Chapter 4 THE PRICE OF FREEDOM.

"Ivana." Dominic's voice was low and comforting, but it held an undercurrent of urgency.

She turned to find him standing just beyond the garden gate, his dark eyes filled with an intensity that sent a strange shiver down her spine.

"Dominic?" Her voice faltered, confusion clouding her thoughts. Why was he here, in the garden, at this hour?

He stepped closer, glancing around to ensure they were alone. "I needed to see you. There's something I need to say."

Ivana's heart skipped a beat, but she remained still, unsure of how to respond. She was, after all, married now-not just in name, but in the eyes of the world. Patrick was her husband, and Dominic was his brother. There were lines that should never be crossed, even if the pull between them had become undeniable.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice betraying her nerves.

Dominic hesitated, taking a step closer. "I don't want to see you suffer. I can't stand knowing that you're trapped in this... this marriage." His words were raw, his voice thick with emotion.

Ivana's breath caught in her throat. "What are you suggesting?" She didn't want to hear it. She couldn't let herself want what he was offering.

"I'm suggesting that you don't have to be alone in this. You don't have to bear it all by yourself." He took another step closer, his presence filling the space between them. "You don't have to belong to him. You can belong to yourself."

The words were a lifeline, and yet, they felt like a dangerous temptation. The temptation to leave it all behind-her gilded cage, her obligations, the chains that bound her to a life of loneliness and resentment.

But she was married now. And Patrick was her husband.

"I can't," Ivana said, the words coming out before she could stop them. "It's not that simple."

"It can be," Dominic insisted softly. "I know you feel trapped, Ivana. I see it in your eyes every time you look at me. I know you don't belong here, not with him."

The sincerity in his voice made her chest tighten with an emotion she didn't have the words for. Her hand instinctively reached for her abdomen, where the weight of their shared secret began to settle deep within her.

"You're right," she whispered, barely audible. "I don't belong here. But what am I supposed to do? He owns everything. My father's debts, the company, this marriage. I don't have a choice."

Dominic reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "You always have a choice."

His touch, warm and familiar, sent a tremor through her. For a moment, the world outside the garden seemed to fade away. It was just the two of them, standing in the midst of their shared understanding. The possibility of a future beyond the walls of Patrick's mansion seemed almost within reach.

But that thought was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Ivana immediately pulled her hand back, her heart racing.

"Patrick," she murmured, panic rising in her chest.

Dominic stepped back, the space between them widening. "I have to go," he said softly. "But think about what I said. You don't have to do this alone."

Before Ivana could respond, he was gone, disappearing into the night, leaving her with nothing but her thoughts.

---

Patrick arrived a few minutes later, his presence filling the air like a storm cloud. His sharp eyes immediately locked onto Ivana, but he said nothing. There was no need.

The tension between them was palpable, but Ivana kept her head down, refusing to meet his gaze. She had to stay composed, had to be the obedient wife he expected her to be.

"Were you talking to Dominic?" Patrick's voice was low, almost threatening.

Ivana's stomach churned. "No," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "I was just... thinking."

Patrick didn't respond right away, but she felt his eyes on her, weighing her every word, every move.

"You don't belong here," he said quietly, his voice dripping with menace. "Remember that."

Ivana's heart pounded in her chest, and she nodded, praying the lie she had just told would be enough to keep Patrick at bay. But deep inside, she knew the truth: she was already slipping away, piece by piece.