LOGIN[ Mira's POV ]My wrists and ankles were locked in heavy steel chains, bound tightly to the cold metal legs of an upright chair. Every time I struggled or shifted my weight, the chains bit cruelly into my skin, sending sharp sparks of pain up my arms.Inside my chest, I wasn't just afraid—I was boiling over with pure, unadulterated rage.How could he?How could Salvatore actually do this to me? After everything I had sacrificed, after all the years I spent standing by his side, learning his ways, waiting for the day he would finally look at me the way he looked at her, he had thrown me away like trash. He had ordered me dragged down to this hellhole just for a weak, pathetic outsider.And Michael.Traitorous, pathetic bastard.I gritted my teeth so hard my jaw ached, a low hiss escaping my lips. Michael, the very man I had tried to wrap around my finger just hours ago, hadn't even hesitated. When Salvatore gave the order, Michael’s hands had clamped onto my shoulders with cold, ruthle
[ Mira's POV ]My eyelids fluttered, heavy and sluggish, as I slowly dragged them open.The harsh, sterile white light glaring down from the ceiling hit my eyes like a physical blow. I hissed softly, instinctively squeezing my eyes shut again to block out the agonizing brightness. Slowly, I forced myself to blink through the pain, letting my vision adjust until the fuzzy shapes around me sharpened into focus.The beeping of a heart monitor, the smell of antiseptic, the IV drip taped to the back of my hand—I was in a hospital room.The memory of the pool rushed back to me in a sickening wave: the wine, the burning fire in my stomach, the metallic taste of blood rushing up my throat. I gasped, my hands flying to my abdomen as terror seized me.The antidote... Did I take it in time?I checked my own pulse, feeling the steady, living thrum of my heart. A wild, breathless laugh bubbled up in my chest, cutting through the pain. It worked. The antidote had held.A triumphant grin stretched a
[ Mira's POV ] Before I could even blink, the ground completely vanished beneath me.With a sudden, violent shove, Michael didn't pull me closer, he threw me off his lap. I tumbled through the air and landed hard on the cold floor, the breath knocked completely out of my lungs.Shock and absolute disbelief froze my veins. I scrambled up onto my hands and knees, staring up at him like a stranger. "Michael...?" I called out, my voice cracking with pure humiliation.He didn't look at me with desire. He didn't look at me with the pathetic, lovesick devotion I had counted on. His face was carved from stone, his eyes colder than ice."What did you take me for, Mira?" he asked, his voice dripping with venom. He stood up slowly, towering over me. "Get out. Be gone before I come back," he spat, turning his back on me and walking out the door without a single backward glance.Left alone on the floor, a suffocating wave of hot, blinding anger crashed over me.My body shook, not from fear this t
[ Mira's POV ]I stood near the edge of the dining room, looking down at the pathetic maid in absolute disdain. The very woman who had just sold out her own biological daughter was now kneeling on the floor, wailing and tearing at her clothes.I rolled my eyes and scoffed quietly, staring at how utterly disgusting she looked. How could a mother betray her own daughter like that? I thought, a sneer twisting my lips. It made my stomach turn.Then, realizing I could turn her on my side, at least if her foolish daughter failed me then the mother should be at least useful. I quickly switched off the cold expression. I smoothed my features into a mask of deep, sympathetic pity and took a few soft steps forward.I knelt down right in front of her, gently taking her trembling, cold hands into mine."Ma’am, please don’t cry," I said, my voice dripping with honeyed sorrow. "I am so, so sorry for the loss of your daughter."The maid wailed even louder at my words, a guttural, ugly sound, with s
[ LILA’S POV ]I lay on my bed, pretending to be fast asleep.Suddenly, I heard the door click. Someone walked into my room. I didn't open my eyes because I already knew exactly who it was. It was Dad.A small part of me felt a rush of satisfaction. I was sure he was here to beg for my forgiveness. Or maybe he had finally come to his senses and realized that lying whore Iris didn't belong here. Maybe he was ready to chase her out of our house for good."Lila, I know you’re awake, sweetheart. Talk to me," he said softly, his voice coming from right beside my bed.I snapped my eyes open and glared up at him, the anger boiling over inside me."No, Dad! Go away!" I shouted, sitting up and pushing his hand away. "You betrayed me! You and Mom betrayed me!""Lila, honey," Dad said softly. He sat down on the edge of my bed.I immediately crossed my arms over my chest and turned my face away, refusing to look at him."We didn’t betray you," he continued, his voice full of pain. "You know how
Elizabeth's POV"So much noise and energy, right, Elizabeth?" Luke said, finally standing up from the couch. He stretched lazily, his movements completely relaxed, like a total bastard.I let out a shaky breath, trying to steady my racing heart. It was just Salvatore and Michael standing in that doorway. Surely, between my son's loyalty and Luke's brute strength, it would be more than enough to shield me and buy me enough time to escape through the back window. I had already lost one child tonight; if my son had to give his life for me too, well... it wouldn't be that bad. As long as I survived to claim the Damascus fortune, it would all be worth it."Boss," Luke called out all of a sudden.Before I could even process the word, Luke dropped heavily onto his knees right in front of Salvatore.Salvatore didn't even look down at him. His dark eyes remained fixed entirely on my son, a slow, terrifying smile spreading across his face—a smile that didn't reach his eyes at all.Boss? Did Luk
[ IRIS’S POV ]The air in the room, once thick with a dark, seductive heat, suddenly turned ice-cold. My lungs felt like they were filling with glass. Every protective touch he had given me, every word of "safety" he had whispered, felt like a phantom stain on my skin.I backed away, my heels hitti
[ IRIS’S POV ]I sank onto the edge of the velvet-covered bed and pulled the notebook from my bag. Blank pages. Pencil. It was a small comfort, a tether to the world where I had some control. I began to sketch, not people or landscapes, but the layout of the fortress that I managed to see last nigh
[ IRIS’S POV ] The first thing I felt was the silence. It wasn't the heavy, watchful silence of the Russo estate; it was a vast, mountain silence that made me feel like the only person left on earth. I opened my eyes to find the other side of the massive bed empty, though the imprint of a head on
My sister was adopted, but blood never mattered in our world. She rushed toward me, eyes bright, arm lifted like she meant to throw herself into me. But stopped when she saw the cold look in my gaze.She laughed awkwardly.” Wow, still terrifying I see.”“You shouldn’t be here,” I said.She rolled he







