The crash echoed through the hall, but as Sebastian and Elara stepped into the lobby, their eyes didn't land on Amara. She had pulled herself back into the deep shadows of the heavy velvet curtains just in time, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.
Sebastian looked down at the floor. Among the shattered pieces of the Ming vase lay a small, beaded necklace, one Seren had been wearing earlier.
"Hey, isn't this Seren's necklace?" Sebastian asked, his voice snapping from lust to cold authority. He looked around the empty hallway, his eyes narrowed. "Why is it here? Did she see us?"
"She's just a child, Seb," Elara muttered, adjusting her robe, though her voice lacked its usual confidence.
"Make sure Seren behaves," Sebastian snapped, the romantic facade completely gone now. He looked toward the stairs, the weight of his double life finally pressing down on him. "I'm going to find Amara. And by the way, I don't want a repeat of what happened tonight. You shouldn't have shown up at the anniversary display."
Elara's face contorted with a flash of pure, unadulterated rage. She had given him a daughter, she was carrying his next child, yet here he was, still chasing the woman in the "glass house."
"I know," Elara spat, her voice trembling with bitterness. "I know Mrs. Creed is Seren's 'mom' and she has to respect her. I'll make sure she stays in her place."
Sebastian didn't offer a word of comfort to Elara. He turned on his heel, heading toward the master suite to find the woman he had spent ten years gaslighting.
Hidden in the dark, Amara watched them part ways. She looked at the beaded necklace on the floor. Seren hadn't dropped it by accident; the child had likely been spying on everyone.
Amara realized then that she wasn't just dealing with a cheating husband or a jealous mistress. She was in a house full of vipers, and even the child she had raised was learning how to bite. She didn't have until tomorrow. She had to leave tonight.
Amara made it as far as the grand foyer, her hand white-knuckled on the strap of her bag, when the air behind her shifted. She didn't need to turn around to know he was there. The scent of his expensive cologne, the scent she used to find comforting, now felt like a shroud.
"Seren is still young, Amara. Don't be mad at her," Sebastian said, his voice dropping into that sweet, soft charm he used to de-escalate her every doubt. He stepped into her path, his eyes searching hers with a fake tenderness that made her want to scream.
"Huh?" Amara forced her voice to stay steady, though her heart was thundering. "I'm not mad. I'm just tired, Sebastian. Exhausted."
"If you're tired, let's call it a night," he said, stepping closer, invading her personal space with practiced grace. "We'll stay at a hotel tonight, away from the house, away from the noise. I've got one more surprise for you. Sounds good?"
The word surprise felt like a threat. Amara snapped. "I'm tired! Don't you hear me?" Her voice echoed off the marble walls, sharp and jagged.
But Sebastian didn't get angry. He never did when he was winning. Instead, he chuckled softly, a sound of pure, terrifying affection. "You're with me, Amara. If you're tired, I'll carry you. Just like back in school. Remember?"
Suddenly, the present blurred into a memory Amara had cherished for a decade.
Ten years ago, the campus was painted in the gold of autumn. Young Amara had stopped in her tracks, pouting.
"Look over there," young Sebastian had said, pointing toward the hilltop.
"I'm tired," young Amara replied, crossing her arms.
"We've barely walked a few steps and you're really tired?" He had laughed, shaking his head at her.
"OK, I'm not walking another inch!" She had thrown a playful tantrum, certain of his devotion.
"Fine," he'd said with a grin that lit up his whole face. "I'll carry you."
Before Amara could protest, the present-day Sebastian swept her off her feet. He lifted her into his arms as if she weighed nothing, his grip firm and possessive.
Amara went rigid. Ten years ago, being in his arms felt like safety. Now, it felt like being held by a kidnapper who was smiling while he locked the door. She looked at his profile the sharp jawline, the calm eyes and realized the boy who carried her in the rain had been replaced by a man who carried her into a nightmare.
She couldn't fight him physically without giving away that she knew everything. She had to go to the hotel. She had to play the "tired wife" one last time.
"Sebastian," she whispered, her face pressed against his chest so he couldn't see the coldness in her eyes. "You always did know how to get your way."
"Only because I love you, Amara," he murmured, heading toward the waiting car. "Only because I'm never letting you go."
Outside, the estate was a hive of activity. Delivery men were hauling a massive object wrapped in velvet, their voices echoing in the night air.
"Careful! Bring it in slowly," one of the men shouted. "This diamond-studded frame was personally designed by Mr. Creed. It's worth more than this house."
The maids gathered at the edge of the lobby, whispering in hushed, envious tones. "It's their favorite photo," one whispered. "It's so beautiful. They really are a match made in heaven. Look at how he treats her, like she's a queen."
Amara struggled in Sebastian's arms, her skin crawling as the staff watched them with adoration. "Put me down, Sebastian," she hissed, but he only tightened his grip, a smug smile playing on his lips.
"Tell me, love," he murmured against her ear, "do you like the surprise? I wanted a portrait large enough to show everyone that you belong to me." Seb let her down walking to the frame as Amara stay without moving
"Wow! It's so pretty!"
The high-pitched voice of Seren cut through the air. The little girl came charging across the marble floor, her eyes fixed on the massive, heavy frame. In her excitement or perhaps something more calculated by her mother she tripped, her small body slamming into the easel holding the diamond-encrusted portrait.
The world seemed to move in slow motion. The massive, heavy frame tilted. It didn't fall toward the empty floor, it lurched toward Amara.
"Sebastian!" Amara cried out, her eyes wide as the sharp, heavy corner of the frame swung toward her head.
At that exact moment, a sharp scream pierced the room.
"Seren! My baby!" Elara shrieked moving from the frame.
Sebastian's head snapped toward the child. He had a split second to choose. He could have braced the frame to save the woman beside him, or he could reach for the girl who was already rolling safely away on the carpet.
He chose the lie.
Sebastian let go of Amara, his hands reaching out for Seren. Without his support, Amara collapsed. The heavy diamond frame slammed into the side of her head with a sickening thud, pinning her to the cold marble.
Blood, hot and thick, began to bloom across the floor.
"Seren! Where does it hurt? Are you okay?" Sebastian's voice was frantic, full of a father's genuine terror. He and Elara immediately encircled the little girl, their bodies forming a protective wall. They looked like a perfect, panicked family, father, mother, and child.
From her position on the floor, the world spinning in shades of red and grey, Amara watched them. She saw Seren peek over Sebastian's shoulder, her "pain" vanishing for a fleeting second to reveal a cold, triumphant smirk. The child wasn't hurt; she hadn't even been touched.
Amara laid her head back against the cold stone, the diamonds of her "anniversary gift" cutting into her skin. The physical pain was immense, but it was the clarity that finally broke the last tether.
I'm done, she thought, the words echoing in the silence of her mind as her vision began to fade. I'm done loving you. I'm done being your prize.
As Sebastian fussed over the girl who had just tried to kill her, Amara Piers let the darkness take her, making one final vow, If she woke up, the woman they knew would be dead.