Chapter 3

Back to the Lion's Den

The drive back to Gerald’s estate dragged on longer than she could bear.Every minute felt like a punishment.

Elara sat curled in the back seat of the SUV, staring out the rain-slick window.Cain didn’t speak a word. He simply drove, eyes forward, fingers loose on the steering wheel like he wasn’t returning a girl to her cage.

Elara sat hunched in the backseat, arms crossed, hair wet,soaked dress clinging to her skin despite the warmth of the car.Her mind raced with everything that had just happened ,the sting of Adrian's voice, his cold warning, the way he looked at her like he already owned every part of her.

She clenched her fists in her lap, nails digging into her palms. He knew things about her. Personal things. Caleb. Her favorite foods. Her habits. How?

And why did he care enough to find out?

She remembered his words,

"Don’t test me."

"Whether you walk down that aisle with fire in your eyes or fear in your heart is up to you."

Was this what her life was now? A game of ownership,traded from one cold, powerful man to another? She didn’t know what scared her more,staying, or the fact that some part of her had actually felt safer near Adrian than in her own home.

She pressed her forehead to the cold window, watching the night smear past in streaks of rain and headlights. Every mile closer to Gerald felt like a snake tightening around her neck.

By the time they reached the estate, it was just after 3 a.m. The massive iron gates groaned open as Cain drove through without needing to be buzzed in. Of course they were expecting her.

The mansion loomed ahead, golden lights glowing in its windows like watching eyes. She wanted to scream. To run again. But her body didn’t move.

Cain pulled to a stop near the steps and killed the engine.We are here.

"I’ll wait until you’re inside," he said, the first thing he’d spoken in over an hour.

She glanced at him, surprised. There was no pity in his voice, but there wasn’t indifference either. Just duty.

"Thanks," she mumbled, pushing open the door.

Elara stepped out slowly, duffel bag in hand. The rain had deduced to a drizzle, but the cold still crept under her skin. She walked toward the entrance, every step heavier than the last,then the front doors burst open.

Gerald stood there, robe half-tied, a glass of something amber in his hand. With Katherine beside him.Katherine stood there in a silk robe, holding a wine glass as if nothing had happened. Her lips curled into a smirk.

"Look who crawled back.”

"You absolute child," Gerald hissed. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?

Elara’s jaw locked.Apparently not enough. You still found me.

He marched down a few steps toward her, his grip tightening on the glass.What were you thinking?Gerald snapped. Running off like a spoiled brat. Do you know how close you came to ruining everything? "You embarrassed me. You embarrassed this family."

"You mean your business deal," she spat.

"Same thing!" he roared. Do you know how lucky you are that Wolfe didn’t call this off entirely? He could’ve ruined us. Do you even realize what that man is capable of?

Elara set her bag down. "I needed air."

"You needed to remember your place," he retorted. You're lucky Mr. Wolfe didn’t call the whole thing off.

"He sent me back here," she said. If I’m so important, why didn’t he keep me?

Katherine chuckled from behind. "Sweetheart, you were never meant to stay in his world. You're just... part of the deal."

Elara turned to her slowly. Do you enjoy saying things just to hurt me? Or does it come naturally?

Katherine’s smile vanished. "Watch your tone."

Or what? You'll trade me to someone worse next time?

Gerald stepped between them. Enough. The wedding is in two days. You’ll smile, wear the dress, and say your vows. Then you’re his problem.

"And what if I don't?" 

Gerald grabbed her arm, not hard, but enough to make her flinch. Cain stepped out of the car like a shadow. Gerald noticed.

He let go of her instantly. "It's done," he snarled. "Go inside. We’ll deal with this tomorrow."

"We won’t," she said quietly, 

Elara looked at him with quiet rage. "You’re selling me off like I’m cattle."

"We're giving you a future," he snapped. That man is rich beyond anything you can imagine. You think acting classes and dreams will save you in this world?.

She didn’t respond. Her silence said everything.

Gerald exhaled and turned away. "You’ll be escorted everywhere until the ceremony. Don’t even think about running again. We won’t get another chance.”

Katherine hissed and then brushed past her without a word.

Elara sniffled and then turned and walked into the house.

The silence inside the mansion was heavy. Too clean. Too perfect. She walked slowly, dragging her feet across the polished marble, heading for her room.

But she didn’t make it far.

Phoebe appeared at the top of the stairs, her phone in hand, eyes wide.Wow,"You actually came back." 

Still that was pretty sleek you know.Leaving the house without anyone noticing.

Dope.

Chloe, two years younger than Phoebe but somehow calmer with her words, peeked from behind her.Did you see him? Is he as scary as everyone says? Is he really handsome?

Elara ignored them both and continued climbing the stairs without answering.

Oh come on.Don’t be a b**ch.“Phoebe said with spite… 

Chloe added from behind, her tone lighter but her words cutting deeper than she realized. It won’t kill you if you just answer us.

You should be grateful you're being given the chance to represent us.Pheobe said with spite.

For once in your life you're actually this lucky.I mean, getting married to a billionaire heir?.

You must have pulled some strings,didn't you?.

Phoebe chuckled from behind.and then gasped,don't tell me you slept with him,just so he could choose you.You stooped that low?.

Elara stopped in her track to give her a reply but turned against it.She wasn't worth the reply anyways it's something she has gotten used to .Instead she just turned and continued up the stairs to her room

Yeah.Keep walking like the b**tch that you are.Phoebe added Making sure She heard her just before she entered her room.

Her room hadn’t changed. Still small. Still cold. A corner of the house no one visited. The only difference was the silence inside her. A kind of quiet rage that simmered beneath her skin.

She dropped onto her bed, pulled her knees to her chest, and stared at the cracked ceiling.

She had two days.

Two days before she became Adrian Wolfe’s bride.

She imagined the ceremony.cold marble, strangers watching, her in white beside a man who knew everything about her, and yet she knew almost nothing about him. The idea made her stomach twist.

And she didn’t know if that terrified her more than staying in this house ever did.

It’s not fair," she whispered softly to no one.

She wanted someone, anyone to care.

Tears streamed silently down her face. She cried the way she always had. Quietly. So no one would hear and tell her to stop. So no one could use it against her.

She thought of her sisters, laughing downstairs, her sisters were probably watching TV, laughing like nothing was happening. They’d never be offered to a stranger like this. They were Katherine’s true daughters. Pretty, spoiled.. 

..adored.

Elara had always been the ghost. The placeholder. The name they remembered only when they needed someone to blame or sacrifice.

That was just her fate.

But no matter how much they tried to strip her of her choices, Elara knew one thing for sure.

She couldn’t control what they’d taken from her… but she could still choose how to carry what was left.