Zane stared at Lucian, his eyes sharp, unreadable, slowly scanning him from head to toe like he was seeing something pitiful. Then, without a word, he stood, slung his bag over his shoulder, and walked out with measured steps.The door clicked shut behind him.Lucian's jaw clenched. His nostrils flared.Then, without warning, he grabbed Lyra by the wrist—his grip vice-like—and yanked her with him down the hallway. She stumbled behind him, heart hammering, unsure what was coming next but already knowing it wouldn't be good."Lucian, let go of me!" she cried, trying to free herself. But he said nothing.He threw open the door to his room and shoved her inside before slamming the door hard enough to rattle the frame."You let another man touch what belongs to me?" His voice was low, dangerous.Before she could even catch her breath, his hand wrapped around her throat—not tight enough to choke her, but firm enough to make her freeze. His gaze bore into hers, wild and possessive."How dare
He kept dragging me along the road. People pointed and stared, whispering behind their hands, but he didn’t care. My head stayed low, shame crawling over my skin like a rash. My limbs felt heavy, my soul even heavier. I was already weak—both inside and out.We stopped in front of a wide glass building. I only looked up when I heard him shout, “Captain! Captain! Captain!”That’s when I saw the signage: a gym. Everyone inside stopped what they were doing and turned their eyes on us. Their judgment hit me harder than the sun scorching above.“I want you to train this hippo body,” Lucian spat coldly, shoving me forward. I staggered, almost falling, until a tall, muscular man stepped forward to catch me.The man blinked in surprise. “Sir, she’s a woman. Women should be treated with gentleness.”Lucian cut him off with a harsh glare. “I’m paying you. Don’t tell me how to rule my world. Just do what I asked.” He turned and stormed off, leaving silence and tension in his wake.I sank to my kn
“Send your bank account number, let me send the money so you can pay him,” Zane said, tapping on his phone screen.“I don't have bank account”He looked up at me, gaze calm but steady. “Okay, then give me your phone number.”“I... I don’t have a phone,” I murmured.He stilled. Then he dropped his hand, and covered his face. “Oh my God. Everything you don’t have.” A pause. “I’m heading back tomorrow for an important meeting. I mean no harm.”My heart slammed against my ribs. Tomorrow?If he left now… if he left me alone in this house, I wouldn’t survive Lucian. I wouldn’t survive myself.“When I return, I’ll open an account for you,” he said, almost dismissively.“O... okay,” I forced out, a lump tightening in my throat.As he walked toward the door, he muttered, “I wonder how someone your age doesn’t even have a bank account.”The door closed behind him, and just like that… the warmth left the room. My mood sank with it.If Zane left, if he was gone for even a day, I didn’t know how t
His lips crashed into mine before I could even think, let alone speak. The kiss was hungry, demanding, and I felt my resistance crumble instantly. His hand gripped my ass, squeezing hard enough to make me gasp into his mouth. I could feel the heat of his palm through the fabric of my jeans, and it sent a jolt straight to my core. My body betrayed me, arching into him as his tongue pushed past my lips, claiming me in a way that left no room for hesitation.I barely registered his other hand sliding under my shirt, his fingers skimming up my stomach until they found the edge of my bra. He paused for a moment, his lips still locked on mine, and then he pulled back just enough to look down. His fingers brushed against something unexpected—the phone I put there, tucked haphazardly into my bra. He pulled it out, holding it up between us with a smirk.“What’s this?” he asked, his voice low and teasing. His eyes flicked from the phone to me, and I could see the amusement dancing in them. “is
“Please stop, I’m human… just like everyone else,” I whispered, voice trembling, barely audible over the roaring laughter.The drunk man's hand hovered over my chest, leering at me with eyes full of filth.I closed my eyes, bracing for impact—humiliation sealing itself into my skin.CRASH!A yell. Glass. Screaming.I blinked open, startled.Blood splattered across the polished floor. The man who had reached for me was now groaning on the ground, a jagged bottle of champagne in pieces near his head. Zane stood above him, his chest heaving, half a bottle still clutched in his hand.“You want to keep embarrassing yourself, huh?” Zane growled, spinning and punching the second man in the jaw with a sickening crack.The third one tried to protest, but Zane slapped him so hard he stumbled backward into a server’s tray.“You’ll keep getting embarrassed,” Zane seethed, “because you don’t want a solution.”He turned his wrath toward Lucian.“You just watched them? Laughed even?” he hissed. “Wha
Zane’s POVLyra’s cheeks were still tear‑stained when I offered her my hand. For three heartbeats she only stared, eyes raw yet shining with a stubborn ember I couldn’t help admiring. “Thank you… but I need to find a way to save myself, not be saved again.”Her voice quivered, but the words landed like tempered steel.I let my palm fall to my side and chuckled softly. “Oh, girl, I’m not saving you—just offering you a toolbox so you can pry open the bars yourself.”She studied me a moment longer—searching for strings, maybe—and then dipped her head. “Excuse me. Thank you.” She turned and slipped through the French doors, disappearing into corridors gilded with Lucian’s money and misery.I watched until only emptiness stared back.“I’ll give her three days,” I murmured to the night. “If she doesn’t ask—and things get worse—I’ll handle it, whether she begs me or not.”I huffed a laugh. “By now she should understand when a man is showing care. I thought all girls spoke that language, but