I arrived at Maddox’s family Villa after a 3 minute ride from school. I had already told Lysander I wouldn’t be able to make it to the dinner.
His villa looked just as I rembered, huge with security guards and a whole lot of maids and nannies.
As the only son of the Mayor, Maddox was always treated like royalty and that was the reason why my step parents pushed towards him.
They wanted us to be a couple, so my Dad could get business alliances from Maddox’s family. But instead, we beca master and his prisoner. Now that I’m a bit free, he’s looking for a way to lock up again.
One of the maids welcod at the entrance and took to the living room. Maddox was seated beside my step parents, drinking and laughing with them when I walked in.
"Oh look who’s here, Kianna my dear co sit with us." My step dad said, smiling fakely at . The kind of smile he gives when I am in trouble.
I nodded politely and sat beside my step sister instead. The maid poured a drink but I refused, I wasn’t here to drink. I was here to find out the kind of strings Maddox is trying to pull on .
"Why did you call Dad, we can talk about our family issues at our ho." I muttered, side eyeing Maddox. But he did nothing but smile like a fool.
"Oh gosh Kianna, do you always forget yourself or you truly don’t care?" My dad uttered harshly,
" Didn’t you see Maddox here? Have you forgotten your manners?"
"What do you an? Yes I can see Maddox, and I don’t know why we are having a family eting in a stranger’s house." I replied to him, shifting uncomfortably to the side.
A scoff escaped on Maddox’s lips, then he turned to face my father. " Did you hear it Mr Martin, she dared to call a stranger. Now you know I wasn’t lying when I told you she’s being influenced in school."
How dare he? He’s more evil than I thought. Watching him sit there with that fake wounded look, twisting every word until my parents see him as the victim made my blood boil.
He’s manipulating them, again. My fists curled tightly at my sides.
"Huh? Influenced?" I spat, my voice trembling with rage. "Then what do you call soone who hits and abuses won for fun?"
The room went deathly still. For a second, I thought my father would finally listen for once, he’ll see. But instead,
"Enough!" His voice exploded through the air like thunder, shaking the walls, shaking . "Kianna, I’ve gone soft on you these days—it’s making you think you can do whatever you want, huh? Now apologize to Maddox. Right now."
The words hit harder than a slap. My heart cracked in my chest. Apologize? Did he not hear ? Did he not care what I just said?
"B-but, Father..."
"Shut up and do as you’re told, Kianna!" His tone cut through , cold and final. He rose from his seat with that sa authority that used to make feel safe—but now it only made feel small.
"I want you to fix whatever you’ve done to Maddox," he continued, voice like stone. "I’ll speak to the Mayor about the next full moon. We’ll hold the mating ceremony then and you’ll both be engaged right after school."
The air in my lungs turned heavy. He wasn’t just angry, he was deciding my life.
I glanced at Maddox, his lips curled into that sickening smirk that said he’d won. My stomach turned. He always knew how to twist things to his favor. But this ti... this ti he’s wrong.
I lifted my chin, eting my father’s furious stare with trembling defiance.
"I won’t apologize, Father," I said, my voice breaking, tears blurring my vision. "I’d rather die than bow to him, or call that bastard my fated mate."
His eyes darkened, unreadable for a mont before hardening completely.
"Then be my guest," he said flatly, and turned to the guards. "Grab her and put her in the van. Let her see exactly whose money she’s been depending on."
The guards moved quickly, my heart pounded as their hands closed around my arms, all I could think was—how could the man I once called my protector, hand over to the monster who destroyed ?
Fate is indeed cruel, especially to . I sat in the dark van thinking of how helpless I’ve beco. For a second, I felt like going back. Maybe just accept my destiny and let Maddox win. But sothing inside didn’t want that to happen.
Luckily I still have my cellphone with .I was left with no choice but to text Mordred Sinclair. I texted him with the address of our house and where my Dad would probably cage .
This wasn’t my first ti,I rember the very first day I had a fight with my step sister. I was cadged in a dark room filled with insects and spiders for 2 days just for to learn my lesson.
I know this ti, he’s going to go harder since the connection between him and the mayor depended on my surrender. And whatever the case might be, I’ll have to endure it.
Soon I got a reply from Mordred saying,
" Alright, I’ll co there at night. Be safe."
Another favor from a man I once vowed to ignore completely. But now? I feel like it’s better to be in his trouble than to be in mine.
Whatever Maddox is planning, I’ll make sure this ti, I’ll be the winner.
Soon we got to our family’s mansion. My dad instructed them to take to the secret room upstairs and lock up over there.
But why the secret room? I was expecting him to take to the dark room, where I normally stay whenever I make mistakes.
The guards obeyed and took to the room as commanded.The room was a bit dim, filled with portraits and indigenous artifacts mixed with the sll of dust.
There were a few spider webs in the room and so bunch of dried flowers. What nearly creeped out was the portrait of our late grandmother.
I never liked her, she always favored my step sister over . I grew up all alone, never been loved and so don’t know the feeling of it.
The only feeling I could recall was one from my late Mother, when I was barely 3. And that mory is a short one.
I collapsed to the floor and sat on the door mat with my back facing the door. When will I ever be free? What did I do to be a pawn wherever I go?
Sotis I wished I was never adopted, I wish I stayed and grew up on the streets where they found .
Maybe my life would have been different then. I wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble. Damn, I wish ti could really go back.
As I sat there sulking, my phone screen lit up. It was a ssage from Lysander, it says.
"Hope everything is okay? Call once you get to your dormitory. Be safe."
That undid , I let my hidden tears fall from my eyes. I cried until sleep dragged under, my body trembling against the cold floor.
But it didn’t last long.
Bang! Bang! A gunshot shattered the silence. Then another.
I bolted upright, my heart racing. What the heck is going on? Then my phone buzzed in my hand—Mordred’s na flashed on the screen.
"Where are you?" his ssage read. "You’re not in the room you ntioned."
My breath caught in my throat, he’s here already? How?
Then I heard several footsteps and shouting from downstairs. Goshhhh what did I just do?
Reviews
All reviews (0)