Lucia POV,
I was lying on the bed pretending to sleep when I heard the knob twisting slowly. I knew who it was before he even stepped inside.
Christian.
My throat went dry, but I kept my eyes shut.
Why is he here now?
His footsteps echoed through the room, calm and heavy, each one tightening the knot in my chest.
Christian: “I know you are awake.”
That’s it. I sighed and sat straight, giving him a bored look. As always, he was cold as ice — unreadable, distant — but tonight I could see the exhaustion carved into his face.
Christian: “I heard you met with Elena.”
Of course he knows. This jerk knows everything.
Lucia: “So?”
Christian: “May I know what she told you?”
Lucia: “Your cruelty.”
He walked toward me with his hands in his pockets, gaze locked onto mine. I didn’t look away. He stopped inches from me and grabbed my chin, forcing my face up.
Christian: “Why is your tongue so arrogant? Should I teach her a lesson?”
He whispered, leaning dangerously close. My eyes widened as his lips brushed mine — a warning, not affection. I jerked his hand away and stumbled back.
Lucia: “Get out.”
He chuckled. It was the first time I heard that sound, and it sent a chill through my spine. It wasn’t warm — it was dark.
Christian: You’re in my captivity and telling me to get out. So silly of you. Now I will sleep here.
Lucia: “No way. Get out.”
I said it firmly, but he ignored me and lay on the bed like he owned the air I breathed.
Lucia: “Fine, I’ll sleep somewhere else.”
I walked to the door, the chain dragging and biting into my ankle. I tried to open it, but it was locked.
Lucia: “Open this damn door.”
He didn’t even look at me. I could’ve been invisible. Rage burned inside me. I stormed to the table, grabbed the jug, and in the next second dumped the entire water over him and the bed.
Lucia: “Sleep well.”
He stood slowly. Too slowly. His eyes lifted to mine, and I saw fire burning behind that calm surface.
Oh, shit. Wrong move.
He walked toward me, and the room shrank with every step. Only I knew how terrifying he looked up close. My breath hitched. He grabbed me, threw me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. I screamed, kicked, fought — useless. He kept walking while I hung there helplessly.
And then suddenly… he threw me into water.
Ice-cold shock swallowed me whole. A scream tore from my throat as I sank, the chain dragging me down. Panic exploded in my chest. I kicked, clawed, fought the weight, but my lungs were already burning.

I’m going to drown.

Suddenly strong hands wrapped around my arm.

Christian.

He yanked me up like I weighed nothing. I crashed against his chest, coughing violently as water spilled from my mouth. My body shook uncontrollably. I tried to push him away, but my hands were trembling too much.

Christian: “You never learn.”

His voice was calm. Too calm. It scared me more than shouting ever could. I glared at him through wet lashes.
Lucia: “You tried to kill me!”

Christian: “If I wanted you dead, you would be.”
The words were flat. Certain. Not a threat — a fact. My stomach twisted.
He released my hand and shoved me into the water. The same shock swallowed me whole. I struggled and struggled. Just when darkness started creeping into my vision, he dragged me up again. I coughed violently, desperate for air.
Christian: “I guess you underestimate me. Talking so arrogantly when your life is in my hands.”
Another push. Another pull.
Again.
And again.
It happened five, six times — long enough to blur fear into pure instinct. Finally he dragged me out and dropped me onto the floor. I curled onto my side, coughing, my soaked clothes clinging to my skin like a second prison.
He crouched in front of me and tilted my chin up again. His grip wasn’t gentle, but it wasn’t cruel either. His eyes scanned my face like he was inspecting damage he didn’t want to admit he cared about.
Christian: Next time you throw water on me… make sure you can swim.
Lucia: Next time… I’ll throw something heavier.
For a second, silence stretched between us.
Then that dangerous chuckle again. His thumb brushed the corner of my mouth, wiping away a drop of water. The touch sent a shiver down my spine — and it wasn’t from the cold.
Christian: “You’re brave for someone in chains.”
Lucia: “I’m stupid, remember?”
His gaze darkened.
Christian: “No. Stupid people beg.”
I held his stare, refusing to look away even though my heart was hammering against my ribs. I wouldn’t give him that victory.

Lucia POV End.

Next day:

Christian POV,
As I step out of my room, a maid hands me coffee. This is technically a guest house — I don’t live here. I came because of Lucia. She is courageous, and courage without fear can be dangerous.

Fear is what makes people predictable. Elena is scared of us, yet she still fights. But her fear weakens her. It makes her hesitate. That hesitation is where we win. Everyone has a fear. You just have to find it… and press until they break.

For Elena, it’s intimacy. For Lucia… I still haven’t found it. And that makes her a threat. I have to watch them both closely. One wrong move and these girls could stain a reputation built over years.

I already know Lucia won’t change after last night. Pain doesn’t humble her — it sharpens her. I walk to her room and open the door quietly. She’s sleeping.

Peaceful. Too peaceful for someone in chains.

For a second, I just stand there. Her face is relaxed, lashes resting on her cheeks. She looks nothing like the girl who spits fire at me. My fingers brush her cheek before I think about it. Warm. Alive.

She snuggle in. She stirs and opens her eyes. The moment she sees how close I am, her body tenses.

Christian: what’s going on between you and Elena?

Lucia: oh god…

She rolls her eyes like I’m an inconvenience. Even now. I grip her jaw, not hard enough to hurt — just enough to remind her I can

Christian: if you want a simple life, respect me. Or you already know how this ends.

Lucia: I’m not here to protect your fragile ego.

A mistake.

My grip tightens. Her pulse jumps under my fingers. There it is — not fear, but adrenaline. She’s furious, not broken. I tilted her face little and bite her neck. She tatste different. I never tasted something like this.

Ahhh!!

She scream.

Lucia: leave me, you bastard.

I tightened my hold when she tried to shove me away. She fought like fire — all teeth and fury — but I didn’t move. Her breathing turned uneven, anger shaking through her. I move down to her collarbone.

Lucia: leave me… please.

The word please hung in the air. I leaned close to her ear, my voice low and controlled.

Christian: good.

I released her just as suddenly as I’d grabbed her. She stumbled back, clutching the edge of the bed, eyes burning with humiliation and rage. A red mark bloomed on her skin where my grip had been. She looked at me like she wanted to carve my name into a grave.

Christian: remember that feeling. According to you my ego is fragile so now I will show you what fragile ego means.

I straightened my sleeves like nothing had happened.

Christian: keep testing me and you’ll learn the difference between ego and authority.

She glares at me. Silent. Burning. Good. She’s learning when to hold her tongue.

Christian: I don’t have time to play games. Stay within your limits and you won’t suffer for it.

She says nothing. But her eyes promise war.

I leave the room knowing this isn’t over. With Lucia, it never will be.

Christian POV end.

After two days:
Finally that day came — the day they would execute their plan. Christian and Alex left for their business trip. Although Christian knew something was brewing between Elena and Lucia, this deal mattered more than suspicion. Power always chose profit first.

The house felt different the moment their cars disappeared through the gates.

Quieter.
Lighter.
Dangerously hopeful.

Lucia stood near the window, watching until the last trace of black glass vanished from sight. Her fingers curled slowly into fists.

Lucia: they’re gone.

Elena stepped beside her, breath shaky.

Aanya: are you sure this is the only chance?

Lucia turned to her. There was no fear on her face — only calculation.

Lucia: they won’t give us a second one.

Silence stretched between them. The weight of what they were about to do pressed into the room. Outside, everything looked normal. Birds. Wind. Sunlight. The world had no idea two prisoners were about to gamble their lives.

Elena’s voice trembled.

Aanya: if you fail…

Elena: we don’t.

Not can’t.
Don’t.

That was the rule.

Lucia walked to the drawer and pulled out the hidden key they’d stolen days ago. It gleamed in her palm like a promise and a threat.

Elena stared at it.

Elena: I’m scared.

Lucia looked at her.

Lucia: good. Fear means you’ll run fast.

A beat.

Lucia: courage gets people killed. Fear keeps them alive.

Elena swallowed and nodded. Somewhere deep in the house, a door shut. A guard’s footsteps echoed faintly. Time was already moving.

Lucia closed her fist around the key.

Lucia: today… we stop surviving.

Her eyes lifted to Elena’s.

Lucia: today we leave.

And for the first time since they’d been locked inside this place, escape didn’t feel like a dream.

It felt like a countdown.

They waited until night swallowed the palace whole. Darkness crawled through the halls, covering their breaths, hiding their shaking hands. Every tick of the clock felt like a hammer against Lucia’s ribs.

Aanya knelt in front of her, fingers quick and precise. The metal around Lucia’s ankle was cold one last time.

Click.

The chain fell.

For a second Lucia didn’t move. She just stared at it lying on the floor. After so many days, her leg felt weightless — wrong and right at the same time. Freedom hurt. Pins and needles shot up her skin as blood rushed back.

Aanya: hurry.

Lucia swallowed and stood. Her legs trembled, but they held.

They moved through the corridors like ghosts. Every shadow looked like a guard. Every sound felt like a trap. Elena’s hand clutched Lucia’s wrist so tight it almost hurt, but neither complained. Pain meant alive.

A door creaked somewhere.

They froze.

Footsteps passed.

Silence again.

They ran.

Aanya guided them through a servant passage Lucia didn’t even know existed. A narrow exit door stood ahead — small, rusted, forgotten. Aanya stopped there.

Aanya: I can’t go further.

Her voice cracked.

Lucia grabbed her hands.

Lucia: you’ve done enough.

Elena hugged her quickly, desperate and grateful all at once. Aanya pushed the door open just enough for them to slip through.

Cold night air hit Lucia’s face.

It felt like rebirth.

Aanya stepped back into the shadows.

Aanya: don’t come back.

The door shut.

Lucia and Elena didn’t look back. They ran. Bare feet against dirt. Breath tearing from their lungs. The palace shrank behind them with every step, but fear chased them harder than any guard could.

Elena: where do we go?

Lucia didn’t slow.

Lucia: anywhere that isn’t there.

The world ahead was dark and unknown.

But it was theirs.