Chapter 7 - The Cost of Defiance

Chapter 7 - The Cost of Defiance

My body ached. Every inch of me screamed in pain as I slowly opened my eyes, my vision blurred from the swelling around them. The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains blocking out any trace of the outside world. For a brief moment, I forgot where I was. But then, reality came crashing back.

I was still here. Still trapped.

The memories of last night flooded in—the sharp words, the punishment, the way Damien had watched as Alexander proved a point. My skin still burned from the reminder. I shifted, testing my limbs, but even the smallest movement sent a sharp pain through me. I bit my lip to keep from whimpering.

I wouldn’t give them that satisfaction.

A knock echoed through the room. Not soft. Not hesitant. A demand.

I stiffened.

The door creaked open, and Damien stepped inside, his sharp eyes scanning the room. His expression was unreadable, but his presence alone was enough to set me on edge. I pushed myself up despite the pain, refusing to look weak in front of him.

“Get up,” he said, his voice flat.

I hesitated. I hated following orders, but I also knew resisting right now wouldn’t do me any favors. So, I swallowed my pride and stood, my legs unsteady beneath me.

“Boss wants you downstairs,” he added.

I scoffed. “Of course, he does.”

Damien’s gaze flickered with something unreadable, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he turned and started walking, expecting me to follow. I clenched my fists and forced myself forward.

The hallway was quiet, the kind of silence that felt heavy, dangerous. My bare feet made no sound against the cold floor. The further we walked, the more I felt the weight of this place pressing down on me.

When we reached the grand staircase, I saw him.

Alexander Sterling sat in one of the sleek armchairs, his posture relaxed, a glass of dark liquid in his hand. The picture of effortless control. He didn’t even look up as I entered, his focus seemingly elsewhere.

But I knew better. He saw everything.

“Sit,” he said, his voice as smooth as silk yet sharp as a blade.

I hesitated, but one glance at Damien told me I didn’t have a choice. I walked forward, lowering myself onto the chair across from him.

The silence stretched between us.

Then, he spoke. “Do you know why you’re still alive?”

His question sent a chill down my spine.

I swallowed hard. “Because you like playing games?”

His lips twitched, almost like he was amused. But his eyes remained cold. “Because you’re useful,” he corrected. “For now.”

My fingers curled into the fabric of my dress. “And when I stop being useful?”

His smile was slow, deliberate. “Then you should hope you never find out.”

The warning was clear, but I refused to show fear. I held his gaze, refusing to let him see how much he got to me.

“Eat,” he said suddenly, gesturing toward the untouched plate on the table.

I blinked at the food in front of me. Steak. Vegetables. Expensive and perfectly plated.

I wasn’t stupid. This wasn’t kindness. It was another test.

Still, my stomach twisted with hunger. I hadn’t eaten in hours, maybe longer. I hesitated, my pride warring with my body’s needs.

Alexander watched, waiting.

I picked up the fork, forcing myself to eat slowly, refusing to look desperate even though I was starving. The first bite was almost overwhelming, the rich flavors hitting my tongue in a way that made me realize just how weak I had become.

Satisfied, Alexander leaned back. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

I swallowed the food, my jaw tightening. “I don’t need your generosity.”

He smirked. “You need whatever keeps you breathing.”

I hated that he was right.

The tension in the room thickened. I could feel Damien’s gaze on me, but I refused to look at him. Instead, I focused on the man in front of me, the one holding all the power.

“Why am I really here?” I asked, my voice steady despite everything.

Alexander studied me for a long moment before setting his glass down. “Because I said so.”

That wasn’t an answer. Not really.

But I knew I wouldn’t get anything more. Not yet.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to remain calm. This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

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Chapter 7 - The Cost of Defiance (Part 2)

I forced myself to keep eating, even though every bite felt like swallowing my own pride. The food was rich, better than anything I’d had in a long time, but I barely tasted it. My mind was too busy racing, trying to figure out what Alexander really wanted from me.

Because no matter what he said, I knew there was more to this.

Across from me, Alexander watched me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve. His fingers tapped lazily against the armrest of his chair, his expression unreadable. He was calm—too calm. It put me on edge.

I set my fork down. “If I’m only here because you said so, then what happens when you change your mind?”

Alexander tilted his head slightly. “You like asking questions, don’t you?”

I held his gaze. “Wouldn’t you, if you were in my position?”

A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly. “Most people in your position know when to stay quiet.”

“I’m not most people.”

A smirk ghosted his lips, but it wasn’t warm. It was sharp, like he enjoyed my defiance even though he’d be the first to punish me for it. “That much is obvious.”

I heard Damien shift slightly behind me, as if he was waiting for a command. A reminder that Alexander wasn’t the only dangerous man in this room.

A long silence stretched between us before Alexander leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You want to know what happens when I change my mind?” His voice was lower now, quieter—but somehow, it felt more dangerous than if he’d been shouting. “Then let me make something clear to you, Evelyn.”

The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine.

“If I decide you are no longer worth keeping,” he continued, his gaze locking onto mine, “you will cease to exist. Not just in this house. Not just in this city. But everywhere.”

A cold weight settled in my stomach.

“You think I’m bluffing?” he asked, as if he could hear the doubt in my silence.

I swallowed hard. “No.”

“Good.” He leaned back, satisfied. “Then we understand each other.”

I hated him.

I hated the way he spoke like he controlled the world. I hated that, in some twisted way, he was right—he did control mine. At least for now.

But I refused to let him break me.

I took a slow breath, pushing down the fear clawing at my chest. “So what now?” I asked. “Are you going to keep me locked up here forever?”

Alexander raised a brow. “Would that be worse than what you had before?”

My heart slammed against my ribs. The fact that he even knew about my life before—about what my own family had done to me—made my skin crawl.

I forced myself to sit straighter, ignoring the ache in my body. “At least before, I wasn’t someone’s prisoner.”

Alexander chuckled softly, but there was no real humor in it. “No, Evelyn. You were just a prisoner of a different kind.”

I stiffened.

He wasn’t wrong. But I wasn’t about to let him win this conversation.

Before I could respond, Alexander stood. The movement was fluid, effortless. Powerful.

“Finish your food,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You’ll need your strength.”

My brows furrowed. “For what?”

But he didn’t answer. He simply turned, walking away as if the conversation was already over.

Damien remained, watching me carefully. He hadn’t spoken much, but I could feel his presence, heavy like a shadow that never left.

I set my fork down, no longer hungry.

“What does he mean?” I asked, my voice quiet but firm.

Damien’s gaze was unreadable. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Then he left, closing the door behind him.

I sat there for a long moment, staring at the untouched food on my plate.

Whatever was coming next, I had a feeling it would change everything.

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