Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

Kian's POV 

I caught her wrist just before the elevator doors could close.

She froze.

Her assistant stopped a few feet away, eyes darting between us, clearly panicking — but neither of us said a word.

Her jaw clenched. “Let go of my arm, Mr. Donovan.”

Her voice was calm, but I saw the way her chest rose and fell — like she was trying to breathe through a storm.

“We talked about personal space before... I would appreciate it if you’d let go of mine.”

I didn’t budge.

There was too much boiling under my skin. I know I shouldn’t do this — there’s nothing logical about it — but when it comes to her, I can’t seem to reason clearly.

She took a deep breath, and when she turned to look at me, her expression was pure fire..“What do you want?”

“We need to talk.”

Without waiting for her response, I simply turned and walked down the hallway, dragging her with me.

Her assistant gasped softly behind us, but I didn’t care.

I found an empty conference room, pushed the door open, and tugged her inside, slamming it shut behind me.

“Have you lost your damn mind?!” She yanked her hand free the moment we were alone. “Don’t you ever touch me like that again.” Her chest rose and fell fast.

My jaw tightened. I reached for my tie and yanked on it.

She looked at me like I had gone nuts, then turned to leave — but I moved faster, using my body as a shield against the door.

Her gaze flicked from me to the door and back again.

“Move out of my way, Kian,” she said sharply.

I didn’t budge.

I stared deep into her eyes — those once warm eyes now cold, neutral, unreadable.

A sharp pain tugged at my chest.

“All this hate… Is that really all you have left for me?” My voice dropped, low and firm.

She stared right back at me, then laughed.

Not the kind that reached her eyes. It was bitter.

“Don’t do that. Don’t pretend you were ever anything more than cold.”

I stepped closer. “You disappeared. I want answers, Eliora,” I said, trying to keep my voice measured. “Why did you leave?”

She met my gaze. “You gave me no choice.”

That’s it? No more explanation?

“I need answers, Eliora.” I closed the space between us.

“I have none to give.” But the way her jaw clenched… I knew she was lying.

A beat of silence passed as we just stared at each other. The tension in the room could be felt and it was pushing hard on my shoulders.

The worst part was how hard she was to read. Her face was a wall. Cold. Still.

“You really think it was that simple, Eliora?”

Her eyes narrowed. “It was simple. I walked away… and you let me.”

My voice dropped. “You think that’s what happened?”

Her expression faltered for just a second — but she masked it.

“It’s what I remember.”

Another silence.Then she moved toward the door.

I slammed my palm against it, shut it again — trapping her between my arms.

She turned slowly and glared and her jaw clenched hard-- if only looks could kill.

But she didn’t move.

Neither did I.

We were inches apart now. So close, I could see the faint shimmer in her eyes she was trying to blink away.

“Was I that easy to leave?” I asked quietly.

Her eyes narrowed. “Like I said before… you made it easy. So let me go.”

I should’ve stopped there.

But I didn’t.

“You were never forced into that marriage,” I said. My voice was low. Bitter. “But I was.”

The second the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

Her face cracked for a split second — pain flashing so fast I would’ve missed it if I wasn’t watching her that closely.

Then it was gone.

“So you’re the victim now?” she snapped, her voice shaking. “You could’ve at least tried. But you were always too much of a coward to love me.”

I flinched.

Didn’t mean to. But I did.

She saw it.

I straightened, masking it with a bitter smile. “You’re engaged now? Got yourself a new life?”

“Yes,” she said. “A better one.”

I took a slow step forward. “Then why are you still shaking?”

Her body tensed.

Just for a second. But I caught it.

“I’m not,” she said — but her voice wasn’t steady.

I looked her dead in the eye.

“Then look at me and say you feel nothing.”

She didn’t blink. Didn’t look away.

“I feel nothing.”

A beat of silence.

But her breathing wasn’t even anymore.

I saw the way her chest rose and fell — too fast, too shallow.

I leaned in, lowering my voice. “Then let me confirm it.”

Her brows drew together, confused — but I didn’t give her time to process it.

I smashed my lips against hers.

It wasn’t soft. Neither was it gentle.

I never intended it to be.

It was angry. Desperate. A collision of years of silence and unspoken words.

She stiffened. Every inch of her screamed resistance.

But her lips trembled so slightly.

And the moment I felt that tiny crack in her control — something in me shattered.

I told myself this was just to prove a point.

To test her.

To force the truth out of her the only way I knew how.

But the second her mouth moved — just barely — I knew.

I was lying.

This wasn’t about proving anything.

I just wanted her.