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LORI POV.
I closed the door behind me and allowed a tentative smile. “I needed a moment to breathe,” I admitted softly.
Santorini gestured toward a pair of plush chairs around a small, ornate table. “Sit, Lori. Tell me. What did you discover out there?”
I hesitated, then recounted the confrontation in measured tones. “I stood up to him,” I said, my voice steady despite the lingering tremor of adrenaline. “I told him I’m not his obedient shadow. I’m no longer the doll he parades around like some prized trinket.”
His eyes glittered equal parts. “Lori, you were magnificent tonight. I’m sorry you had to face his tyranny.”
I glanced down at my trembling hands, feeling both the sweet relief of liberation and the weight of an uncertain future. “It wasn’t easy,” I confessed. “I saw the look in his eyes, arrogance, anger, and something I can’t even name. But I couldn’t let him control me any longer.”
Santorini reached out and gently squeezed my hand. Then, with a playful arch of his eyebrow, he teased, “Tell me, Lori. Are you really his dog? Is that what you’ve become?”
I blinked in surprise at his blunt question, a mix of amusement and indignation rising within me. “A dog?” I echoed, a half-smile tugging at my lips. “I refuse to be treated like a lapdog, waiting for scraps of affection and command.”
He chuckled warmly. “Exactly,” he replied. “You’re a beautiful girl who deserves to enjoy life, to be happy. So why did you allow him to treat you as if you were his property? You’re meant for so much more than being a doormat or a dog for him.”
I looked up, my eyes meeting his with a newfound spark. “You think so?” I asked, voice trembling between hope and defiance.
“Absolutely,” Santorini said, his tone shifting to one of earnest persuasion. “Imagine a life where you call the shots, where your worth isn’t measured by his control or his expectations. You deserve to be cherished, not confined.”
I exhaled slowly, the tension of the night easing as his words wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. “I want that,” I whispered. “I want to feel free, to be seen for who I truly am.”
His smile grew, mischievous yet sincere. “Then let me ask you this, Lori. What if you could be more than just a survivor of his demands? What if you could be a princess, a woman who rules her own heart and her own destiny?”
I tilted my head, a spark of amusement flickering in my eyes. “A princess, huh? And what would a princess get from you?”
Santorini leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. “I’d treat you better than you’ve ever been treated. I’d make sure you’re the centre of a kingdom built on respect No more chains, no more false promises. Just genuine care and adoration.”
A light laugh escaped me, a sound of both relief and anticipation. “You really think I can break free from his control and become your princess?”
He nodded firmly. “I know you can, Lori. Tonight you took the first step. And tonight, as you reclaimed your voice, you showed everyone that you’re more than his accessory. You’re a force of nature.”
I felt a surge of determination course through me. “I don’t want to be his shadow any longer,” I said, the conviction clear in my tone. “I want to be my own person; happy, empowered, and in charge of my destiny.”
Santorini’s eyes softened, and he reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “Then let’s leave behind the ashes of that old life,” he murmured. “Come with me, and I promise you, you’ll experience a life filled with joy, respect, and endless possibilities.”
I hesitated only for a moment before the allure of his promise overwhelmed the remnants of my past. “Show me what it means to be free,” I said quietly, the final words echoing the resolve in my heart.
A playful grin danced on his lips. “All right, my princess,” he said, his tone light and daring. “Let’s plan our next move. You’re not just surviving tonight. You’re beginning to live.”
I bite my pinky finger, my brows furrowing at him. My stomach sickened as my motive of doing this tingled me. If only he knew I complied to take revenge on Knight. I was only doing this to make him feel what I felt anytime he fucked his mistresses. I wanted him to know I could also be cherished by high figures like his Godfather.
“Thank you, Santorini,” I whispered, a blend of gratitude and anticipation in my voice. “For seeing me, truly seeing me, and for offering me a chance to be something more.”
He leaned in closer, his voice low and sincere. “You deserve nothing less, Lori. Tonight marks the beginning of a new life.”
I took a steadying breath as I stepped out of the secret room, the cool corridor air mingling with the lingering warmth of hope from Santorini’s words.
Every step I took felt lighter until a strong arm suddenly encircled me from behind.
I spun around to see a familiar, seething gaze. Knight. His eyes burned with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. His grip was firm, unwilling to let go as if he could pull me back into the life he controlled.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerously controlled, echoing off the marble walls. “In Santorini’s private room?”
I jerked my hands-free, the shock and anger mirroring in my eyes as I backed away. “None of your business,” I replied coolly, though my heart pounded in my chest.
He wasn’t done. With a sneer twisting his features, he stepped closer, lowering his voice so that only I could hear. “Don’t lie to me, Lori. I know you. This isn’t the person I left behind. Who are you trying to be now?”