ct telling me to run, but my feet remained stuck to the ground. Aiden's face darkened, his jaw tensed, and his gaze

forceful. He took a step towards the door

tening with desire. "I'm not sta

m and touched it gently. "Anna, you h

made me feel like a pawn in some dark game? My head shook, and my h

ne closer. Heavy footsteps resonated across the hallwa

er and cupped my face with his hands. His touch was forceful bu

you hear or whatever occurs, keep quiet.

ee the truth hiding behind. But all

of the room, heart beating. The silence that followed was deafening, rife with tension an

You have no notion wha

wasn't telling me everything; he was hiding something important. And if I didn't figure

till. I needed to under

r in my chest, and the shadows lengthened around me. As I proceeded farthe

ir was thick with anxiety, and the quiet murmuring from the room ahead sent shivers down my s

. "You were not intended to b

It was she, the same woman who had attacked me. "Aiden, plan

en's voice was hard, and I coul

nged with hatred. "Do you think you can just walk

referring to? And why did Aiden seem like he was in

ena, you have no idea what you are ge

ll, Aiden. You're no longer in charge. You may have

art was pounding so hard that. i was afraid I responded

Don't include Aria in this. She has abs

id softly. "She's the key to

nges on this? What was she referring to? I wasn't a

ing, and I stood still. Aiden stepped into the hallway, his demean

voice low and menacing.

ulped hard and backward.

graceful body bathed in faint light. Her eyes were icy and merciless as she peered up and down at me, l

his eyes sparkling. "Go ba

rful than I felt. "I'm not going anyw

kedly. "You truly want to know? Fine. D

ped forward, his hand reaching

whispering, "Aiden did not marry you to protect

ggered back, the room swi

d with sadistic glee. "You're why we're all he

horror crashing together like a s

efore he could say anything, her voice venomous. "You have a contract, Aria

ntegrate beneath my feet and my legs buckle. A contract,

in my eyes. "Is it true?" My voice shook as I d

I yelled, the betrayal bla

again. But then he made the slightest movemen

word hung

but I could not escape. The truth, the betrayal, the lies-it all crumbled ar

what Aiden had just acknowledged, there was

und, her demeanour instantly co

lled me closer, his face har

and armed men rushed into the room, their rifl