Chapter 137
Chapter 137:
The room spun. Elara’s career. Dallas’s reputation. He had built a cage around me, bar by bar, without me ever noticing.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice hollow.
“You’re already there, Adella. You came back to help Victoria, remember? So help her. Stay. Be the devoted daughter you never were. Do that, and I bury both files p>
I wanted to point out that I had only forty-eight hours — that Dallas would come for me if I didn’t return. But I couldn’t let Braydon know about our arrangement. Instead, I gripped the phone tighter.
“And if I leave p>
He chuckled, a dark, grating sound. “Then Elara’s career goes up in flames, and that psych eval lands on every Council member’s desk by morning. Your choice p>
I thought of Elara, innocent and unaware at her workstation. I thought of Dallas — if those files got out, if the Council saw what was written there, he would be destroyed. I had already been here two days. What were a few more?
I also thought of Victoria. Not the cold Luna who had watched me suffer in silence, but the woman who, once — in a moment I had almost convinced myself I had imagined — had brushed the hair from my fevered forehead and whispered, “You’ll be alright, little one.” I never knew if she remembered that night. I never asked. Some questions were too dangerous in that house.
“Fine,” I choked out. “I’ll stay. But you stay away from me p>
Updа𝘁𝗲𝘴 𝘦𝘷e𝗿𝗒 𝘸𝖾е𝘬 𝗼𝗻
“Of course, darling. Enjoy your visit p>
The line went dead.
Three hours later, I stood in the foyer of Hyde Manor. Leaving Dallas had been the hardest thing I had ever done, but I wasn’t walking in blind. I had the tracker, the encrypted phone, and a mission. I prayed he would forgive me for extending this nightmare. I prayed he wouldn’t have to tear the house down to get me out.
The heavy oak door slammed shut behind me, sealing out the rain and the fresh air. The manor smelled of old wax and stagnation.
“Welcome home, Adella p>
Braydon stepped out of the shadows at the base of the grand staircase. He looked impeccable in a dark suit, but his eyes held a glint of madness that made my skin crawl.
I gripped the handle of my suitcase, refusing to cower. “This isn’t home, Braydon. It’s a transaction p>
He descended the remaining steps slowly, stopping just inches from me, and inhaled deeply — as if savoring my fear.
“For now,” he whispered, his gaze dropping to my lips. “For now p>
In the master suite at the far end of the manor, Victoria Hyde stood at her window, watching the rain streak down the glass. She had seen Adella arrive. Had seen the set of her jaw, the fire in her eyes despite everything this house had done to her.
She looked like Elara. So much like Elara.
Victoria pressed her hand to the cold glass and whispered words no one would hear.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry p>