“I’m Blaire,” she suddenly reveals, her voice softer now, almost hesitant.
Stopping mid-motion, her beautiful name sinks into me. It floods through the hollow chambers of my soul, wrapping around the black thing that lives there like barbed wire.
My eyes close for a beat, savoring the sound against my will.
Eventually, I turn my head just enough that my profile slices through the dim light, but I don’t meet her gaze.
“Goodnight, Blaire.”
When I glance back, our eyes meet in one final, searing collision. I watch her throat work as she swallows, that delicate muscle shifting beneath the fragile, bruised skin.
And for the first time, the fear in her eyes gives way, and she stares at me like I might not be the devil who purchased her after all.
That I might not be likethemafter all.
“Your freedom starts now,” I assert. “You can leave whenever you feel ready or strong enough to do so.”
I give her a single, small nod, then tear my gaze away, twist the knob, and step into the darkness of the hall.
???
And… She never did leave me.
present time...
Another night, another lie.
One heartbeat away from witnessing my downfall.
Ilinger at the edge of the glamorous event hall, nothing but an empty shadow behind my towering husband, Law, as he holds a steady conversation with his business associates.
Their voices blur into meaningless chatter, the kind that feeds his empire and ego.
I stare down into the depths of my glass of water, the clear liquid catches the spotlights in sparkling glints as I swirl it, a heavy sigh slipping from me before I can stop it.
As soon as he hears my boredom, his head snaps sideways, the cold, long glance a clear warning. It slices through the air and holds me in place, my bruised spine locking rigid, gut twisting hard enough to ache. And all at once the thunder of my heart numbs out the music, the laughter, and the world around me.
After a few seconds of him thinking carefully, I can’t tell what his next move will be.
I know Law, well, sometimes I do. Other times, I wonder if I ever really knew him at all. All I know now is that one accidental sigh could have cost me everything tonight. Even if it’s just a normal human reaction, it’s like he wants me to be completely numb.
Bepretty.
Besilent.
Don’tlook up.
Don’tsay or do anything without his say so.
Just pretend to be the obedient, little trophy wife.
When he suddenly turns to face me, his knuckles are bone-white, gripping his champagne flute with such force it could shatter in his hand.
My body trembles under his scrutiny.
Once, twice, three times.
His jaw locks tight, icy blue gaze dragging down the length of me like a razorblade.
