The grand hall was alive with chatter and laughter, the sound of clinking glasses and soft music filling the air. Guests in elaborate suits and gowns moved gracefully through the room, their faces alight with false smiles and whispered secrets. The wedding of Damian and Lina was the event of the season, a display of power and wealth no one wanted to miss.
Lucas stood near the entrance, his tall frame draped in a sharp black suit that seemed to absorb the light around him. His piercing eyes scanned the crowd with the precision of a hunter. Beside him, Aurora stood trembling, her delicate form wrapped in a simple dress that contrasted sharply with the extravagance around her.
She had wanted to refuse, to beg not to come, but Lucas’s warning still echoed in her mind.
“You will come with me,” he had said earlier, his voice cold and final. “And you will do as I say. If you try to run, Aurora, I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she had whispered, her voice trembling.
“Good,” he had replied with a cruel smile. “Because tonight, you’re going to serve me in more ways than one.”
Entering the Lion’s Den
Now, as they stepped into the glittering hall, Aurora felt the weight of a hundred eyes on her. Her stomach churned, and her knees felt weak, but she forced herself to keep walking, her head bowed slightly.
Lucas’s hand rested lightly on her back, a gesture that looked protective to an outsider but felt like a warning to her.
“Stay close,” he murmured, his voice low but sharp. “And don’t forget your place.”
Aurora nodded, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. She could feel her heart pounding, each beat a drum in her ears.
The room was vast, its high ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers that cast shimmering light across the marble floor. The air smelled of expensive perfume and wine, a sickly sweet mix that made Aurora’s stomach twist.
At the far end of the room, Damian and Lina stood together, their hands clasped as they greeted guests. Lina’s face was radiant with triumph, her emerald gown hugging her figure like a second skin. Damian, however, looked different. His smile was polite, his posture perfect, but his eyes… His eyes were cold, distant, as if he were somewhere else entirely.
A Cruel Game
Lucas leaned down slightly, his breath warm against Aurora’s ear. “See him?” he whispered.
She didn’t have to ask who he meant. Her eyes flicked up briefly, catching a glimpse of Damian. Her heart ached at the sight of him, even as fear gripped her chest.
Lucas chuckled softly. “He looks happy, doesn’t he? Finally settling down with the perfect bride.”
Aurora said nothing, her gaze dropping back to the floor.
“Do you think he’s forgotten you?” Lucas continued, his tone mocking. “Do you think he even cares that you’re gone?”
Aurora’s throat tightened, but she didn’t respond.
Lucas’s smile widened. “You’ll see soon enough,” he said. “I brought you here for a reason, little one. Let’s see how your old master reacts when he sees who you belong to now.”
Aurora’s breath hitched, panic rising in her chest. “Why?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Why would you do this?”
“Because I can,” Lucas said simply, his tone dripping with amusement.
Damian’s Gaze
At the other end of the room, Damian stood stiffly beside Lina, his hand resting lightly on her waist. He nodded politely as guests congratulated them, his smile never faltering. But inside, his mind was elsewhere.
The wedding was a farce, a carefully constructed lie meant to serve his own purpose. Lina thought she had won, but Damian knew better. He would let her bask in her victory for now, but soon enough, he would take it all away.
His thoughts were interrupted by a movement near the entrance. A figure had caught his eye, a shadow among the brightly dressed crowd.
He turned slightly, his eyes narrowing as he tried to focus. For a brief moment, the crowd parted, and he saw her.
Aurora.
His breath caught, his heart pounding in his chest. She looked different smaller, paler, like a ghost of the girl he remembered. But it was her. He was sure of it.
Then the crowd shifted again, and she was gone.
Damian’s jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. He turned to Lina, his smile forced. “Excuse me,” he said smoothly. “I need some air.”
Lina barely glanced at him, too busy soaking in the attention of the guests. “Of course, darling,” she said, waving him off.
The Chase
Damian moved quickly through the crowd, his eyes scanning every face, every corner of the room. The image of Aurora was burned into his mind, and he couldn’t shake the overwhelming need to find her.
He stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night air hitting his face as he looked around desperately. But there was no sign of her.
“Where are you?” he muttered under his breath, his frustration mounting.
Back inside, Lucas watched from a distance, a sly smile curling his lips. He had seen the way Damian’s eyes had locked onto Aurora, the way his composure had cracked ever so slightly.
“Perfect,” Lucas murmured to himself.
Aurora, meanwhile, had been led away by one of the maids. She followed obediently, her head down, her heart pounding. Lucas had instructed the maid to keep her out of sight, and Aurora didn’t dare disobey.
As she disappeared into the shadows of the mansion, her mind raced. She had seen Damian’s face, the shock in his eyes, the way he had started to move toward her. Part of her wanted to run to him, to beg him to save her, but she knew it was impossible.
She was trapped, and there was no escape.
Damian’s Frustration
Back in the hall, Damian re-entered, his expression dark. He approached one of the servers, his voice low and commanding. “Did you see a girl?” he asked. “Dark hair, pale skin. She was here just a moment ago.”
The server shook his head nervously. “No, sir. I didn’t see anyone like that.”
Damian’s jaw tightened, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. He glanced around the room once more, but Aurora was nowhere to be found.
A Silent Victory
Lucas found Aurora waiting for him near the car, her body tense and trembling. He smirked as he approached, his satisfaction evident in the way he carried himself.
“You did well,” he said, his voice low and mocking. “He saw you. I could tell.”
Aurora didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the ground.
Lucas chuckled, placing a hand under her chin and forcing her to look at him. “Did you see his face?” he asked. “Did you see how desperate he looked?”
Tears welled in Aurora’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
“Good,” Lucas said, releasing her abruptly. “Now he knows you belong to me. Let him stew in that.”
He opened the car door and gestured for her to get in. Aurora obeyed silently, her heart heavy as she climbed into the seat.
As the car pulled away, Aurora stared out the window, her thoughts a tangled mess. She didn’t know what hurt more-the fact that Damian had seen her and done nothing, or the fact that she had let him.
Lucas, meanwhile, sat beside her, his smile never fading.
“Don’t forget, Aurora,” he said softly, his voice a dark caress. “You’re mine now. And no one not even him can change that.”
Aurora closed her eyes, her tears finally spilling over as the car disappeared into the night.