ter T

MI

throat. My father hated her. She loathed him. I was probably just imagining thi

father's hand fisted in my hair, dragging me to

oved me hard, sending me sprawling across the bed, and

!" I lied, my voice trembling. I prayed the lie wo

ds sharp as glass. Then, the belt landed

was a man possessed by cold rage. He mus

tired and then he backed out, locke

eak, the door swung open. My father walked in silently, the aggression from

ions that don't concern you, Mira," he said so

wn at my bruised fingers as the

ive simmer. "The hospital is demanding we clear the bills before they perform t

rd hit me like

off to work for a family to 'save for my education' . Two days in, I was framed for a theft I didn't commit and forced into th

'freedom' had lasted exactly one day before he

fting my teary eyes to meet

a career professional who owned her own life. But looking at my

tanding up with an air of finality. "You'll work as his secr

feet, anger finally overriding my fear. My

ve your daughter, not mine!" I screamed, my hands c

," he said, his voice cold and flat

est. I couldn't do this again. I had to run. I scrambled for my handbag and found

red on the

orcing me into another contract for Mia's

okay, to give me a plan. I always listened

to run away?" Freya's voice wasn't comforting. It

life, Freya. Five years? I'm twenty one already. I can't waste my entire youth achie

led, cutting me off. "Why are you being so s

ied, the tears finally breaking th

d. "Now is the time to prove her wrong. Trust me, once she

I don't treat her right? How would Freya know that?

telling myself I must have vented

stung, but I needed a second opinion. I needed one pers

ng, Nora picked up, but before I could utter

there, his eyes bloodshot and r

ngs. They're wa

The

le my father watched me like a hawk. 'I have to save Mia, I whispered to m

in the street. As I approached, the door swung open. The interior was shrouded in darkness. I

ce until we pulled into a

driver said, finally speaking a

n screamed wealth, the kind of wealth that bought silence a

he said. "Call me i

osphere in the room shifted. It felt as if the air itself grew heavier

was a map of jagged scars, silver lines that spoke of a violent

voice vibrated in my chest. "I imagine you know wh

trying to stand my ground, but my l

flickered across his lips, a brief, chilling movement th

e light, but I knew it was his eyes. Befo

n around. A man stood directly behind me, masked his presence just as intimidating as Blade

suspicion wa

is voice was different from Draven's, smoother, but no less

your room, Miss Mira

the servant caught my arm with startling

e. The air here felt strange, as if it were sucking the very littl

you

e greenery, desperate for the scent of fresh air to clear the terror