Casey stood by the window the next morning, the bright Italian sun seeping through the heavy curtains, casting long shadows across the room. Her fingers brushed over her stomach, feeling the soft flutter inside as the baby moved. She sighed, eyes distant, as her thoughts traveled to the man she could never escape—Silas Ashcroft.
Silas. The one person she feared above all else.
Her grip tightened on the fabric of her dress as memories of him surged like dark waves crashing over her.
The door creaked open.
Mirella entered, her voice light. "Breakfast? Or should I just leave you to brood like a mafia queen in waiting?"
Casey didn't answer. Her mind was far from the food or Mirella's teasing. She couldn't stop thinking about Silas, about the deal she'd struck with him, and what would happen when Ivan found out the truth. Would he kill her? The fear gnawed at her, deeper than any hunger could.
Mirella set a tray on the bedside table, giving Casey a long, searching look. "You know, I'm not dumb. I can tell you're hiding something."
Casey's breath hitched, but she managed to keep her voice steady. "What do you mean?"
Mirella raised an eyebrow. "I mean, you're not just some random surrogate. Something about you doesn't fit with all this. I've been around enough shady people to know when there's a secret lurking."
Casey swallowed. "I'm just... trying to survive. That's all."
"You're surviving, alright," Mirella said with a hint of sarcasm. "But at what cost? This isn't just about the baby, is it?"
Casey glanced away, the weight of her past heavy in her chest.
Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. The door slammed open, and there stood Ivan, his face hard as granite.
"Casey," he said coldly, his gaze hardening when he saw Mirella in the room. "Out. Now."
Mirella shot Casey a look, clearly disapproving, but she left without a word, closing the door behind her. Ivan didn't move, his eyes never leaving Casey.
The tension in the room was thick, and Casey could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
"Who was that man yesterday?" Ivan's voice was low, controlled, but she could hear the edge in it. The suspicion. The danger.
"Silas," she said quietly, her throat tight.
His eyes narrowed. "Silas Ashcroft. What does he want?"
Casey shook her head. "He wants me. He wants... to control me. I—I'm not who you think I am."
Ivan's jaw tightened, and he took a step closer. "I don't care who you are. But you'll learn soon enough that you're mine. And I don't let anyone mess with what's mine."
She swallowed, the weight of his words sinking deep into her bones.
"Why does he want you?" Ivan pressed, his voice suddenly sharp.
Casey hesitated, then exhaled shakily. "Because I owe him. He's the reason I'm here... why I'm carrying your child."
Ivan stared at her, the flicker of surprise quickly replaced by fury. "Explain."
She swallowed hard, feeling the walls close in around her. "I didn't have a choice, Ivan. You think I wanted this? That I wanted to be here, with you, carrying your baby? No. But Silas made me a deal I couldn't refuse."
Ivan stepped closer, his face now inches from hers. "What kind of deal?"
Casey took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "He promised he'd protect me... if I did this. If I carried your child and gave him control of your legacy. He's blackmailing me, Ivan. He's the one who orchestrated this whole thing. Not you."
Ivan's hand shot out, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her toward him. "So, you're telling me... you're just a pawn in some game you didn't choose?"
Casey winced at the harsh grip but didn't look away. "I didn't choose this life. I didn't choose any of this."
For a moment, there was nothing but silence between them. Ivan's grip loosened slightly, and he let go of her wrist, his fingers lingering in the air between them, as if unsure what to do with himself.
"What do you want me to do?" His voice was quiet now, almost lost.
Casey shook her head, her eyes searching his. "I don't want you to do anything. I just... I just want you to stop looking at me like I'm the enemy. Because I'm not. I'm just trying to get through this."
Ivan's eyes darkened, and he stepped back, the distance between them growing. He exhaled, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "You think you're the only one here who's trapped, Finch?"
Casey met his gaze, her own frustration building. "You have no idea what it's like. You're not the one carrying this baby. You're not the one living under the shadow of a man who controls everything I do, every breath I take."
Ivan looked at her, his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, he turned and walked toward the door.
"I'll deal with Silas. You stay here. Out of sight. Don't talk to him again."
Casey's heart thudded painfully in her chest. "You think you can control him? You think you can control me?"
Ivan's back stiffened at her words, but he didn't turn around. "You're under my protection now, Finch. And I will protect what's mine."
Casey's eyes burned with unshed tears. Mine. The words stung, though she wasn't sure why.
As the door slammed behind him, Casey sank onto the bed, her hands trembling as she clutched her stomach. The baby kicked again, sharp and insistent, and for a moment, she felt a flicker of hope.
But it was quickly replaced by the reality that nothing was ever going to be simple. Not with Silas. Not with Ivan.
And especially not with her.
Silas was waiting for her when the door to her room opened again.
Not Ivan. Not anyone else. Just him. Silas Ashcroft.
He was leaning against the doorframe, a smug grin on his face as he watched her. "You didn't think I'd just let you go, did you?"
Casey stood, her body tense, her mind racing. "What are you doing here?"
Silas stepped into the room, his eyes cold, calculating. "You owe me, Casey. You've always owed me. And now, it's time to pay."
Her breath hitched. She could feel the walls closing in again. And just like that, she was trapped—again.