SEVEN

KATE'S POV:

The moment I stepped into the quiet sanctuary of my bedroom, I felt the tension begin to slip off my shoulders like a worn coat. The space smelled faintly of lavender and crisp linen, the curtains gently fluttering in the late afternoon breeze.

My heels clicked softly against the polished wooden floors as I made my way to the bed, where the shopping bags were stacked like trophies from a well-earned victory.

The shop manager had managed to convince me into getting a lot of things. Things I never thought I would have bought.

I dropped my purse on the edge of the bed and turned to the full-length mirror, surveying myself. My makeup was still intact, the dress unwrinkled, the confidence I had worn all day like a second skin still clinging to my posture.

But now, in the solitude of my room, I could finally let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

Ignoring the slight ache in my feet, I knelt beside the bed and began the process of unpacking. One by one, I lifted the designer bags and carefully removed their contents dresses in soft silks and structured cottons, shoes that gleamed under the light, and delicate lingerie wrapped in tissue paper like whispered secrets.

They all looked so beautiful.

I moved to the walk in closet and began organizing the clothes by color and category. Creams, blacks, deep emeralds, and wine reds lined the racks. My fingers ran along the fabrics like they were poetry brought to life.

There was something deeply therapeutic about arranging beauty about imposing order and elegance where there had once been uncertainty and lack.

The closet, once stark and impersonal, was starting to feel like mine.

I was halfway through folding a pale lilac cashmere sweater when my phone rang from inside my purse. I wiped my hands against my dress, crossed the room, and fished it out.

Rhea.

My heart skipped. For a second, a flicker of panic twisted inside me. Was something wrong? Had she changed her mind? Has she gotten into any trouble again?

I swiped to answer. "Rhea?"

"Kate," she breathed, and immediately, I could tell she had been crying. But it wasn't the heartbroken kind of crying. Her voice was light, and I could hear a smile behind the tears. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry for calling late. I just I needed to hear your voice."

I sank onto the bed, cradling the phone between my ear and shoulder. "Everything okay? Did Liam hurt you?"

"Better than okay, and no, Liam would never hurt me." she said. "Perfect. Kate, I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. For saving me from something I couldn’t face and giving me the freedom to live my own truth. And I'm sorry for everything you have to go through with that awful man."

I swallowed. "You don’t have to thank me, Rhea. You deserved that freedom. You're family, and I love you."

There was a small sniffle on the other end. "Still, you didn’t have to do it. And you did. You’re living in that house, with him of all people, and I know it can’t be easy."

I offered a small laugh. "It’s not. He hates me. And he hates our family more. But we'll figure it out on the long run."

"Father said he had gotten a threat from Nikolai, and asked father for everything he had lost to father." Rhea said, how come father didn't tell me all of this.

I leaned back against the pillows. "Well, I’m not trying to scale any walls, just on my own side and he's on his own side. We don't even share a room and I like it like that, I can't take being close to him."

Rhea sighs. "You always were good at that. Strong. Smarter than me. Dad will come rescue you soon,"

"You’re giving me too much credit. I'm nothing close to being strong."

"Maybe. But Liam says you're the bravest person he’s ever known. And he extends his thanks for what you've done for us. Now, we get to be together and grow old together."

I was happy for Rhea, indeed happy. But a spark of jealousy formed in my heart. She gets to be with the one she loves and I get nothing. I get nothing after sacrificing myself for my family.

Father hasn't even called since the day of the wedding. Not even step mother, at least to thank me for protecting her child. It felt like I was abandoned and left to figure things out on my own.

My brows lifted. "Liam said that?" Keeping the rest of my thoughts to myself.

"Yeah," she said, her voice glowing with affection. "We’re in New Orleans, by the way. We moved here two days ago. And it's so wonderful here."

"New Orleans?"

"Yep! It's beautiful, Kate. It's like something out of a dream. The streets are cobbled and alive, the buildings have that French charm, and at night the city lights feel like you're walking through music. Jazz spills from every alleyway. I swear, it's magic. It's so beautiful."

I smiled, closing my eyes for a moment to imagine it. Rhea twirling in a flowy dress on a humid New Orleans street. Liam chasing her with a camera. Laughter echoing off the brick walls. Freedom. Joy. A life she deserved. A life I deserved also.

"We got engaged yesterday," she added softly.

"What?" I sat up straight. "Rhea!" How could they get engage so fast.

"I know, I know. It’s fast. But we’ve known for so long. I guess we just… wanted to stop waiting for the right time. And the whole of this Voss drama made just do it."

A lump formed in my throat, but I forced it down. "I’m happy for you. Really. Have you guys told Father and step mom yet?"

"You’ll come visit, won’t you? When all this craziness settles down? And yes, mom is so crazy about the news and father is too, but he wants us to lay the news low till after this whole Nikolai's issue dies down in the media."

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. "Of course. I'll come see you and see the beautiful city of New Orleans."

"And you’ll tell me everything about life as Mrs. Voss," she teased. It was a joke, but it felt so hurtful. I never imagined that this would be how my life would end up. Taking my sister's spot cause she wants to get married to the love of her life.

Risking and cutting my entire life short for her. I was indeed one hell of a stupid hero. But family comes first.

I gave a half-laugh. "There’s nothing to tell. It’s more like being an invisible roommate than a wife. We don't really speak to each other, I only converse with Della, the head of the house and just watch movies."

She paused. "I'm sorry, Kate. I'm so sorry you had to go through all this with that awful man. I did say he was dangerous and untrustworthy, and I was indeed right."

My heart gave a strange, unsteady flutter. "Let’s not go there. I don't care about Mr. Voss and I don't plan on talking about him."

"Fine," she said with a yawn. "I should let you rest. Just… promise me something?"

"Anything."

"Promise me that while you're there, you'll be safe. Be safe till father comes up with a plan to get you back. You were always the bold one, Kate, Father always says that. And I love you so much."

I blinked back the sudden rush of tears. "I promise. This is the first time Rhea has used the word I love you on me. She always throws the word around with father and stepmom, but never to me. It made my heart melt, maybe she was indeed coming around."

"Good. And remember… he may not say it, but I think he's already watching you more than he wants to admit. Since he already threatened father, he planning something and you have to be careful and watchful too."

"Thanks for the advice and everything, Rhea. I'll be more careful and try to stay out of his way." I said through the phone speaker.

"Okay, Kate. I have to go now, Liam will be back soon and I have to make dinner for him." she tells me. We said our goodbyes and ended the call.

We ended the call, and for a long time I sat there in the quiet, the phone still in my hand.

The room was warm with fading light. The closet stood open, the shelves now full of beautiful things. But in my chest was a feeling I couldn’t quite name a mingling of guilt, pride, sorrow, and the faintest glimmer of hope. Father is planning to get me back.

The news gladens my heart.

Nikolai wanted Rhea, and I wasn’t Rhea. I never could be.

But maybe, just maybe, I didn’t need to be. I needed to play it safe till I get away from him.