For a second, I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. Then I saw his face. He was serious.
“Have you lost your mind?” My voice trembled. “My father is lying like that because of her mistake, and you want me to protect her reputation?”
His gaze turned steely. “Enough. This isn’t a discussion. This is what will happen. And don’t forget—your father is still barely holding on, and your brother is wasting away in prison.”
My blood ran cold. It was always the same. Whenever I tried to resist, he tightened the chains around my neck. My father. My brother. I had nowhere to run. I swallowed the anger burning my throat and closed my eyes.
“Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll do it. But you release my brother first.”
He paused, only briefly, then nodded. “One month,” he said. “That’s all the time you have.”
I agreed.
---
When the day arrived, his driver came for me. At the venue, Thorne entered with Lilith hooked on his arm, his hand never leaving hers. He didn’t need to say a word—one look from his eyes was enough to remind me of my place.
I curled my fingers into fists and stepped onto the stage, forcing my expression into something calm.