Chapter 6

Dora POV:

My recovery was a silent, solitary affair. My fractured leg healed slowly, my scorched arm leaving an angry scar. I moved through Dawson's mansion like a ghost, an unwanted specter in a house that no longer pretended to be my home. Dawson was rarely there, his time almost exclusively devoted to Arleen. When he was, his interactions with me were brief, cold, and transactional. He treated me like a broken toy, to be tolerated, but certainly not desired.

I watched him from a distance, a detached observer in my own life. He and Arleen were inseparable. They dined together, walked in the gardens, their laughter echoing through the halls. I saw the way he looked at her, the way he touched her, the blatant adoration in his eyes. It was a constant, excruciating reminder of what I had lost, or rather, what I had never truly possessed.

Then came Arleen's birthday. Dawson spared no expense. Preparations for a lavish party consumed the house. Caterers, florists, musicians-the mansion buzzed with an energy that was both vibrant and utterly alien to me.

I watched from my bedroom window as a parade of exquisite gowns and glittering jewelry arrived for Arleen. Dawson, his eyes alight with excitement, personally carried a large, beautifully wrapped box into her room. Later, I overheard him telling Arleen, "This is for my queen, darling. Only the best."

Arleen's delighted squeal reached me even through the closed door. A few minutes later, she emerged, radiant in a shimmering emerald gown, escorted by Dawson. She looked like a goddess, truly, and in his eyes, she was.

"Dora, darling!" Arleen exclaimed, spotting me at the top of the stairs, a perfectly crafted smile on her face. "Come down! The party is about to begin. And look, Dawson picked out this dress for me. Isn't it just divine?" She twirled, the fabric shimmering. "But I need help with the clasp. My poor sprained ankle, you know." She gestured towards me with an innocent flutter of her eyelashes. "Would you mind, dear?"

I hesitated. The thought of touching her, Dawson's 'goddess,' made my skin crawl. But before I could move, Dawson stepped in, his arm blocking my path.

"No, Dora," he said, his voice curt. "Your arm isn't fully healed from the burn. Wouldn't want you to strain yourself. I'll do it." He turned to Arleen, his voice instantly softening. "Come here, my love. Let me help you."

He gently turned Arleen, his fingers deftly fastening the delicate clasp of her gown. His touch was tender, reverent. I watched, a silent, unseen witness, as he admired her, his gaze filled with possessive pride.

Suddenly, I heard whispers from Arleen's room, which was still open. Dawson and Arleen were still inside, he helping her with a final touch.

"Dawson, you picked out the most exquisite gown," Arleen purred, her voice dripping with seduction. "It fits like a glove. You really know my body better than anyone."

"Only you, my love," Dawson murmured, his voice husky, filled with unbridled desire. "Only you could make this dress look so... irresistible."

Then Arleen's voice, lower now, almost a taunt. "You know, Dora is a pretty girl, in her own way. So innocent, so fresh. But she could never fill this dress, could she, Dawson? She's all sharp edges and angles, not curves and fire like me."

My breath hitched. My fingers clenched into fists.

Dawson chuckled, a low, dismissive sound that pierced me like an ice shard. "Dora? Please. She's a child. A temporary distraction. No, Arleen. There's no comparison. You are the fire. You are the woman. She's... just a placeholder."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Placeholder. Not a child, not innocent. A placeholder. My vision blurred, the opulent hallway spinning around me. A wave of bone-chilling cold washed over me, a desolation so profound it stole my breath. I was nothing. Less than nothing. Just a temporary object, a stand-in until the real game began.

I turned and stumbled away, my leg throbbing, my heart a frozen stone. I needed air. I needed to disappear.

The party began, a dazzling spectacle of wealth and power. Arleen, the undisputed queen of the night, circulated gracefully among the guests, her laughter tinkling through the air. Dawson, ever by her side, was her devoted shadow, his eyes never straying far.

I found a remote corner, cloaked in shadow, and watched. I was invisible, a ghost haunting my own demise.

Later, as the grand cake was wheeled in, Arleen, with a theatrical flourish, held a slice of it to Dawson's lips. "A taste, darling? My special birthday cake, just for you."

"No!" The word burst from my lips before I could stop it, sharp and desperate. The entire room seemed to freeze. All eyes turned to me.

Dawson, his face a mask of annoyance, glared at me. "Dora, what in god's name are you doing?"

I instantly regretted my outburst. My cheeks burned with shame. I, the invisible girl, had dared to speak. "I... I'm sorry," I mumbled, lowering my gaze. "I just... I just remembered. Dawson, you're allergic to almonds. This cake... it has almond flour in it."

A ripple of murmurs went through the guests. Arleen's smile, though strained, held. "Oh, Dora, how very thoughtful of you to remember such a tiny detail!" she cooed, her voice sugary sweet. "But it's quite alright. This is a special, nut-free recipe. We made sure. You're so observant, though. We should all be as careful as you!"

Her words, seemingly kind, twisted the knife deeper. My carefulness, my knowledge of his allergies, my attempts to protect him-they were meaningless. Just a detail to be patronized. My heart felt hollow. All my understanding of him, all the little things I had learned and cherished about him, held no value in this world.

Dawson, his face a thundercloud, snatched the fork from Arleen's hand. With deliberate slowness, he lifted the cake to his lips and took a large bite. He chewed, his eyes fixed on me, a chilling message in their depths. "Absolutely delicious, Arleen, darling," he said, swallowing carefully. "Perfect. I don't feel a thing."

Arleen gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. "Dawson, no! What if Dora was right? You know how severe your allergy is!" She tried to stop him, her face a mask of concern.

Dawson merely smiled, a terrifying, defiant grin. He took another bite, then looked directly at Arleen, his gaze burning with an unsettling intensity. "For you, my goddess," he declared, his voice ringing through the silent hall, "I would eat poison. I would gladly die, if it meant making you happy."

The declaration hung in the air, a public testament to his absolute devotion to Arleen. And to his utter disregard for me.