CHAPTER SIX: RUN.

AVERY'S POV:

I was done with crying. It felt like a curse had latched onto my life, shadowing every breath I took. Why did everything have to go wrong? Not a moment to breathe, to laugh, or feel free—just an endless stream of pain, betrayal, and torment. Let me take you back to where it all started, to the reason I can’t seem to stop the tears.

Growing up, the only warmth I felt came from my father and grandfather. My mother, Lyra Russell, used to be loving—at least, that’s what I was told. But then something changed when I turned two. My father said her love began to fade. I didn't understand it then, but as I grew older, I saw the truth for myself. The moment Astrid, my younger sister, entered the picture, it was as if all the love my mother once had for me shifted to her.

That alone was hard, but at least I had my father and grandfather. They were my sanctuary, wrapping me in a love that softened the sharp edges of my mother’s indifference. But even that comfort was ripped away all too soon.

I had dreams of my own, ambitions to follow in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps, to become a businesswoman like them. I’d planned everything, down to the smallest detail. But on my eighteenth birthday, everything unraveled. I left for school that morning, only to return home to devastating news: I was to marry Chase Grayson. I protested, fought, but my objections fell on deaf ears. By the weekend, I was standing in a grand church, walking down an aisle towards a man I’d never even met.

For the first two months, I thought maybe I could make this life work. I was treated like a princess, but soon, the illusion shattered. My mother never visited, nor did Astrid. And Chase… Chase became my nightmare. He took what he wanted without a hint of tenderness. I can never forget that night, the coldness in his eyes as he stripped my soul bare.

My heart aches for Astrid. Did our mother plan the same fate for her? Is she bound to suffer like I did, caught in the hands of a man who would break her as Chase broke me? Yet, despite everything, I couldn't stop myself from falling for him. It’s that contradiction, that impossible ache, that cuts the deepest.

I wondered if my family even knew where I was, if they were looking for me. Would anyone come to save me? The questions circled in my mind, endless and haunting. As I got lost in my thoughts, a maid knocked softly and entered, urging me to follow her. She begged, eyes wide with concern, but I refused to leave the room. I wasn’t going anywhere. She only asked that I not anger Axel, but I couldn’t care less.

Suddenly, the door squeaked open, startling me. My heart raced as I looked up, catching my first real glimpse of him. Axel stood there, filling the doorway with his intimidating presence, a tower of sharp angles and quiet power. Yet, beneath that, he was strikingly handsome. His face was carved with a kind of rugged, relentless charm, every line and edge a testament to some battle he’d fought and won.

 There was a strange calm about him, as if he carried a storm within but had mastered the art of keeping it at bay. Broad shoulders, tall frame, and a piercing gaze that left no room for softness. I swallowed, nerves tightening like a coil inside me.

But I couldn’t let his looks sway me. I straightened, meeting his stare head-on. “Let me go,” I demanded, voice trembling but defiant. “What do you even want with me? You know I’m married, don’t you? We can’t be married—it hasn’t even been annulled.”

His expression barely changed, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “It’s handled,” he said coolly. “I have enough power that with a snap of my fingers, your marriage to Chase became null and void.” He took a slow step closer. “But I’m not here for a chat. There’s only one rule in this house, Avery—obedience. That’s the only thing I’ll tolerate. Now, go wash your tear-soaked face and put on a smile. My daughter doesn’t need to see you like this at dinner.”

I folded my arms, holding my ground. “I’m not eating in your house until you tell me who you are.”

His jaw tightened, and without a word, he strode forward, his hand gripping my arm. I flinched as he led me toward the bathroom with an impatient grip, barely giving me a moment to resist. “Wash your face,” he commanded, his voice low and laced with barely restrained irritation.

Knowing I had little choice, I rinsed my face, feeling the cold water shock my senses. When I finished, I looked at him, finding him waiting with a hand towel in his hand. He held it out, his eyes locked on mine, unyielding. Gently, almost surprisingly, he patted my face dry. “Fix your expression,” he ordered, a warning in his gaze. “And don’t make a scene.”

Downstairs, the dining room was elegantly set, and Sea was already seated, happily munching on her food. She didn’t even look up at me, her smile reserved solely for Axel, who now looked far softer, even joyful as he returned her grin. It struck me how different he seemed in front of his daughter—a father, young and charming, not the stone-faced man who’d just dragged me into the bathroom.

As we settled into our seats, Sea chattered away about her day, animatedly telling Axel every small detail. He listened closely, nodding and chuckling, his attention fully on her. When she paused, he looked toward me, his eyes cold once more, though his voice softened as he introduced me to Sea. “This is your new mother, Sea. Her name is Avery Blackwood. I want you to be kind to her. Can you do that for Daddy?”

Sea’s expression shifted, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. But she nodded with a slight tilt of her head, though it was clear she was far from thrilled.

"Avery, this is my daughter, Sea Blackwood."

Not knowing how to act or what to say, I just nodded.

I sat frozen, my appetite nonexistent. The absurdity of it all gnawed at me—this was my new “family,” and I didn’t even have a say in it.

Dinner passed without me touching my food, but thankfully, Axel didn’t press the issue. After a while, he glanced over at Sea, giving her a gentle smile. “All right, princess. Time for bed.” Then he looked at me, his expression hardening. “You’re going to tuck her in. Bond with her.”

Fire blazed in his eyes, warning me there was no room to argue. Reluctantly, I stood, following Sea up the staircase, her small hand slipping out of mine as she led the way. I kept my eyes open, noting every weak spot, every potential escape route. This house might be beautiful, but it was nothing more than a cage to me.

We reached Sea’s room—a paradise of pinks and whites, stuffed animals and sparkles. It was the picture of childhood innocence, a world so far removed from my reality that it felt almost surreal. “Go brush your teeth,” I heard myself say, struggling to find some authority in my voice. But who was I kidding? I had no idea how to be a mother. I was twenty-four, barely hanging on myself.

Sea tossed her hair over her shoulder, crossing her arms. “Don’t tell me what to do,” she huffed. “I only acted nice for Papa’s sake. I don’t like you, and I never will. So don’t waste your time trying to make me.”

I crouched down, giving her a small, understanding nod. “That’s fair, Sea. I’m not planning to. In fact, I’d rather you convince your father to let me go. That way, neither of us has to deal with this.”

Her eyes narrowed, intrigued by my response. “You don’t want to be here?”

“Not at all, darling. If you don’t like me, why should I make you unhappy? Maybe you could help me find a way out.”

She tilted her head, clearly puzzled. “That’s strange… all the women around Papa want to be here. You’re the first one he’s ever brought home.” She muttered this as if speaking more to herself than me, and I couldn’t tell if the fact made her suspicious or curious.

Was that supposed to make me feel special? It didn’t. All I wanted was my freedom.

I stood back, watching as she climbed into her massive bed, curling up beneath a mound of soft blankets. I took a step toward the door, giving her space. The silence was oddly comforting, an escape in itself, and I felt a strange pang of sadness for her. She seemed so alone in all this. Did anyone truly love her here, or was she just another piece in Axel’s game? I didn’t know, but I had to focus on my own survival before I could feel sorry for anyone else.

Reaching for the light switch, I hesitated, glancing back at her. That’s when she called out, her voice small and afraid. “Don’t turn it off. I’m afraid of the dark.”