{Third Person}
"I agreed to us, meeting," Torin interrupted. "I never said I was leaving with you."
The words didn't sink in at first.
"What?" she exclaimed.
"I'm not eloping with you, Amara," Torin said flatly. "I never intended to."
Her breath caught. "But you told me the time and place."
"Yes," he said without hesitation. "Because I needed you calm enough to come here."
Shock spread through her slowly, like ice water seeping into her veins. "You planned this?" she whispered.
He shrugged. "You were hysterical. Someone had to stop you from doing something stupid."
Her chest tightened painfully. "Stop me?" she repeated. "By lying to me?"
"By keeping you from ruining your life and dragging me down with you," Torin replied coolly.
Surprise gave way to something sharper.
"Why are you talking like this?" she asked, her voice trembling now. "What happened to you?"
He looked at her for a long moment, then scoffed. "You really don't see it, do you?"
"See what?" she demanded.
"You," he said bluntly. "You've been dead weight since that DNA mess. Disowned. Unwanted. And now you want me to throw away everything for you?"
"You—" Her heart lurched as she whispered, disbelief and shock clouding her senses.
Every memory twisted. Every shared promise rotted in an instant. Her hands trembled at her sides as tears blurred her vision.
Torin's lips curved into a faint, mocking smile as he watched her break down. He didn't even feel any remorse whatsoever. His conscience had long been dead.
"So this," Amara managed brokenly, "this was all a lie?"
He sighed, as if bored. "You were never going to win here, Amara. I just didn't expect you to run."
Instantly, her pain gave way to devastation. "I loved you," she said.
"And I was fond of you," he corrected. "There is a difference."
Her knees nearly buckled. Then, she wiped her tears fiercely, pride forcing her to stay upright. "Then why bring me here at all?" she asked. "Why not just let me go?"
"Because I wasn't going to let you embarrass your family any further," Torin said. "And because I promised your sister I would make sure you didn't succeed. Lila is actually more sensible and understanding than you."
The last thread in Amara's heart snapped. Unable to take it anymore, she turned to leave. And that was when the sound of engines roared.
Four black cars sped into the lot from different directions, surrounding the gas station with brutal precision. Doors flew open, and men in black stepped out, their presence suffocating.
Amara froze. In fact, her heart plummeted. She turned back slowly, her eyes locking onto Torin's face. "Did you call them?"
"I didn't have to," he said calmly. "But even if they hadn't shown up, I would have driven you straight back to your family, myself."
Her breath shattered. "So, you were never on my side."
"No," Torin said without remorse. "I was on the winning one."
Immediately, two hands seized Amara's arms from behind. "Miss Caldwell, please come with us," one of the men said firmly, already dragging her toward the second car.
"Let go of me!" she cried, struggling. "Torin. You can't do this to me!"
She looked back at him one last time—pleading, furious, shattered. But he didn't move an inch. His face was completely devoid of guilt.
The doors of the cars slammed shut. And as the cars pulled away, Torin remained where he was, watching the taillights disappear into the night.
Then he took out his phone and made a call. "She has been taken away," he said quietly. "You can stop worrying now."
---
The Caldwell's Mansion~
The slap came without warning.
The sound cracked through the living room, sharp and brutal, snapping Amara's head to the side. Her ears rang as heat exploded across her cheek, the sting burning deep into her skin.
Surprisingly, she didn't cry out or lift her hand to touch her face.
Amara stood there in silence, completely broken, her head bowed and her gaze fixed on the contents of her tote bag scattered across the rugged floor.
Everything she had believed would buy her freedom now lay exposed—proof of her failure. Meanwhile, her father was shaking with rage.
"You dare," Anthony roared, his voice filling every corner of the room, "you dare try to run away from this family? From the marriage arranged for you?"
Amara said nothing, but she didn't dare to move an inch.
On the sofa, Matilda sat upright, her hands folded neatly on her lap. She didn't intervene. Didn't even flinch. Her eyes never once flickered toward Amara's reddening face.
Beside her, Lila sat quietly with a blank expression. If anything, there was a faint, unmistakable satisfaction buried deep in her eyes.
Anthony pointed a trembling finger at Amara. "You will be locked in your room until the wedding day," he barked. "You will not step a single foot outside."
Then, he took a step closer, his voice dropping into something cold and vicious. "And don't think your little stunt didn't cost you," he added harshly. "I have already spoken to the Prime Minister."
That got her attention. Her fingers curled slowly at her sides.
"The wedding will take place in three days," Anthony continued. "You have embarrassed this family enough," he said. "We won't give you another chance."
Amara's lashes trembled. The decision felt like a death sentence, but she still didn't look up.
"Take her away," her father ordered, turning on his heel as he stormed out of the living room. Only then did Matilda rise.
She walked over to Amara, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Her voice, when she spoke, was calm, controlled, detached.
"I am disappointed in you." That was all she said before turning and following her husband without another glance at Amara.
Lila stood next. She stepped closer, stopping just short of Amara, tilting her head slightly as she looked down at her older sister.
"What were you thinking?" she asked quietly. "Trying to escape and leave me to be married off to the monster?"
Her lips curved into a faint, cruel smile. "In your dreams, big sister."
Then she scoffed and walked away.
And almost at once, two servants entered the room, their focus immediately on Amara.
"Miss," one said shortly. "Please."
Amara didn't resist.
They took her by the arm and escorted her upstairs without ceremony. At her bedroom door, they ushered her inside, shut it, and locked it from the outside.
The sound of the key turning was final. This time, no one was coming to save her.