Rain pressed against the glass walls like restless fingers.
The night had teeth.
Ayla sat alone in the study, pretending to read while her mind churned. Damien was out at a late meeting, and for the first time in weeks, she could breathe.
The silence wasn't freedom, but it was close.
A knock startled her.
Before she could answer, Elias stepped inside uninvited, calm, carrying that same half-smile that made people trust him too easily.
"Sorry," he said. "Door was open. Damien asked me to drop some documents."
Ayla closed the book slowly. "He's not home."
"I know." He walked closer, his gaze lingering on her face a little too long. "I wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
He leaned against the desk, eyes darkening. "About you, Ayla. About what he's doing to you."
Her breath caught. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, I do," Elias murmured, voice low, almost gentle. "I've seen this before the way you flinch when he's near, the way you stop breathing when he looks at you. That's not love, Ayla. That's control."
She rose from her chair, every muscle tense. "You should leave."
"I can help you," he said, stepping closer. "You just have to trust me."
Something inside her snapped.
Her hand flew before she even realized it
crack!
The sound sliced through the room like lightning.
Elias froze, cheek stinging, eyes widening in shock.
"Don't" her voice shook, but her eyes didn't "don't mistake my silence for weakness."
He said nothing.
She took a step forward, trembling but unyielding.
"I've already lived under one man's shadow. I won't be pulled into another. You don't get to play savior, Elias. You don't get to touch what isn't yours."
For a long moment, they just stood there rain pounding, hearts racing.
Then Elias smiled faintly, rubbing his jaw.
"There she is," he whispered. "The woman Damien's afraid of."
Ayla's expression hardened. "Get out."
He obeyed slowly, almost respectfully leaving her alone with her shaking hands and racing heart.
Outside, in the black car parked down the street, Damien watched through the rain-streaked glass.
He had seen everything.
His smile was cold too calm.
"She's learning to fight," he murmured. "Good. Let's see how long she survives it."