Chapter 5 UNRAVELING.

The days following days Dominic's visit felt like a slow unraveling, as if the threads of Ivana's carefully constructed life were fraying with every passing moment. Patrick's control tightened around her like a noose, but the memory of Dominic's touch, his words, haunted her. The warmth of his hands on hers lingered like an echo, reminding her that there was another path she could take-one that led away from this gilded prison.

But every time she considered that possibility, the weight of her obligations crushed her resolve. She had made a promise, a vow, and breaking it would mean condemning her father to the consequences of his debts, a fate she couldn't bear to consider.

The mansion, once an imposing symbol of wealth and power, now felt like a mausoleum. Ivana spent most of her days in solitude, lost in her own thoughts, away from the prying eyes of the household staff. Even though she had everything she could ever need in terms of material wealth, none of it mattered. She was alone, suffocated by a life she had never chosen.

One afternoon, while walking through the sprawling grounds, Ivana overheard a conversation between two of the household servants. Their hushed voices were full of gossip, but what caught her attention was a name-Dominic.

"... He doesn't seem like the kind of man who would stand by and let his brother treat her like that," one of the women said. "I hear he's been watching her closely, almost like he's waiting for something."

Ivana's heart skipped a beat. She knew Dominic cared for her, but hearing it spoken aloud, in such a casual tone, made her realize how dangerously close they were to being discovered.

She felt a pang of guilt. She had begun to care for Dominic in a way she couldn't deny, but she couldn't let anyone-least of all Patrick-know. The risk was too great. And yet, the thought of her life without him felt impossible.

As Ivana continued her walk, she found herself standing before the large fountain in the garden, the gentle sound of water trickling from its stone basin offering a momentary escape from her thoughts. She closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over her, but the calm was short-lived.

"Are you planning on running away again?" Patrick's voice cut through the silence like a knife.

Ivana's eyes snapped open, and she turned to face him. Patrick stood just behind her, his posture rigid, his gaze fixed on her with a kind of cold expectation. He always knew. He always watched.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "I saw you with him." The words were barely a whisper, but they were enough to make Ivana's blood run cold.

"You saw me with Dominic?" she repeated, her heart hammering in her chest. She couldn't let him know what had really happened, but there was no denying the suspicion in his eyes.

Patrick's lips twisted into a thin smile. "You're not as careful as you think, Ivana. You might be able to fool everyone else, but I can see through you. I always can."

Ivana took a step back, feeling the weight of his words like a boulder pressing against her chest. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Patrick's expression darkened, his gaze narrowing with suspicion. "Don't play games with me. I'm not stupid."

There was a dangerous edge to his voice, and Ivana knew she had to tread carefully. The last thing she wanted was to escalate things further, but how much longer could she continue to lie? How much longer could she pretend everything was fine when her world was crumbling around her?

Patrick's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist in a vice-like grip. "I don't like being lied to, Ivana," he said, his voice cold as ice.

She tried to pull away, but his hold was too strong. "Let go of me," she hissed, her heart pounding in her chest.

For a moment, it seemed as if Patrick might actually let her go, but then his grip tightened even further, and Ivana winced in pain.

"Don't think you can get away with this," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm watching you, Ivana. Always."

Fear rose in Ivana's chest, her mind racing for an escape. She couldn't let him control her, not like this. But how could she escape when every move she made was under his watchful eye?

Patrick released her wrist with a sudden force, and Ivana staggered back, rubbing her sore skin. She tried to catch her breath, but the reality of her situation was closing in on her like a vice.

"I won't tolerate this behavior again," Patrick said, his tone still icy, before he turned and walked away, leaving Ivana standing in the garden, trembling from both fear and frustration.

---

Later that night, as Ivana sat in her room, the weight of the day's events pressed heavily on her. The walls of the mansion seemed to close in around her, suffocating her with their silence. She could feel Patrick's presence lurking in every corner of the house, watching her, controlling her every move.

Her thoughts drifted back to Dominic. The warmth of his touch, his words of encouragement-they felt like a distant memory now, swallowed by the darkness of her reality. Could she continue living this way? Could she keep pretending everything was fine when her heart was slowly being consumed by desperation and fear?

She knew she was at a breaking point. Something had to change, but she had no idea what that change would look like. The only thing she was certain of was that she couldn't keep living this lie.

But the question remained: what would happen if she stopped pretending? Would she be free, or would she be destroyed in the process?