جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

The boutique was nestled between luxury cafés and designer brands, a quiet but refined fashion house known for its tailored elegance. True to his word, Lucian pulled strings and placed Caliste in a position that matched her skills—not too high to raise suspicions, but not too low to humiliate her.Caliste stood by the window display, carefully adjusting the drape of a silk scarf on the mannequin's neck. Her heart raced—not from fear, but from the rush of doing something that felt meaningful again. She wore a simple blouse tucked into a pencil skirt, her hair pulled into a low ponytail. There was no trace of the woman who had been locked away in a golden cage. Not today.Her colleague, Liana, peeked from the corner. "You're new, right? You have the hands of a designer."Caliste smiled, modest. "I studied fashion once. Long time ago.""Well, if you keep fixing displays like that, the boss will worship you by Friday," Liana joked.Caliste chuckled, but deep down, a part of her still felt

A pause. Cold silence settled between them."Is that not allowed?" she asked quietly.Lucian took a slow sip of his drink, then walked toward her with measured steps. "It's not about being allowed. It's about you remembering what you are in this house."Her breath caught."I'm not your prisoner," she whispered."No," he replied, standing a mere foot away now. "You're something else entirely."He placed his glass down on the marble counter and crossed his arms. "Did you enjoy the chat?"Caliste didn't answer.Lucian's gaze narrowed. "Did your friend remind you of how far you've fallen?""Yes," Caliste said, lifting her chin. "But I already knew."Lucian's jaw clenched, but he said nothing."Liena told me something," Caliste added, her voice steadier now. "She said the Velmores are preparing to find you a bride. That the board is pressuring you for an heir."Lucian didn't flinch. He simply stared at her."That's not your concern," he said flatly."Not my concern?" she echoed, her voice

The penthouse was quiet—too quiet.Caliste sat on the edge of the large velvet couch, her fingers twisting the hem of her blouse. She had been waiting for hours, glancing at the clock every few minutes, listening to the tick of silence that made the air feel heavy.She had made up her mind.Tonight, she would talk to him.Ask for his help—for her father, Gregory Winslow. He didn't deserve to rot away under Desmund's cruel hand. He had once been a proud man, not a pawn.And Lucian… he was her last hope.The clock ticked past eleven… then midnight.Her eyes fluttered closed in exhaustion, only to spring open when the door clicked.Lucian.The scent of smoke and expensive alcohol hit first. Then the sound of his uneven steps echoed through the marble floor.He was drunk.Very drunk.Lucian staggered in, jacket unbuttoned, hair tousled, eyes sharp but unfocused. His tie hung loose around his neck, and the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips when he saw her."Waiting for me, sw

Their meals arrived shortly after—fragrant, beautiful dishes that reminded her of a world she once belonged to. They ate slowly, conversation weaving between lighter things.For the first time in months, Caliste laughed freely no shadows, no chains.Jace watched her with something more than nostalgia. There was longing, yes, but also admiration, for how she survived, for the grace she still carried.As dessert was served, he reached across the table, brushing his fingers gently against hers."If you ever need someone to talk to… or even a place to run to… I'm still here," he said softly. "You don't have to fight alone anymore."Caliste blinked back the sudden emotion in her eyes. It had been so long since anyone offered her anything without conditions.She gave him a small, grateful nod. "Thank you, Jace. Truly."Lobby, Just Before ExitThe soft echo of heels on marble rang across the golden-lit lobby as Caliste and Jace walked side by side toward the exit. The evening had been warm,

It wasn't a request. It was an order.Caliste's breath caught, but she didn't argue. She couldn't—not tonight.Lucian disappeared down the hallway, leaving behind the lingering scent of his cologne and the iron command in his voice.Caliste walked slowly to the kitchen, her limbs numb. She forced herself to eat a few bites of fruit, though her stomach was tight with knots. Her mind echoed Desmund's cruel smirk. "Get pregnant. With Lucian's child."She set the plate down and moved to the bathroom, scrubbing away the invisible stain of her encounter with Desmund, the scent of fear, and the traces of another world where she once felt safe. By the time she stood before Lucian's door in a silk slip, her hands were trembling, but her face was calm.She knocked once."Come in."The door opened to reveal Lucian at the edge of the bed, already shirtless, his expression unreadable. His gaze locked onto hers—not with warmth, but hunger. Possession. Something dark and possessive curled behind his