“Betrayal in the Dark”

The world around me feels like it’s collapsing.

The walls of Damian’s penthouse—once a place that held stolen kisses and whispered promises—now feel like a prison.

I can still hear Elias’s voice in my head, repeating the truth I never wanted to know.

“You were never meant to live past childhood.”

“You were only kept alive as a failsafe in case Ivy failed.”

“Your entire existence was a backup plan.”

And the worst part?

Damian knew.

I turn to him now, my chest heaving with rage, betrayal, and something dangerously close to heartbreak.

He stands near the fireplace, his sharp blue eyes filled with emotions I can’t even begin to untangle.

Guilt. Regret. Pain. But I don’t care. Not anymore.

“How long?” I demand, my voice shaking. “How long have you known what I was?”

Damian exhales, dragging a hand through his dark hair. “Selene—”

“How long, Damian?” I snap, stepping closer, my fists clenched at my sides. “How long have you known that my life meant nothing? That I was never supposed to exist?”

His jaw tightens. “It’s not like that.”

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “Then explain it to me, Damian. Make me understand why you let me love you when you knew the truth the entire time.”

A muscle in his jaw ticks. “I didn’t tell you because I was protecting you.”

Protecting me.

The words taste like poison.

“Protecting me?” I repeat, stepping closer until we’re nearly chest to chest. “You let me think our love was real. That it was fate. That we chose each other. But it was all a lie, wasn’t it?”

He swallows hard, but he doesn’t look away. “It wasn’t a lie.”

I shake my head, feeling my heart break all over again. “Then tell me the truth. The real truth, Damian.”

His breath is uneven now, his fingers curling into fists. Then, finally—

“My father arranged my marriage with Ivy.”

The words hang in the air, suffocating.

I stagger back like I’ve been punched.

Damian follows, closing the space between us. “If it was up to me, I would be with you.”

My throat tightens, but I force myself to hold his gaze. “Then why didn’t you fight for me?”

His expression darkens, his voice rough with frustration. “You think I didn’t want to? You think I didn’t want to burn the world down to be with you?”

I feel my breath catch.

His eyes flicker with something raw, something desperate. “I didn’t tell you because the moment you knew, you became a threat to them.”

I hesitate. “Them?”

“My father. Ivy. Everyone who has been pulling the strings.”

My stomach twists.

Ivy.

I glance around the room suddenly, realizing she’s not here.

Damian notices, too. His shoulders go tense, his eyes narrowing.

“Where’s Ivy?”

A voice breaks through the silence.

“Right here.”

I spin around.

Ivy stands in the doorway, her green eyes flashing with pure rage.

But it’s not aimed at me. It’s aimed at Damian. She heard everything. Her hands shake at her sides, her breath ragged. “So it’s true.”

Damian’s jaw clenches. “Ivy—”

“No.” She steps forward, her voice trembling. “All this time, I thought you were choosing me. That you wanted this. But it was never me, was it?”

Damian doesn’t answer. And that’s answer enough.

Ivy lets out a sharp breath, her face twisting with something between anger and devastation.

Then, without another word—she turns and disappears into the night.

The second Ivy is gone, I know I have to leave, too.

I can’t stay here. Not in Damian’s world. Not where I’m just a pawn in a game I never agreed to play.

I wait until the penthouse is quiet, until Damian has stepped into another room. Then, I move.

I slip through the hall, my pulse thundering in my ears.

I make it to the elevator, pressing the button frantically.

Come on. Come on.

The doors slide open. I step inside. The moment the doors close, I let out a breath of relief. But I should have known better.

The second the elevator doors open to the underground parking lot—

Someone grabs me.

I struggle, thrashing, but a sharp pain explodes against my head.

My vision goes blurry.

No. No, no, no—

I’m yanked forward, the scent of roses and something bitter filling my nose.

A voice whispers against my ear.

“You didn’t think I’d let you go that easily, did you?”

Ivy.

Then—everything goes black.