"Remove the blindfold" a woman’s voice ordered.
The blindfold ca off so fast the light stung my eyes like knives. Everything was a blurry— I blinked hard, more than three tis, trying to make the room stop spinning.
At first all I saw were tall shapes in front of .Two of the n. And behind them... soone smaller.
A slim woman.My eyes adjusted slowly, like my brain needed extra ti to accept wherever the hell I was.
The woman took a step closer. Her perfu hit first—expensive, sharp, the type of scent rich people wore when they wanted to be noticed. My heart jumped painfully in my chest. I could finally make out her face.
She was pretty, definitely olderthan . Maybe mid-twenties. Long hair, perfectly styled, makeup flawless even in this ugly room. She looked like she belonged at a gala or a luxury photoshoot. But the way she looked at ... cold, disgusted, furious...She smiled, not a nice smile. One of those smiles people wear when they’re about to break sothing.
"There she is," the woman said softly, too calm. "The infamous Fiona."
My throat tightened. "Who are you?"
Her eyebrow lifted a little. "You don’t know ?"
Her voice had this mocking edge. "Funny. You should. You’ve been ruining my life long enough."
Ruining her—?Before I could even open my mouth again—
SLAP.
Her hand cracked across my face so hard my head snapped to the side. My cheek burned instantly. Tears sprung to my eyes from pure shock.
I gasped. "W–Why—Why would you do that?" I yelled.
"Don’t talk," she snapped, voice sharp like glass. "Actually—don’t breathe unless I say so."
I swallowed, trembling as the pain spread. She slapped again—lighter this ti but almost worse because of how casual it was.
"You slut." Another slap.
"You shaless little husband-snatcher."
My eyes widened. "W–What—?"
"What, you thought I wouldn’t find out?" she hissed, bending slightly so we were face-to-face. "That you could just bat your pretty little eyelashes and steal any man you want?"
I shook my head desperately. "I haven’t stolen— I don’t—"
She grabbed my chin so hard her nails dug in.
"Shut. Up."
A tear slid down my cheek but I wasn’t even sad—just scared. Completely, stupidly terrified.
She stared at like I was sothing she stepped on, sothing beneath her shoe.
"You really thought you could win," she whispered. "You really thought Nathan was yours."
My heart stopped for a sec. Nathan? So this was about him.
She leaned closer, her breath hot against my face. "Listen carefully, Fiona. Because I’m only saying this once."
I held my breath without aning to.
"You’re going to leave him."
My heart stopped and she smiled at my reaction like she enjoyed watching break.
"Yes," she said. "Leave him."
"No," I breathed out, shaking my head. "I’m not— I can’t—"
She let out a short laugh. "Oh sweetheart... you don’t have a choice."
I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, steadying my voice. "Nathan will find . He always—"
She gave another slap across the face, this ti harder.
"You think I’m scared of him?" she snapped. "I’m not. And before you start with your dramatic nonsense, let explain sothing."
She straightened, adjusting her bracelet like we were discussing a business deal.
"I don’t care about killing you," she said simply. "Honestly? That would be easy. Too easy."
My stomach twisted.
"But I won’t."
She took a step to the side, pacing slowly. "Because I want you alive. I want you to walk away from him. Break his heart. Break your own and then... disappear."
"What— Why?!" I cried out. "Why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?"
She stopped pacing and turned sharply toward .
"You exist," she said. "That’s what you did wrong. Nathan was supposed to be mine. His attention, his affection, his ti. I’ve waited for years." Her jaw tightened. "And then you—this nobody—showed up."
I felt the rope cutting into my wrists again as I trembled.
"I didn’t take him from anyone," I whispered. "He chose ."
Bad! Bad thing to say. The mont it left my mouth, I regretted it.
Her expression darkened instantly. Then she slapped again, this ti backhanded. My lip split a little. I tasted blood.
"You arrogant little bitch."
I winced, blinking tears away. "Please stop—please—"
"I’ll stop when I feel like stopping," she snapped.
Then she crouched down in front of , her expression ice cold. "You’re breaking up with him. Two weeks from now. Publicly... Make him hate you. Make him doubt every mont he spent with you."
"I can’t—" I whispered.
"Oh, you will," she said.
"And if I don’t?" I whispered, voice barely there.
Her lips curled.
"Then Ella dies."
My heart crashed into my stomach. "No— Please—"
"Ella," she repeated calmly. "And her brother. Julian, right?"
She tilted her head as if she were reciting a grocery list. "Cute boy. Drives a black sedan. Lives off-campus. Picks his sister from school sotis..."
My whole body went cold.
"No," I whispered again. "Please. Leave them out of this. They have nothing to do with—"
"Oh, but they do," she cut in. "She’s your best friend. And he’s the idiot who won’t stop looking at you like you’re so lost puppy he wants to save."
My breath hitched. "If you hurt them—"
"What?" she laughed. "What will you do? You’re tied up in a chair like a goat."
Tears spilled down my face.
"Don’t hurt them," I begged. "Please. I’ll do anything—just don’t hurt them."
She smirked. "Good girl. See? You’re learning."
She stood up again, smoothing her dress.
"You get two weeks," she repeated slowly. "Fourteen days. Break up with him. Make it ugly. Make it convincing. Then leave the city. Transfer schools just make sure you disappear."
I shook my head, voice cracking. "He’ll know. Nathan will know sothing’s wrong. He’ll look for . He’ll find—"
"NO."
Her voice was sharp and loud, echoing against the walls.
"You will not tell him. You will not hint. You will not cry in front of him. You will not write a hidden ssage in your goodbye. Because if you do..."
She crouched again so we were eye level. Her eyes were empty. Not angry,not hurt..just... dead.
"If you do," she said softly, "I will ruin you."
"I will destroy your future. Your schooling. Your reputation. And if that doesn’t work, I will kill everyone you love. Starting with Ella."
My stomach twisted painfully.
She leaned in closer. "And when Nathan buries them, he will never forgive you for involving them. That will be your punishnt."
Fresh tears slid down my cheeks uncontrollably.
"Why?" I whispered. "Why are you doing this to ?"
She tapped my cheek lightly—almost gently, which made it even worse.
"Because darling," she said with a small smile, "I always get what I want."
"And I want Nathan."
My entire chest collapsed inward, she signaled the n with her chin.
"Put the blindfold back."
"No— No please don’t— I won’t scream— I’ll listen—"
"Blindfold her," she repeated.
The older man grabbed the cloth again. I jerked away instinctively, but it didn’t matter. The blindfold slid over my eyes again, plunging back into darkness.
I felt the woman crouch again.
Her hand cupped my jaw in a fake gentle way.
"Two weeks, Fiona."
Her thumb brushed over the spot she’d slapped.
"Two weeks."
Then her voice dropped into a whisper that slid straight down my spine.
"And rember...
If you tell him..." Her lips touched my ear.
"Ella dies."
The blindfold tightened and I was back to total darkness.
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