AMELIA The stinging of my cheeks jolts me awake, sending a surge of fear and confusion coursing through my veins. As I glance around the room, disoriented by the abrupt awakening, I see Ember standing by the edge of the bed, her gaze ablaze with intensity. There's no need for words; I understand immediately that she just used a slap to rouse me from my sleep.  Gingerly, I raise my hand to my swollen cheek, the ache throbbing beneath my fingertips. I meet Ember's glare with a mixture of shock and apprehension, the weight of her hatred hanging heavy in the air between us. "Get your fucking ass up," she barks, her words a harsh echo in the room. With a forceful tug, she yanks me out of bed once again, but this time, I manage to maintain my balance. I regained some of my strength as I healed during my sleep. "Follow me," Ember commands, her voice laced with authority as she strides towards t

NICKOLAS I make my way back upstairs from the maid's quarters, my mind consumed by thoughts of Amelia's healing wounds. The image of her battered body fills me with a sense of anger and helplessness. I always knew Ember was cruel, but I never imagined she was capable of such wickedness. The fact that she wanted to whip Amelia while she was still recovering is beyond comprehension. If it weren't for one of my trusted guards informing me that Amelia had been dragged to the dungeon, I shudder to think what might have transpired if I had been a minute late. It's bad enough that I wasn't able to prevent Ava from hurting her.  Another torture was the last thing she needed. I need to find a way to keep Amelia away from Ember before she kills her and ruins my plans. I have come too close to my revenge to lose it. The mere thought of Amelia's injuries has my insides churning and my jaw clenching in frustration. I fucking nee

"Get up!" his bark pierces the air, his presence casting a menacing shadow over me. I remain frozen, my body trembling uncontrollably as desperate wails tear from my throat. Curling into myself, I draw my knees to my chest, seeking whatever semblance of protection I can muster. I silently pray it doesn’t hurt, just as Beatrice assured me."Oh, for fuck's sake, no one is fucking you tonight. I'd rather let a man fuck me than do that," his words land like a crushing blow, the shock evident on my slackened expression. In a surprising act of gentleness, he crouches down, lifting me effortlessly and draping me over his shoulder. My mind reels in disbelief. Did he really just say that?He strides toward his bed, and I still brace myself for what is to come next, my heart pounding with a mix of dread and uncertainty. He tosses me onto the mattress, and instinctively, I sit up, drawing my knees close to my chest for a semblance of protection. My gaze locks with his, silently demanding an expl

"Where are your clothes?" Nickolas's voice cuts through the tense silence, his grip on my arm still firm and causing a sharp pang of pain to shoot through me. Despite the discomfort, I refrain from speaking, knowing that it’s best not to say anything to make the situation worse."Ember took them," I respond truthfully, not hesitating to divulge the facts of the matter. After all, it's not as though Nickolas would take any action against her for her actions. "Hmm, she did," Nickolas murmurs, more to himself than to me, his grip tightening further before he finally releases me. I massage the tender area where his fingers had dug in, silently waiting for him to speak further. To my surprise, he doesn't reprimand me or demand further explanations. Instead, he disappears momentarily, only to return with my dress—or rather, Ember's dress—in hand. My brows knit together in confusion as Nickolas offers me the garment; his ac

NICKOLAS  "She knows," I tell Eric, taking a sip of bourbon lounging in a brown armchair beside the crackling fireplace. The warm glow paints the living room in comforting hues.Eric leans forward, his own glass in hand. "Which 'she'?""Amelia," I respond, taking another sip, my throat tightening at her name."How does she know?"“I don’t know, but tonight she questioned me about it.”“She’s sharp. It only took her the second time to figure it out.”“Let’s hope she knows how to shut her mouth and doesn’t mess up the plan.”“I don’t think she has anyone to spill to. Nothing to worry about.”“Beatrice is her roommate. She might tell her, and as much as I trust Beatrice, I can't be sure she won't betray me for the right reasons.”“Beatrice has known you half your life. I doubt she'd ever betray y