The instant Vandaulf's footsteps vanished down the corridor, the anger within Ina burst forth like a firestorm.She whirled, her breathing hard and uneven, her fists tight enough to have her nails cutting into her palms. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.He believes he owns me.He believes he can command me.With a cold intake of air, she clutched the first vase—frail, lace-edged porcelain Helena had presented them at their wedding feast—and with a guttural shout, smashed it against the wall.CRASH!The metallic ring split through the space, shards rippling across the gleaming marble like shattered promises.Her lungs shook as she stood before the shambles, hands shivering with pure feeling.And then, in the silence of her mind, a voice spoke to her.A soft voice, held hard back, yet absolute."Calm down, Ina."Lily.Her other half. The part of her that still clung to reason, to control."We can surpass this. Don’t let Vandaulf wreck you."Ina exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of he
The sun came up over the Carlston estate, but its rays did nothing to melt the frost in the air.Lily woke up as Lily.Ina had burned out during the middle of the night, leaving only fatigue behind.A loud knock on her door startled her into sitting upright."Ma'am," the maid's voice was soft but insistent. "Madam Helena and Mr. Vandaulf are waiting in the dining hall. It's time for breakfast."Lily breathed slowly, grounding herself. Play the part.As she stepped out of her room, she was not Ina, no longer incensed. She was the demure, reserved Lily—dominated, elegant, submissive.She walked down the sweeping staircase, her silk robe flowing behind her. But as she approached the dining hall, her breathing caught.Vandaulf waited there.For her.His wide shoulders rested lazily against the doorframe, arms folded, but his face was far from calm.His eyes found her at once, raking, searching.Lily maintained her even pace."Good morning," she said, voice light, neutral.Vandaulf's mouth
The huge doors slam shut with a deafening crash, imprisoning Lily in the lion's den.Silence.Heavy. Choking.She barely had time to catch her breath before—"Where the hell were you?"His voice was deep, coarse—like gravel on steel.Lily gradually turned. Vandaulf hadn't stepped from the bottom of the stairs, yet his presence controlled the entire bloody room. Suit jacket open, rolled-up sleeves, as though pacing back and forth—awaiting.Her.Lily flicked a harsh brow, innocent. "Out."Darkening face, fists on his thighs. Mismatched reaction.He closed a cautious step, another, until all distance had disappeared. Something heavy erupted in the air."Out," he spat again, poison seeping through his words. "For seven hours, Lily?"She shrugged. "Didn't realize I was working."His jaw clenched. "You can't just bail."She nodded. "Amusing fact, since that is precisely what I did as well."His grip shattered.In seconds, he slapped his palm on her wrist—this time with more pressure.Lily d
The quiet was oppressive. Nigh on unbearable.The face staring back at her wasn't Lily anymore.It was Ina.Her stronger, bolder, deadlier version.She let her breath out slowly, leaning on the cold marble sink with her elbows. Her eyes. Ina's eyes, smoldered with revolt."What in tarnation was that?" Ina growled, staring at herself in anger.Lily's gentle voice, tinged with doubt, ran through her mind. "I don't know Ina.""Liar," Ina growled. "You felt it. You let him in."Lily winced within. "No. That wasn't."It was real," Ina interjected. "You enjoyed it."Lily's hands shook. "That's not true.""Oh, sweetheart," Ina sighed. "Your heart still pounds. Your skin still stings where he touched you. Don't lie to me."Lily swallowed hard. She wanted to lie, to push the sensation down as she always did.But Ina was correct.Vandaulf had touched her beneath her skin.And that was not safe.Ina leaned forward, her eyes on their reflected faces, her voice a low whisper. "You let him win."Li
The air between them charged with electricity, but neither blinked. Neither folded."Neither grovels, darling," Ina had sneered, her voice silk and steel.And now, observing Vandaulf's face harden—his jaw muscles locked, his fists clenched—she recognized she'd gained this fight.But victory was fleeting.Vandaulf didn't lose.He didn't surrender.He struck back.Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the room, the click of his shoes against the marble floor echoing like a warning.Ina let out a slow, measured breath, her pulse still racing from the confrontation.But deep down, Lily’s voice whispered—soft, worried.This is dangerous, Ina. You’re pushing too far.Ina smirked at her reflection in the mirror. "Not far enough."The next day, she woke up to a cage.Not a physical one—not chains, not locked doors—but something worse.A silent, invisible prison built by a man who would not be ignored.She sensed it the instant she emerged from her bedroom.The abrupt tightening
Vandaulf stepped before the mirror, smoothing out the cuff of his suit in effortless familiarity. His image was the very model of control—icy, measured, lethal.Lily watched him from the bed, sitting on her haunches, fingers following the stitches on her dress with gentle fingertips."You look eager," she thought, her voice silky, removed.His eyes flashed to hers in the mirror. "It's business."A Halloween masquerade party thrown by one of the city's most powerful real estate moguls. Networking, power moves, and deal-making masquerading as fun.More significantly, it meant he would be away for hours.This was her opportunity.Lily hid her smile in a wine glass."Well," she stated and stood up, the silk of her robe whispering against her skin. "Don't have too much fun without me Vandaulf."Vandaulf's eyes narrowed into hers, hard and cold."I won't."She stepped closer, inches from his face. Teasing him."Good," she whispered, reaching out to touch his tie, her fingers tracing just ab
The music pulsed around them, a hypnotic rhythm that dissolved reality and excess.Ina felt the heat of his fingers even through the depth of silk and blackness between them.Vandaulf was a storm—uncompromising, devouring, lethal.She knew she had to leave.Knew she walked a thin edge.But the alcohol that streamed through her bloodstream pushed stay.The thrill of the unknown flamed hotter than reason.And when Vandaulf's fingers caressed the length of her spine, when his lips were inches from her ear, she didn't step back.She leaned in closer."You're playing with fire," the depths of his voice were weighted with warning and promise.Ina's smile was languid and teasing. "Perhaps I like the burn."Vandaulf's grip just a little tighter on Lily-Ina's waist. His other hand fell to her wrist, his thumb tracing slow, swooning circles across her pulse.He was testing her.She was testing him.And both of them were unwilling to back down.His mouth inches from hers. Ina could feel the warm
She felt fear.What went on last night? Hell.She rolled over on her side, panting at what she saw.Lying next to Lily was a man; the early morning soft light silhouetted his muscular form. His chest rose and fell evenly. His face was hidden behind the mask.The same mask he wore last night.Memories flashed. The manner in which his fingers had caressed her body, ignited fires she'd never felt before. The manner in which his lips had devoured hers, starving, needy. The manner in which he'd shattered her.It was my first time… with a stranger.A queasy, falling sensation wrapped itself around her stomach.She'd been stupid.And now she didn't even know the man whose name could forever break the power of her ill-fated deed.Gritting her teeth against the pounding in her heart, she reached out with trembling fingers.If only she could see his face… if only she could know—She paused, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.Drawing a shaking breath, she slowly drew back the mask.And w
Vandaulf steered into consciousness through the soft glow of sunlight shining in from somewhat parted drapes and lay catatonic in cooled silk sheets. Every aching throb in his head could be attributed to the whiskey, the music, and the gluttony that had weighed down upon him and ravaged his body the night before.He stretched out beside him automatically—but the bed was chilly.Vacant.His eyes flew open, his vision coming to rest on the rumpled sheets where she had lain.She was gone.Vandaulf sat up, memories of last night surging over him like a brutal wave.The club.The masked woman.The fire.He had never felt so drawn to anyone in his life as he had felt drawn to her.It wasn't even how she'd walked, or the way she'd panted crude things against his mouth—it was something else.Something he knew.He pressed his eyes with one hand, and breathed slowly in.Her perfume still lingered on him.His gaze went over to the crumpled mask on the pillow—her mask.She was gone. Poof. No name
She felt fear.What went on last night? Hell.She rolled over on her side, panting at what she saw.Lying next to Lily was a man; the early morning soft light silhouetted his muscular form. His chest rose and fell evenly. His face was hidden behind the mask.The same mask he wore last night.Memories flashed. The manner in which his fingers had caressed her body, ignited fires she'd never felt before. The manner in which his lips had devoured hers, starving, needy. The manner in which he'd shattered her.It was my first time… with a stranger.A queasy, falling sensation wrapped itself around her stomach.She'd been stupid.And now she didn't even know the man whose name could forever break the power of her ill-fated deed.Gritting her teeth against the pounding in her heart, she reached out with trembling fingers.If only she could see his face… if only she could know—She paused, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.Drawing a shaking breath, she slowly drew back the mask.And w
The music pulsed around them, a hypnotic rhythm that dissolved reality and excess.Ina felt the heat of his fingers even through the depth of silk and blackness between them.Vandaulf was a storm—uncompromising, devouring, lethal.She knew she had to leave.Knew she walked a thin edge.But the alcohol that streamed through her bloodstream pushed stay.The thrill of the unknown flamed hotter than reason.And when Vandaulf's fingers caressed the length of her spine, when his lips were inches from her ear, she didn't step back.She leaned in closer."You're playing with fire," the depths of his voice were weighted with warning and promise.Ina's smile was languid and teasing. "Perhaps I like the burn."Vandaulf's grip just a little tighter on Lily-Ina's waist. His other hand fell to her wrist, his thumb tracing slow, swooning circles across her pulse.He was testing her.She was testing him.And both of them were unwilling to back down.His mouth inches from hers. Ina could feel the warm
Vandaulf stepped before the mirror, smoothing out the cuff of his suit in effortless familiarity. His image was the very model of control—icy, measured, lethal.Lily watched him from the bed, sitting on her haunches, fingers following the stitches on her dress with gentle fingertips."You look eager," she thought, her voice silky, removed.His eyes flashed to hers in the mirror. "It's business."A Halloween masquerade party thrown by one of the city's most powerful real estate moguls. Networking, power moves, and deal-making masquerading as fun.More significantly, it meant he would be away for hours.This was her opportunity.Lily hid her smile in a wine glass."Well," she stated and stood up, the silk of her robe whispering against her skin. "Don't have too much fun without me Vandaulf."Vandaulf's eyes narrowed into hers, hard and cold."I won't."She stepped closer, inches from his face. Teasing him."Good," she whispered, reaching out to touch his tie, her fingers tracing just ab
The air between them charged with electricity, but neither blinked. Neither folded."Neither grovels, darling," Ina had sneered, her voice silk and steel.And now, observing Vandaulf's face harden—his jaw muscles locked, his fists clenched—she recognized she'd gained this fight.But victory was fleeting.Vandaulf didn't lose.He didn't surrender.He struck back.Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the room, the click of his shoes against the marble floor echoing like a warning.Ina let out a slow, measured breath, her pulse still racing from the confrontation.But deep down, Lily’s voice whispered—soft, worried.This is dangerous, Ina. You’re pushing too far.Ina smirked at her reflection in the mirror. "Not far enough."The next day, she woke up to a cage.Not a physical one—not chains, not locked doors—but something worse.A silent, invisible prison built by a man who would not be ignored.She sensed it the instant she emerged from her bedroom.The abrupt tightening
The quiet was oppressive. Nigh on unbearable.The face staring back at her wasn't Lily anymore.It was Ina.Her stronger, bolder, deadlier version.She let her breath out slowly, leaning on the cold marble sink with her elbows. Her eyes. Ina's eyes, smoldered with revolt."What in tarnation was that?" Ina growled, staring at herself in anger.Lily's gentle voice, tinged with doubt, ran through her mind. "I don't know Ina.""Liar," Ina growled. "You felt it. You let him in."Lily winced within. "No. That wasn't."It was real," Ina interjected. "You enjoyed it."Lily's hands shook. "That's not true.""Oh, sweetheart," Ina sighed. "Your heart still pounds. Your skin still stings where he touched you. Don't lie to me."Lily swallowed hard. She wanted to lie, to push the sensation down as she always did.But Ina was correct.Vandaulf had touched her beneath her skin.And that was not safe.Ina leaned forward, her eyes on their reflected faces, her voice a low whisper. "You let him win."Li
The huge doors slam shut with a deafening crash, imprisoning Lily in the lion's den.Silence.Heavy. Choking.She barely had time to catch her breath before—"Where the hell were you?"His voice was deep, coarse—like gravel on steel.Lily gradually turned. Vandaulf hadn't stepped from the bottom of the stairs, yet his presence controlled the entire bloody room. Suit jacket open, rolled-up sleeves, as though pacing back and forth—awaiting.Her.Lily flicked a harsh brow, innocent. "Out."Darkening face, fists on his thighs. Mismatched reaction.He closed a cautious step, another, until all distance had disappeared. Something heavy erupted in the air."Out," he spat again, poison seeping through his words. "For seven hours, Lily?"She shrugged. "Didn't realize I was working."His jaw clenched. "You can't just bail."She nodded. "Amusing fact, since that is precisely what I did as well."His grip shattered.In seconds, he slapped his palm on her wrist—this time with more pressure.Lily d
The sun came up over the Carlston estate, but its rays did nothing to melt the frost in the air.Lily woke up as Lily.Ina had burned out during the middle of the night, leaving only fatigue behind.A loud knock on her door startled her into sitting upright."Ma'am," the maid's voice was soft but insistent. "Madam Helena and Mr. Vandaulf are waiting in the dining hall. It's time for breakfast."Lily breathed slowly, grounding herself. Play the part.As she stepped out of her room, she was not Ina, no longer incensed. She was the demure, reserved Lily—dominated, elegant, submissive.She walked down the sweeping staircase, her silk robe flowing behind her. But as she approached the dining hall, her breathing caught.Vandaulf waited there.For her.His wide shoulders rested lazily against the doorframe, arms folded, but his face was far from calm.His eyes found her at once, raking, searching.Lily maintained her even pace."Good morning," she said, voice light, neutral.Vandaulf's mouth
The instant Vandaulf's footsteps vanished down the corridor, the anger within Ina burst forth like a firestorm.She whirled, her breathing hard and uneven, her fists tight enough to have her nails cutting into her palms. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.He believes he owns me.He believes he can command me.With a cold intake of air, she clutched the first vase—frail, lace-edged porcelain Helena had presented them at their wedding feast—and with a guttural shout, smashed it against the wall.CRASH!The metallic ring split through the space, shards rippling across the gleaming marble like shattered promises.Her lungs shook as she stood before the shambles, hands shivering with pure feeling.And then, in the silence of her mind, a voice spoke to her.A soft voice, held hard back, yet absolute."Calm down, Ina."Lily.Her other half. The part of her that still clung to reason, to control."We can surpass this. Don’t let Vandaulf wreck you."Ina exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of he