The room was silent except for the faint hum of ventilation.
I sat on the cold floor, hands pressed against my knees. Adrian leaned against the wall, one hand pressed to his wound, jaw tight, eyes dark as midnight.
"You need to rest," I said quietly.
"I don't rest," he said, voice flat.
I clenched my fists. He had no right to act like this… like I wasn't here. Like I wasn't scared.
"You're bleeding," I pressed.
"I said it's nothing."
His denial only made my heart race faster.
A shadow moved behind the door. My stomach dropped. The main villain had entered. Calm. Smiling just enough to make me hate him.
"You're awake," he said to me, tone smooth. "Good. I want you to hear this."
I refused to look at him.
"You should know," he continued, "your father wasn't the man you think he was. And Adrian here…" His gaze flicked to Adrian, "he didn't just buy you because he cared. There's history. Debt. A war that started long before tonight."
My pulse skyrocketed.
"Explain," I demanded, eyes fixed on the floor.
He smiled. "Your father betrayed me. My empire. My plans. I trusted him once. He cost me a lot. And tonight…" His voice dropped to a whisper, "you're my leverage."
I froze.
Leverage.
I glanced at Adrian. His jaw tightened. Eyes flickered to mine. That familiar controlled gaze calculating. Protective. Dark.
"You're lying," I said, voice shaking.
He chuckled softly. "Am I? Look at her, Adrian. You were ready to die for her tonight. You think that's natural?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
He only looked at me. Something unspoken passed between us. Warning? Reassurance? I didn't know.
The villain stepped closer. "Your father's debts… they weren't just money. They were secrets. Dangerous secrets. And now… you are the key."
My chest tightened.
"The key to what?" I asked, fear and anger tangled in my voice.
"That," he said slowly, "depends on whether you survive."
I swallowed hard.
I had a choice. Trust Adrian. Trust myself. Or let fear take over.
I tightened my grip on the edge of the cold metal table.
I wouldn't be a pawn.
Not yet.
Not ever.
Adrian's hand brushed against mine. This time it wasn't just warning—it was steady. Grounding. A silent promise.
And in that moment, I realized…
I wasn't just caught in their war.
I was part of it.
And somehow, for the first time tonight, I felt ready.