snap. As she always did. But Lisbeth wasn’t one to settle for silence. She pushed off the doorframe

    Last Updated : 2024-11-21
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 6 - Aunt Eleanor

    Ayra’s heart sank. “You... what?”“Oh, come on,” Lisbeth rolled her eyes. “It’s not that shocking. And I simply must tell you, Lucian was a dream to work with. A man like that? He saw the opportunity right away. All I had to do was paint you as someone who could be… easily shaped.”"Lisbeth, I..." Ayra struggled to find words. "Do you truly hate me so much?"“Of course,” Lisbeth said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “And by the way, someone had to make the hard decisions around here, and we all know you weren’t going to. Honestly, you should be thanking me. If it weren’t for my little nudges, you’d still be floundering around with absolutely no direction in life.”“Direction?” Ayra spat. “You mean being sold off like some business asset? That’s your idea of a direction?”Lisbeth waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. No one sold you off. Don't make it sound so horrible.It’s securing the family’s future. And let’s face it—you were always the weak link.

    Last Updated : 2024-11-22
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 7 - Contact as Promised

    “Five minutes,” Eleanor said with a faint sigh, shaking her head as she glanced at the closed door. “Lisbeth hasn’t changed, has she? Always in control, always the gatekeeper.”Ayra snorted, bitterness lacing her voice. “Control seems to be her motto, isn’t it?”Eleanor gave her a small, wry smile and walked toward the bed where Ayra sat. She perched lightly on the edge, smoothing out her skirt. Her perfume was subtle, a blend of lavender and cedarwood that reminded Ayra of gentler times. Times when her mother was still alive. “You look pale, darling,” she said, her voice low and soothing. “Lisbeth’s words have a way of doing that to people, don’t they?”Ayra let out a bitter laugh, sitting back down on the edge of her bed. “It’s nothing I’m not used to.” Unstated was the fact that it still stung, and her visit had both demoralised Ayra and left her emotionally vulnerable. Eleanor sighed. The bed dipped slightly under her weight, and she reached out to brush a stray strand of hair

    Last Updated : 2024-11-23
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 8 - A Way Out

    The door closed with a dull thud, and the room felt suffocatingly silent once more. Ayra sat still on the edge of the bed, her hands resting limply in her lap. Her aunt's words replayed in her mind, looping endlessly like a haunting melody. Perhaps her aunt's offer should have sparked something in her - a flicker of hope, a glimmer of possibility. But instead, it only left her feeling heavier, like another impossible choice had been laid at her feet. She didn't feel brave. She didn't feel clever. Because she knew that compared to either Lisbeth or their father, she fell far short. The thought of escape was a tantalizing fantasy, but every time she tried to imagine it, the walls of her reality closed tighter. Even if Eleanor could provide a way out, Ayra doubted her own ability to take it. She was constantly watched, her every move scrutinized by Lucians guards or her fathers spies. There was no privacy, no freedom, not even a single moment to breathe without feeling the weight o

    Last Updated : 2024-11-24
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 9 - Scheming to Flee

    The dinner table was quiet. Her father hadn’t joined her tonight, an absence she welcomed with relief. Recently he had insisted on having at least one meal at the dining room and Ayra has designated that time to dinner. Usually, it was a silent and uncomfortable affair but tonight both he and Lisbeth were blessedly absent. Lucian’s men, stationed in the shadows of the room, observed her silently as she picked at her meal. Her appetite was gone, the tension in her chest rendering the savory dishes bland and lifeless.Her hand brushed against the paper hidden in her pocket. She had carried it all day, its weight more mental than physical. She knew she needed help, but was reluctant to accept it. The serving maid entered quietly - a different girl from the one that afternoon - her presence going disregarded by anyone else. Ayra glanced up and caught her eye. The woman hardly reacted and placed a fresh plate on the table, a thin layer of steam curling from the baked dessert in its c

    Last Updated : 2024-11-25
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 10 - A Wedding for Ayra Russo

    The hours slipped by like sand through her fingers. Her isolation was suffocating as always, yet she clung to the small lifeline Eleanor had given her. Her aunt’s messages arrived sporadically, their delivery concealed in the meticulous work of the maid. A folded napkin, a hollowed-out bread roll, a ribbon tied too tightly around a gift - her messages came in the details, as it were, and Ayra simply had to admire the woman's level of innovation. Eleanor’s plans for the escape were detailed and intricate in their design. She had secured a safehouse - somewhere Ayra could be hidden for a while once she made her escape. It was an ostentatious villa in the middle of the city, but Eleanor and Ayra both agreed that it was best to hide right beneath their noses until Ayra could leave the city entirely. The city’s roads were mapped, the hidden back alleys and lesser-known paths highlighted on a series of papers Eleanor had sent. Ayra had made sure to burn them all - they were just there

    Last Updated : 2024-11-26

Latest chapter

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 51 - Strained Breakfast 

    Lucian stepped through the grand entrance of his estate just as the first rays of dawn filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow over the marble floors. The house was silent, save for the distant hum of staff going about their morning tasks. His steps were unhurried as he walked inside, his mind already elsewhere.Nico was waiting in the hallway, as always—efficient, sharp-eyed, and already aware that Lucian would want an update."Sir," Nico greeted with a slight nod. "Everything is in place. Your… whereabouts from last night have already begun making the rounds. The media is running with it."Lucian removed his suit jacket, tossing it onto the nearby chair with little care. He rolled up his sleeves, nodding once. "Good. Make sure it reaches the right ears."Nico barely blinked. "You're certain?"Lucian gave a slow nod, shrugging off his jacket. "I want it everywhere by noon."Nico hesitated only a fraction of a second, then inclined his head. "Understood."L

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 50 - A Rude Awakening

    Ayra was pulled from the depths of an uneasy sleep by the shrill ring of her phone. She barely registered the sound at first, her mind sluggish, weighed down by exhaustion and the lingering remnants of restless dreams.The glow of the screen pierced the darkness of her room as she fumbled for the device on the nightstand. Her fingers curled around it, and she squinted at the caller ID.Sarah.A sliver of unease crept down her spine. It was late—past midnight—and Sarah wasn’t the type to call at this hour.Swallowing back sleep, she answered. Yes, Sarah was a bitch, but as her father had taught her, even bitches had a use. “Sarah?” Her voice was groggy, laced with confusion. She was not in the mood for a call. “Ayra.” The tone of Sarah’s voice jolted her fully awake. “You need to sit down.”Ayra pushed herself up against the pillows, heart hammering now. “What? What’s wrong?”A beat of silence, then—“I saw Lucian.”Her breath caught.The sound of his name alone was enough to unsettle

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 49 - A Silent Marriage

    Ayra arrived at the dining room just as the clock struck noon. The grand double doors swung open soundlessly as a staff member ushered her in. For a fleeting moment, she expected to see Lucian already seated, waiting for her. But the room was empty.The long mahogany dining table stretched before her, polished to a gleam under the sunlight pouring in through the tall windows.The silverware had been meticulously arranged, the delicate china set out with precision, and the scent of an exquisite meal drifted through the air. Yet, the chair at the head of the table—the one she assumed was Lucian’s—remained vacant.She hesitated at the entrance. “Lucian isn’t here?” she finally asked, glancing at the nearest servant, a middle-aged man in a crisp black suit.There was an awkward pause before he bowed slightly. “Mr. Lucian will not be taking lunch today.”Her fingers curled slightly, the words sinking in deeper than they should have. He hadn’t mentioned anything about skipping lunch. Not th

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 48 - A Cold Welcome 

    The car rolled to a stop in front of the grand estate. Even though Ayra had been prepared for luxury, the sheer scale of Lucian’s house still made her pause. It was the kind of place that belonged in glossy magazines—elegant but imposing, with towering columns, expansive windows, and a wrought-iron gate that had opened for them without a word.Lucian stepped out first, shutting the car door behind him without so much as a glance in her direction. Ayra hesitated for a moment before following, her heels clicking against the stone driveway. She turned to grab her bag, but one of the staff members had already taken it, whisking it away with practiced efficiency.She stepped into the entrance hall, where the marble floors gleamed beneath the soft lighting. Everything smelled of expensive wood, clean linen, and something faintly herbal—like freshly cut leaves. It was as lavish as she’d expected, but the atmosphere felt cold. Not in the temperature, but in the way the house seemed too quiet,

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 47 - Sudden Change

    Lisbeth stepped out of the room and bumped into her Father. Ferdinand glowered at her, arms crossed and brows furrowed deeply. "You're messing things up," he said. "How polite of you to eavesdrop," Lisbeth responded snarkily."Don't change the subject," he warned. Lisbeth sighed, her posture softening. "I'm... It's just... It's been so long... I -"Ferdinand sighed too and held open his arms and Lisbeth embraced him. She was just so damn composed and perfect that sometimes he forgot she was only twenty four. "It's alright," he murmured. "Stay strong. We can't afford to mess up now.""I know," Lisbeth sniffed into his shoulder. .....Ayra’s fingers curled into the fabric of her dress as the car rolled to a stop in front of the courthouse. A quiet hush settled over her thoughts, the reality of what was happening pressing down on her.This was it.She had expected a grand venue, a luxurious hall, maybe even a private estate turned into an impromptu wedding location—because that was

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 46 - A Different Side

    Ayra sat before the mirror, watching as the makeup artist dusted a fine layer of powder over her face, softening the natural glow of her skin. The room was quiet except for the occasional murmurs of the stylists as they worked on her, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest.Her reflection stared back at her, the image of a bride-to-be, yet she felt nothing close to what a bride should feel. The dress hung elegantly on the stand beside her, an intricate design of ivory silk and delicate embroidery, but all she could focus on was the unfamiliar weight pressing on her shoulders.The marriage was happening. Today.She should have expected it. Lucian was too pragmatic to waste time. They had agreed—or rather, she had relented—to a simple court marriage with minimal witnesses, and now the reality of it was sinking in. She was going to be tied to a man she barely knew, a man who had changed overnight into something unreadable, cold.The soft click of the door opening made her h

  • The Devil's Game   Smokes and Mirrors

    Lucian’s office was shrouded in a quiet stillness when he returned late in the evening. His thoughts still lingering on the earlier conversation with Ayra. For the first time in years, he felt a sliver of relief. Ayra was Isa. She had to be. The resemblance was too uncanny, and there were too many small moments that tugged at old memories. He had convinced himself of it. The sinking feeling of uncertainty he'd carried for so long was finally giving way to certainty.Nico was waiting in the corner of the room, flipping through a folder with a look of deep concentration. He stood up the moment Lucian entered.“You’re back earlier than I expected,” Nico said, his tone casual. But there was a weight in his voice that Lucian didn’t miss.“What is it?” Lucian asked as he shrugged off his coat and tossed it onto the nearest chair."It's... about the investigation." Nico said; his tone was cautious. “We have something about Ayra.”Lucian frowned and waved dismissively. “There’s no need. Cal

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 44 - The Deal

    She frowned, her mind racing. “And I’m... what? A bargaining chip?”“You are not necessarily that. This marriage benefits us both, Ayra. Think of it as a partnership. We both stand to gain, and in the process, you’ll have the freedom to carve out your own space."She turned back to him, her expression unreadable. “Freedom? You’re marrying me to close business deals and save my family’s reputation. Where’s the freedom in that?”Lucian didn’t flinch under her scrutiny, shrugging instead. “Freedom is what you make of it, Ayra. You can resent the circumstances or leverage them to your advantage. It also provides you with protection from external pressures. You’ve seen how things have been unraveling. Hate it if you want, but I’m offering you a way to gain control over the chaos around you.”Ayra bit her lips, staring almost hatefully at the man before her. Finally, she whispered, “And if I say no?”“Then the Russo business collapses. Your father’s debts consume everything. Your family be

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 43 - Little Revelations 

    The restaurant exuded an air of understated elegance, its tranquil atmosphere a welcome contrast to the chaos of the city. Instead of harsh lighting, soft, flickering candles bathed their secluded table in a golden glow. Placed away from prying eyes, the setting offered them privacy. It was perfect for a conversation neither of them wanted to have. Or at least , Ayra didn't want to have.Ayra picked at her appetizer - it was a delicate arrangement of smoked salmon on crisp bread - while Lucian sipped his wine. Their initial conversation was light, almost trivial, revolving around the restaurant's decor and the quality of the food. But beneath the pleasantries, Ayra could feel the weight of unspoken words pressing down on her.“So,” Lucian said, breaking the silence that had settled over their initial small talk. His tone was calm, his words deliberate and plodding. “We need to discuss the matter of our marriage.”Ayra stiffened slightly, her fork halting midway to her mouth, though

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status