Chapter 7
20 11 O
His eyes swept over her, as if checking for injuries. He finally let out a breath of relief. “What happened these past three days?”
Elara’s lips, cracked and dry, split as she pulled them into a semblance of a smile. Blood seeped from the cut. “Nothing.”
She cut straight to the point. “The wedding you promised me. When are you going to make good on it?”
Isabelle’s head snapped up. “What wedding?”
Damien was silent for a moment. “She and I are having a make–up ceremony.”
Seeing Isabelle’s eyes instantly turn red, he quickly added, “It’s just a formality, Isabelle. You’re the only one in my heart.”
Isabelle forced a smile. “I understand… I’m not angry. You were only doing it to se
me.”
She suddenly looked at Elara, her voice soft. “Miss Vance, why don’t I help you pick out
Over the next few days, Isabelle shadowed Elara’s every move
a
dress?”
the wedding dress fittings.
In the bridal shop, as Elara stood before the mirror, the pure white gown accentuating her slender waist, Isabelle hovered behind
her, scrutinizing every dress, dictating every detail.
“This neckline is too low,” Isabelle said, tugging critically at the fabric on Elara’s chest. “Find something more conservative.”
“The waistline on this one isn’t flattering,” she declared, picking up another dress. “How can Mrs. Blackwood wear such a common
style?”
Elara complied with everything, a silent puppet.
It wasn’t until the final dress was chosen, when they were alone in the fitting room, that Isabelle finally dropped her mask.
“So you weren’t being indifferent after all. You were just playing hard to get.”
She dug her nails into Elara’s wrist. “Let me tell you something. Don’t think for a second this little acted with tände mi
ngs to me, and only me!”
Elara didn’t even raise her eyes, simply pulling her arm free.
There was no game. There was no attempt to steal Damien.
More than anyone, she wanted to leave, for this whole charade to finally be over.
But she hadn’t anticipated that Isabelle, convinced she was a rival, would escalate her attacks.
On the eve of the wedding, Damien kicked open her bedroom door.
will
you Damien. He belo-
“Did you lock Isabelle in the fitting room?” His face was a thundercloud. “Do you have any idea she’s claustrophobic?!”
Elara closed her eyes, exhausted. “I didn’t.”
“Still denying it?” Damien hauled her to her feet. “It seems your previous lessons weren’t enough!”
Ignoring her struggles, he ordered his bodyguards to drag her to the dark, damp basement.
In the pitch–black darkness, Elara sat huddled in a corner.
Around midnight, she heard a rustling, scurrying sound.
Then, a bag of live rats was thrown in.
“AH-!”
Chapter 7
2011
She screamed, leaping to her feet and pounding on the iron door until her nails split, but no one came to save her.
The next morning, Damien opened the door, his face cold. “I only locked you in for one night. Was it necessary to cry the whole time?”
After a full night of terror, Elara’s face was ashen. “Isabelle… she put rats in here…”
Damien scoffed. “Isabelle would never do something like that.”
He flicked on the light. “Where are these rats you’re talking about?”
Elara froze.
The basement was spotless. There wasn’t even a single rat hair.
Isabelle… had already cleaned up all the evidence.
She opened her mouth, but in the end, said nothing.
Damien’s voice was cold. “The wedding is in three days. I’ll be with Isabelle until then. I’ll see
e you at the ceremony.”
He shot her a warning look. “Don’t cause any more trouble, or the weddin
is off.”
pite
2011
