Chapter 205

Vanessa wanted to run. Every instinct screamed at her to flee, yet her feet refused to obey. They stayed rooted to the floor, as if shackled by invisible chains. Her mind raced through every terrible possibility, each one colder than the last, until her entire body trembled.

"Lucien," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He appeared asleep, sprawled across the couch, his breathing slow and even. This was her chance. She could slip away unnoticed, pretend she had never seen a thing.

Then his eyes snapped open.

Dark, gleaming, and fully alert, they locked onto hers with unnerving precision.

Vanessa gasped, stumbling back in shock.

Lucien smirked, the curve of his lips lazy and cruel. He pushed himself up, sweeping the scattered items off the table with a careless flick of his wrist. They clattered into the trash bin, discarded like afterthoughts. Then he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, slow and deliberate, before rising to his feet.

Her pulse spiked as he advanced. Step by step, he closed the distance, forcing her backward until her shoulders hit the wall. Trapped.

"Lucien, no—!" She flinched as he lifted his hand, squeezing her eyes shut.

But the blow never came.

Instead, his palm slammed against the wall beside her head, caging her in. He tilted his head, studying her with amusement. "What are you so afraid of?"

"N-nothing," she lied, her voice shaking.

"Really?" His fingers caught her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Open your eyes."

She didn’t. Couldn’t. If she kept them closed, maybe she could pretend this wasn’t happening.

His thumb brushed her lower lip, feather-light. "If you don’t open them," he murmured, "I’ll make you swallow every last thing you just saw."

Her eyes flew open—wide, terrified.

Lucien chuckled, pleased. "Good girl. I like obedience."

"I—I won’t tell anyone," she blurted, desperate. "I swear!"

He laughed outright, the sound dark and mocking. "Do you really think I care if you do?"

Vanessa swallowed. Of course he didn’t. Lucien wasn’t afraid of consequences. He thrived on them.

"Lucien," she whispered, "I’ll do anything. Just… not this. Please."

"Please?" He tilted his head, amused. Then, abruptly, he caught her wrist, his grip firm. "Fine," he said, as if granting a favor. "We’ll do it your way."