every passing moment. Patrick's control tightened around her like a noose, but the memory of Dominic's touch, his words, haunted her. The warmt

ed her resolve. She had made a promise, a vow, and breaking it would mean condemnin

itude, lost in her own thoughts, away from the prying eyes of the household staff. Even though she had everything she co

rd a conversation between two of the household servants. Their hushed voi

his brother treat her like that," one of the women said. "I hear he

but hearing it spoken aloud, in such a casual tone, made her

ldn't deny, but she couldn't let anyone-least of all Patrick-know. The risk

the gentle sound of water trickling from its stone basin offering a momentary escape from her t

ay again?" Patrick's voice cut

tood just behind her, his posture rigid, his gaze fixed on her w

" she asked, trying to hide

w you with him." The words were barely a whisper, b

g in her chest. She couldn't let him know what had really h

careful as you think, Ivana. You might be able to fool

his words like a boulder pressing against her

aze narrowing with suspicion. "Don't

hing she wanted was to escalate things further, but how much longer could she continue to lie?

in a vice-like grip. "I don't like being lie

was too strong. "Let go of me," she h

actually let her go, but then his grip tight

s," he warned, his voice low and dange

e couldn't let him control her, not like this. But how could

ed back, rubbing her sore skin. She tried to catch her breath, bu

still icy, before he turned and walked away, leaving Ivana st

-

e walls of the mansion seemed to close in around her, suffocating her with their silence. She could f

a distant memory now, swallowed by the darkness of her reality. Could she continue living this way? Could

ut she had no idea what that change would look like. The only th

if she stopped pretending? Would she be fre