The sun had barely risen over the ruined estate. A faint golden hue bled into the sky, but the light seemed distant, muted by the dark storm clouds lingering on the horizon. The scent of charred wood and ash still clung to the damp morning air.
The west wing, once a grand part of the mansion, now lay in smoldering ruins. The stone walls were blackened and crumbling. Smoke still rose in thin tendrils from the rubble, a cruel reminder of the night before.
But inside, the storm was far from over.
---
The Master Bedroom – Fragments of Pain
Liana lay curled on the bed, the heavy comforter pulled around her trembling frame. Her eyes were open, staring at the crack in the ceiling. She hadn't slept. She couldn't.
The memory of the explosion was still too raw—the flames, the suffocating heat, the way the blast had knocked the air from her lungs.
Her arms were still bruised, her skin raw where the glass had cut her. Tiny, thin bandages covered the wounds, but they did nothing to soothe the ache beneath her skin.
The door creaked open softly.
She didn't move. She knew who it was.
She felt the bed dip slightly as Adrian sat down beside her. His hand brushed lightly over her hair, his touch surprisingly gentle.
"You're trembling," he murmured.
Her voice was barely a whisper. "I'm fine."
He didn't believe her.
Slowly, he leaned over her, his hand grazing her cheek, turning her face toward him. Their eyes met. His were dark and heavy with something she couldn't quite name—guilt, rage, and something softer beneath the layers of steel.
She stared at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you save me?"
His eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw clenching. "You think I'd let you die?"
Her lips parted slightly, but she couldn't find the words.
His voice was low, rough. "You're mine, Liana." His thumb grazed her bottom lip slowly, deliberately. "I'll burn the world down before I let it take you from me."
Her heart stuttered painfully. The intensity in his gaze made it hard to breathe.
But before she could respond, he leaned down. His lips brushed over her temple softly, almost reverently. The touch was fleeting, but it was enough to leave her skin burning.
She turned her face slightly toward him, and her lips accidentally brushed the corner of his mouth.
His breath stilled.
For a heartbeat, he didn't move.
And then he kissed her.
Slow. Unyielding. Possessive.
His lips were demanding, claiming her with a bruising intensity. His hand cupped the back of her head, holding her in place as his mouth moved over hers, rough and unrelenting.
She gasped softly against him, and he seized the opportunity. His tongue slipped into her mouth, tasting her, exploring her with a dark hunger that made her head spin.
Her hands fisted in the front of his shirt, clinging to him. She didn't pull away. She didn't stop him.
Because for the first time in days, she didn't feel afraid. She felt anchored.
When he finally pulled back, his breathing was uneven. His forehead pressed against hers, his hands still tangled in her hair.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, his voice came out low, gravelly. "You're not leaving me, Liana. No matter how much you want to."
Her eyes stung slightly, and she closed them, leaning into him.
She hated him.
She wanted him.
And she didn't know which feeling was stronger.
---
The Study – Scarlet's Threats Linger
The morning sun barely filtered through the study windows. The heavy oak doors were closed, muffling the sound of rain tapping against the glass.
Dominic sat across from Adrian, his face grim, his hands loosely gripping a tumbler of whiskey. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, his hair disheveled from the long night.
He slammed a file down on the desk. "She's behind this."
Adrian's jaw tightened. His eyes flicked over the documents—photos of Scarlet with known arms dealers, blurred surveillance shots of her meeting with dangerous men.
"She's working with Lucas Donovan," Dominic said darkly, his voice tight with restrained fury. "She's supplying him with intel—information about you. About Liana."
Adrian's fingers tightened around the glass. His knuckles turned white.
"She wants her dead," Dominic said flatly. "And she won't stop until she gets what she wants."
Adrian's eyes hardened. His voice was low, lethal. "Then I'll kill her first."
Dominic's expression didn't change. "It won't be that easy."
Adrian's lips curled into a cruel smile. "It doesn't have to be easy."
Dominic exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. His voice lowered slightly. "And there's more."
He pulled a black envelope from his coat pocket and slid it across the desk. "This was delivered early this morning."
Adrian narrowed his eyes and flipped the envelope open.
Inside was a single photograph.
Liana.
She was walking along the garden path, unaware of the camera aimed at her. The image was grainy, but unmistakable. The timestamp in the corner was from the night before—the same night Scarlet had planted the explosives.
A small note was scribbled on the back in elegant, slanted handwriting.
"You can't protect her forever."
Adrian's hand tightened around the photo, his fingers curling into a fist. The edges crumpled beneath his grip.
His eyes were cold, murderous. "She'll pay for this."
---
The Library – The Past Resurfaces
Liana sat curled in a leather armchair in the library, her knees drawn to her chest. A heavy cashmere blanket was wrapped around her shoulders, but she still felt cold.
Her fingers traced the edge of the book in her lap, but she wasn't reading. She was staring out the large window, her mind clouded.
She didn't hear him approach.
Adrian appeared behind her, silent as a shadow. His hand trailed along the back of her chair before he came around to face her.
She glanced up, startled.
But before she could speak, he placed the photograph in her lap.
Her eyes widened slightly as she stared at it. Her stomach clenched violently.
Her voice came out hoarse. "When was this taken?"
"Last night." His voice was tight. Controlled. "While you were with me."
Her blood turned cold.
She looked up at him, her eyes dark with fear. "They're watching me?"
He knelt in front of her, his hand gripping her chin, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were sharp, dark with restrained fury.
"No," he growled softly. "They're watching us."
Her throat tightened. "Adrian, what do they want?"
His eyes didn't waver. "To destroy me."**
He leaned closer, his lips barely brushing hers as he whispered, "And they'll use you to do it."
Her heart pounded violently against her ribs.
She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, his lips covered hers—fierce and unyielding. His kiss was possessive, claiming her with raw desperation.
And in that moment, she realized something.
She wasn't afraid of the threat.
She was afraid of losing him.
---
See you in next chapter....