are cordially invited to celebrate the merger of William Global and Monroe Industries, and the engagement

lin' s head of staff, asked gently. Her eyes, usually warm and knowing, were fill

"Just Eliana. And no, Eliana won't be attending." I handed the invit

parties." Her words were a soft, painful echo of the past, of a girl I barely recognized.

lin outside, watching, his face impassive. Katarina stood beside him, holding the cheap, allergic necklace, slowly, deliberately tightening it around my th

felt suffocating. I couldn't escape. Not really. Not yet. I was still h

vanity, pulling out a hidden box. Inside were trinkets, letters, a small, worn drawing of Fr

lin stood there, framed by the light from the hallway, his silhouette imposing. His ey

o my throat. Pure,

sion. His gaze, cold and analytical, swept over my face, then returned to the conten

my knuckles white. "Noth

peated, his voice devoid of inflection. He reached out, his long fingers plucking the drawing from my trembling hand. He stared at it, at

image, my memory, my

to mine. "And I have no use for weakness." He crumpled the torn piece

life, was being erased before my eyes.

aze. His eyes were cold, calculating. "Your future is with me, Eliana. My name, my world. You will attend the gala. Y

f humanity, a hint of the man I had loved. There

position within my company. You will be useful. That is your purpose now." He rele

o imprison me within it. I felt a cold rage begin to simmer beneath the surface of my despair. He wanted me us

is cold gaze lingered on me for a second longer, a warning, a promise of eternal captivity. Then he w