Chapter 3

The iron door swung shut in front of me, and total darkness closed in.

I curled up in a corner.

The last time someone locked me in a place like this, Severin kicked down the door with his men and carried me out.

Afterward, I became afraid of the dark, and he promised that if I ever found myself in darkness again, he would come for me at once.

This time, he was the one who put me there.

The dungeon was pitch-black. Sounds from outside drifted in now and then.

Above me came the clink of dishes, then the thud of footsteps.

I knew what those sounds meant. They were moving things in, carrying Valerie's suitcases one by one into the second-floor guest room.

Before long, voices filled the living room.

Even through the floor, I could hear the delight in the butler's voice. "Congratulations on winning the international fencing championship, ma'am!"

Then came Severin's voice, warm with a rare smile. "Welcome to the estate. You're officially moving in as the kids' tutor. From now on, Lucien and Seraphina's fencing is in your hands."

Lucien clapped and laughed. "Mom, you're amazing!"

Seraphina's voice rang out clear and bright. "So you'll live here now and never leave, right, Mom? That's the best!"

Valerie sounded happy too. "Severin, thank you for taking me back and letting me be with the kids."

The laughter upstairs drilled into my ears.

They were celebrating Valerie's victory and her move into the estate. The woman who had once been the lady of the house was back in a new role.

I closed my eyes, and in the dark, the memories I'd buried resurfaced.

The iron cage. The chains. The roar of the crowd. The dull thud of fists hitting flesh.

I'd huddled at the very back of the cage, shaking all over, my back covered in bruises.

Just as I was about to break, someone kicked the cage door open, crouched down, and wrapped his coat around my shoulders.

Severin slid one arm behind my back and the other under my knees and lifted me up.

I curled up against him, still shaking.

He looked down at me and said, "You're safe now, miss."

After that, he treated my fear of the dark like a matter of life and death.

The hallway lights at the estate stayed on until dawn every night, just for me.

Every time he came home from a job, he'd clean himself up so I wouldn't smell blood on him, then come straight to me.

I had almost forgotten that the Mafia heir who inspired fear and obedience everywhere he went had once held me like something precious.

Pain and fear closed around me like an invisible fist until I could barely breathe.

I clawed at the walls with both hands, but all I left behind were streaks of blood.

At a time like that, even fainting would have been a mercy.

I felt every second pass. There was nothing but the endless darkness and the ache in my chest.

I would never love Severin again.