Chapter 3 Whispers Of Forgotten Truths

I didn't cry.

Not when I slammed the door.

Not when I walked to my car.

Not even when my heart cracked wide open inside my chest.

I just drove. Fast. Like the road could swallow me whole if I pushed hard enough.

The world outside was a blur-lights, trees, darkness.

Nothing made sense anymore.

Maybe it never did.

I ended up at Kent's mansion without even realizing it.

The second I parked, he was already at the door, like he'd been waiting for me.

No shirt. Just low black sweats hanging off his hips. Tattoos curling up his arms. Eyes burning like a man who'd been starving for years and just found his favorite meal.

My stomach twisted.

I should have turned around.

I should have left.

But I didn't.

He held the door open. I got out. 'Go in,' he said.

I hesitated, my heart was racing really fast, I had to shake it off - What's the worst that could happen?

I walked inside

The air was thick. Heavy.

Like something was about to happen and neither of us could stop it.

He grabbed my suitcase, tossing it aside like it was nothing.

Closed the door behind me.

Locked it.

Immediately, Fear crept in. A flood of intrusive thoughts followed, but I was starting to trust him. So I pushed the doubts away."

In my head, I kept telling myself he couldn't do anything. I didn't even realize he had been talking the whole time.

He called my name.

'Sasha. Sasha.'

I snapped out of it.

'Are you even listening?' he asked.

'Ye... yes,' I stammered. 'Go on.'"

"You came back," he said, voice low and rough.

"I had nowhere else," I whispered.

"You're safe now."

His hand brushed my cheek.

I should've pulled away.

Instead, I leaned into it, desperate for something, anything, that didn't feel like drowning.

And then he kissed me.

Hard.

Hungry.

Possessive.

For one stupid, reckless second, I kissed him back.

Maybe I wanted to feel wanted. Maybe I wanted to hurt Damien the way he hurt me.

Maybe I just wanted to stop feeling like nothing.

Kent's hands slid down my body, gripping my waist, pushing me against the wall.

His mouth moved down my neck, my collarbone.

Heat exploded inside me.

But then-

I tasted salt.

Tears.

I was crying and I hadn't even realized it.

I shoved him back, gasping.

"No No No," I said. "I can't. I'm sorry."

His jaw tensed. His whole body stiffened like a coiled snake.

"You still love him," he said bitterly.

I wiped my face, furious at myself. "You don't understand-"

"I understand plenty," he snapped.

He turned away, running a hand through his hair. For a second, I thought he was calming down or feeling guilty for kissing his step brother's wife or rather ex-wife.

But when he twirled back around, his face was dark. Different.

"You think Damien's some angel?" he smirked. "You think he didn't know exactly what he was doing when he married you?"

I froze.

"What are you talking about?"

Kent laughed. But it wasn't funny. It was shallow. Broken. Mad.

"You really think you just met him by accident, Sasha?"

The room tilted.

"Wha... what do you mean?" I asked, my voice shaking

He stepped toward me. Not touching me. Just standing so close I could barely breathe.

"You ever wonder why Damien married a broke bartender he met in some dirty club?"

My heart stopped.

"You think he just fell in love at first sight? That he just couldn't resist you?"

I shook my head, backing away. "Stop it."

"Your father rather your dead father," Kent said, voice like a whip, "was part of a biker Mafia.

He betrayed them.

Stole every damn cent they had and ran."

No.

No.

I stumbled back, hitting the wall.

"Damien knew exactly who you were when he met you," Kent said. "He married you to destroy you. To make your family pay."

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't think.

"You're lying," I whispered.

But a part of me knew he wasn't.

The way Damien always treated me like a secret. The way his parents looked at me like dirt under their shoes.

It all made sense now.

"You were the pawn," Kent said cruelly. "The weak little revenge doll. And you didn't even know it."

Tears blurred my vision.

"Why are you telling me this?" I choked out.

His face twisted into something ugly.

"Because I'm not your savior either," he said. "I'm not your Prince Charming.

I'm your worst nightmare."

I didn't understand.

Not until he laughed again, low and bitter.

"You think I gave a damn about saving you? About protecting you from Damien?"

He stepped closer, trapping me against the wall.

"I did it because I hate him. Because he always had everything I wanted.

The money.

The glory.

The attention.

The family's love.

And now..."

His hand brushed my hair back, gentle and violent at the same time.

"Now I'm gonna take you too." "He whispered into my ear ."

My whole body went cold.

"You're sick," I muttered.

"You have no idea," he murmured.

Then, softer:

"I loved Camila first."

The words hit harder than any slap.

"I loved her before Damien ever laid eyes on her.

I did everything for her. I spent so much on her, even built her dream bedroom in this damn house."

She's even carrying my child.

But still she chose him.

Like everyone else always did."

My mind screamed at me.

He lied - the expensive clothes upstairs, even the ones I'm wearing, all belong to Camila. I was right. I knew it .

He didn't deny it. He just smirked, cold and deadly."

He smiled, but it wasn't a real smile. It was a scar.

"So now I'm taking everything he loves.

Everything he thinks belongs to him."

I shoved him back, my heart hammered so hard, it hurt so bad.

"You're insane."

"You're a lunatic"

He didn't even blink.

"Maybe," he said. "But you're here.

And now you're mine."

You know what Sasha, the media was right, the people were right. You're truly a corpse bride,

My heart ached at his words, the sting cutting deep.

I had to run for my dear life.

I bolted for the door.

But he caught my wrist.

"You can run," he said softly. "But where will you go? Damien doesn't want you. Your family's gone. You have nothing."

I jerked free, adrenaline burning through my veins.

"I have myself," I spat. "That's more than either of you cowards can say."

And I ran.

Out the door.

Down the driveway.

Into the night.

I didn't stop.

Not when my lungs begged me to.

Not when my legs went numb.

I just kept running.

Because if I stopped, if I let them catch me again,

I knew I'd never escape.

I collapsed on a bench by the side of the road, gasping, shaking, broken.

I didn't know who to trust.

I didn't even know who I was anymore.

My father had lied.

Damien had lied.

Kent had lied.

Everyone I ever loved had been playing a game-and I was the prize.

I buried my face in my hands.

I was so stupid.

So stupid to believe any of it was real.

My phone buzzed again.

Unknown number.

With trembling fingers, I opened it.

Unknown:

If you want the truth, meet me at the old Blackthorn Club. Midnight. Come alone.

My heart dropped.

This wasn't over.

Not even close.