All Chapters of Devil's Bidding: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Arabella sat in the car, completely detached from her surroundings as the vehicle glided smoothly through the landscape. Her eyes, swollen and red-rimmed, no longer produced tears, they had dried up miles ago, leaving behind only a dull ache and a crushing hollowness in her chest. She didn’t blink. Didn’t move. Her body was present, but her soul was somewhere far away, drifting where no one could reach it.When the car stopped, a man opened the door without a word, and she was transferred to a waiting helicopter. Still, she remained mute, unmoving, numb to the sound of spinning blades and the gust of wind that whipped at her hair as they took off. The flight was short, a blur of vibrations and noise that she barely registered. When they landed, she was quietly ushered into yet another car.It was only when the second vehicle rolled to a gentle stop that a voice finally pierced the fog in her mind.“We’re here,” the man beside her announced.The words were simple, but they shattered t

ArabellaI lay there, shivering on the cold tiles, long past the point of knowing how much time had passed. Minutes? Hours? I couldn’t tell. My body ached from lying curled in that corner, but I didn’t move.My eyes were dry now, completely. Every tear had already been shed. I had cried until my chest burned, until there was nothing left to give. Now, all that remained was fury. Cold, bitter fury.Rage pulsed through my veins hotter than any fever. I hated him.I hated Lucas.That twisted, heartless bastard who had humiliated me, broken me down, and played me like a puppet. Everything about him, his voice, his gaze, the way he carried himself like the world should bow at his feet. The fear I once felt had vanished, burned away by what he’d done to me. There was only hate now. A hate so sharp, it sliced through the numbness like glass.Every time he demanded something, I swore I would give him the exact opposite. I would be his thorn, his nightmare. If misery was the only power I h

"The next union is coming up at The Gentlemen’s Society," Don Antonio announced, his voice casual as he reached for his glass of aged brandy. "You’re expected to bring your new pet."He didn’t need to elaborate. The message was clear."It’s tradition. New acquisitions are to be showcased."Lucas’s knife slowed, then stopped against his plate. He didn’t look up immediately, but his grip on the cutlery tightened for the briefest of moments before he placed them down with controlled grace."Let’s see how crushed and broken she is by then," Don Antonio added, his lips curving into a faint smile that never reached his eyes.Lucas finally raised his head. His eyes were void of expression, a mask he wore with ease."I’ll pass," he said simply, rising from the table."You can’t," Antonio responded sharply, not missing a beat."She’s not a personal indulgence. She’s part of our cause."Lucas turned slightly, just enough to meet the Don’s gaze over his shoulder."She’s my property. My responsib

"Arabella Montage," Lucas gritted through clenched teeth."You don’t get a say in destroying yourself, or your life. That choice belongs to me."It was long past midnight when he finally re-entered her room.The moonlight spilled in through the tall windows, casting silver streaks over her sleeping form.She lay curled on the large bed, her dark hair sprawled across the pillow Her expression wasn’t peaceful, it was strained, a faint crease between her brows, her lips parted slightly as if caught in a troubled dream.Lucas stood by the edge of the bed, unmoving.He stood at the edge of the bed, watching her sleep—peaceful, yet not quite.Her brows twitched in discomfort, her breaths shallow and uneven.She looked fragile. Too fragile.His hand lifted unconsciously, drawn toward her cheek… but he stopped mid-air, his fingers curling into a fist.Why did his hands itch for her?Why did the sight of her, soft, vulnerable, and maddeningly beautiful, stir something primal in him?His jaw cl

Hours later, Arabella was still on the floor.Her knees pulled tightly to her chest, arms wrapped around herself like a shield. She rocked gently, back and forth, back and forth, eyes vacant. Her nails had left shallow marks in her arms where she’d clung too hard, like she could hold herself together through sheer force.This wasn’t her bedroom.It looked like it, down to the smallest detail.But it wasn’t.It was a lie.A perfect, twisted copy.But none of it was real. None of it belonged to her anymore.At first, she’d fought.She’d screamed until her voice cracked and her throat felt like it had been scraped raw.“Lucas! You bastard! Let me out!”Her fists had pounded the door until her knuckles split. She’d cursed him. Sobbed. Begged.Nothing.No footsteps.Just the sound of her own voice and silence. Eventually, her strength gave out. Her voice disappeared. Her rage collapsed into exhaustion.Now, she sat in the same corner she had started in, still rocking. Still waiting.A sof