Ronan“We were able to find this footage from six years ago,” General Yousef began, his voice heavy with the weight of what was to come. “A supermarket owner brought it to us a few weeks ago. He said he was going through his security footage archive, looking for the image of a thief who had robbed his store, when he stumbled upon this. There’s no audio, but the video is clear.”The General nodded to the Colonel, who moved to play the video on the screen. As the footage began, my breath caught in my throat. The image on the screen hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst. There, dressed like a Kavistani soldier, holding a gun and forcing a man into a van, was someone I never expected to see.I couldn’t breathe. My mind refused to accept what my eyes were seeing. His face was unmistakable. It was him—there was no doubt. But how could this be possible? It was like the ground had been ripped out from under me. I looked over at Joseph, and his face
RonanReturning to my room, I found it impossible to steady myself. My thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and grief. I knew I needed to keep it together, especially being in a foreign country where eyes and ears were always present, but it was hard to shake the weight of everything I had learned. Erin—alive but possibly lost to the other side—was a thought too painful to fully process."Come on, let's grab something to eat outside," Joseph suggested, his voice steady but low. I knew he wasn’t hungry. He just wanted to get us out of the building, somewhere we could talk without the looming presence of surveillance."I miss their cuisine here, and the scenery is great, too," I said aloud, playing along for the benefit of anyone who might be listening. It was true, though—they had excellent barbecue, rich and smoky. But I barely cared about the food right now.As we walked through the corridor, I couldn’t help but glance toward Arya’s room. Where was she? What was she thinking or pla
CamilaStaying at the Morosov estate was like living on the edge of a knife, a constant tension that weighed on my chest every second of the day.Every step I took felt wrong, as if any small misstep would shatter the fragile peace.The new rules General Sergey enforced at breakfast the day before haunted me—Madam Melania’s icy glare, the way her lips thinned in displeasure. I knew, deep down, she would never forgive what had happened.Even though General Sergey insisted I should join them for meals, telling me not to worry, I couldn't bring myself to do it.The idea of sitting across from Madam Melania, feeling her cold eyes on me, was unbearable.So, for every meal after breakfast yesterday, my mother took Katya to the dining room, I found a way to slip away, to make myself disappear. It was safer that way. I didn’t want to upset Madam Melania any more than I already had by just existing, and the staff—once indifferent—had grown sharp and hostile since the General had imposed his n
Camila"I do not want to upset you, Madam," I said quietly, telling her the truth. I knew, deep down, she was uncomfortable with me eating at their table, even if she wouldn't admit it."It doesn't bother me," she replied, her tone calm but cold. "As long as you're clear on your place, it won't bother me at all." She paused for a moment, as if weighing her next words. "Besides, Sergey thinks I've bullied you into avoiding meals with us. Please make sure you're there for dinner tonight."Her words were a command, thinly veiled in politeness, and I nodded silently. She then turned sharply to Mirabel, her eyes flashing with something darker."And as for you," she began, her voice icy, "the next time you report these people to me, I will see to it that you and your husband are thrown out on the streets. I can see your malice. Was it really necessary to lie?"She didn’t wait for Mirabel to respond before walking away, leaving her standing there, frozen and humiliated.It was clear that wha
CamilaMadam Melania’s face turned even colder as she realized she was losing control. The tension between her and General Sergey seemed to tighten like a coiled spring, ready to snap at any moment.“Sergey,” she repeated, her voice sharp and unyielding. “I am coming with you. Whatever she has to say to you, she can say to me as well.” Her words were laced with entitlement as if she couldn’t fathom being left out of any conversation under her own roof. Her authority, her dominance, was being questioned, and she would not tolerate it.General Sergey turned slowly to face her, his expression hard and unforgiving. “Whatever she has to say to me is none of your business, Melania,” he said, his voice low but firm. “I warned you about the Semenovs, didn’t I? And yet, you went ahead and sent Camila to deliver pastries!” His voice, though steady, brimmed with anger, the kind that comes when a person’s patience has been tested one too many times.He took a step closer to her, his eyes piercing
Camila "Today, when I arrived at the Semenovs', they refused to take the pastry at the gate as Madam Melania had instructed," my mother began, her voice still shaking but steadier now. "Instead, they ushered me into the house. I wasn’t sure why, but I waited near the house bar, where I could hear voices from the other room." She paused, glancing at General Sergey, guilt flashing across her face. She knew what she had done—listening in on conversations that weren’t meant for her ears. But she couldn’t hold back now. "There were young officers there, some of whom have visited this house before," she continued, her voice quieter now, almost as if she feared being overheard even here. "I wasn’t spying… but they were speaking in hushed tones, and I listened." General Sergey’s face grew darker, but he remained silent, allowing her to continue. "They were reading out names, and yours was on the list," she said, her eyes locking with his. "They were tired, frustrated with the way things a
CamilaThe noise was so loud that it hurt my ears. My head was pounding, and I felt like it was going to explode. I tried to move but found myself stuck on a strange bed. I could hear someone shouting at me, but my eyes refused to open. I felt lost and confused.Finally, my eyes fluttered open, and I saw Ronan standing over me, yelling. He looked really angry. As I tried to calm down, his words started to make sense."What are you doing in my bed, Camila? Why are you here?" he shouted, his voice filled with pain, not just curiosity. I turned away from him, trying to avoid his intense gaze to clear the fog in my brain. That’s when I realised I was naked, covered only by the sheets of his bed. My heart raced as the reality of what might have happened hit me. I quickly scrambled to get out of his bed, falling to the floor in my haste. As I looked around the room, I saw the full extent of my mess.Ronan's fiancée, Leah Semenov, and her sister, Mira, were both in the room. Leah was cry
CamilaI was allowed to go and change into clothes, and then my mother and I were told to report to General Sergey's study, where he spent most of his time. We entered the room and immediately dropped to our knees. My mother was crying, tears streaming down her face. She kept asking why this had happened, but I had no answers. My mind was a fog, and the thought that this was my first time, and I had no memory of it, hurt my soul deeply but I kept that part to myself. No one cared about the emotions and turmoils of a slave."I took you in, Glenda. I gave you a home, a job, and protection. I never harassed you. You were never uncomfortable in my home. I was kind to you, even though you are from that wicked country. I didn't visit the sins of your government on you as my colleagues would have…” “...I clothed you, gave you shelter, fed you, and provided you with a job. I welcomed your daughter into the world and gave her a home, and this is how you repay me," General Sergey said, his voi