The golden morning had settled over the Verden estate, but the warmth of sunlight could not reach the tension that pulsed beneath the surface. Liana and Eren had barely escaped Darius' immediate trap, yet the danger was far from over. Every corridor, every hallway, every garden path could conceal spies, schemes, or worse.
Liana's chest still ached from the adrenaline, her fingers tightly intertwined with Eren's as they moved quietly toward the servant exit. "Do you think… they'll stop searching for us?" she whispered, voice shaky.
Eren's dark eyes scanned every shadow. "They won't. But we've bought time. And in this world, time is everything." He pressed a reassuring kiss to the back of her hand. "We endure. Always."
The words filled her with both courage and longing. Their love was forbidden, unblessed, yet every stolen moment, every heartbeat shared, had become the center of her world.
---
Meanwhile, in the estate's grand hall, Darius' expression was calm but deadly, a predator already planning the next strike. He had underestimated the pair once, but now his schemes would be meticulous, ruthless, designed to corner them until no escape remained.
"Search every hidden passage, every servant's quarters," he instructed quietly, eyes glinting. "They will slip, but not forever. The world bends to those who are clever… and I am cleverer."
Her father, still unaware of the full depth of the morning's events, pressed Liana further. "The choice is simple, Liana. Obey, or bring ruin to the family name."
Liana's chest tightened. Her heart wanted only Eren, yet the weight of expectations bore down mercilessly. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a precipice, the world below threatening to swallow her if she faltered.
---
Eren led her through a narrow path behind the stables, where early morning mist curled like ghostly fingers along the cobblestones. Liana pressed against him instinctively, the proximity of their bodies heightening every emotion, every pulse of danger and desire.
"I'm scared," she admitted softly. "I don't know how much longer I can hide… or endure this."
Eren cupped her face, dark eyes locking with hers. "You are stronger than you know," he said firmly. "And together, we are unstoppable. Darius, the world… nothing can take you from me."
A shiver of forbidden anticipation ran through her. Every brush of his fingers, every whispered vow, sent a thrill racing through her. Fear and desire collided, a heady storm that left her breathless.
---
But danger was never far. A sharp shout echoed from the estate's main courtyard—Darius' aides had spotted movement near the servant exit. Liana's pulse quickened. "They're coming," she whispered, voice trembling.
Eren pulled her close, shielding her with his body. "Then we move faster," he said, voice firm. "Every second counts. Stay close. Trust me."
They sprinted through the misted paths, moving silently yet swiftly, slipping between crates, carts, and shadows, hearts pounding in unison. Each heartbeat was a reminder of how fragile their freedom was—and how fiercely their love burned.
---
Finally, they reached a small, hidden gate that opened to the edge of the forest bordering the estate. The mist and morning light danced among the trees, a temporary sanctuary from Darius' schemes. Liana leaned against Eren, trembling from adrenaline, fear, and the forbidden thrill of escape.
"We… we're safe, for now," she whispered, barely daring to breathe.
Eren brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, fingers lingering longer than necessary. "For now," he agreed. "But no trap, no scheme, no force will ever separate us. I promise."
Their faces were close now, almost touching, the world beyond the forest fading. Every danger, every expectation, every shadow seemed distant. All that remained was them—their stolen breaths, racing hearts, and the unspoken vow that no matter what, they would endure.
---
Liana's thoughts swirled. She knew the world would not bless their love, but it did not matter. The stolen moments, the whispered vows, the dangerous thrill of forbidden desire—all of it made their bond unbreakable. She pressed against Eren, letting herself feel the full intensity of their connection, knowing that the next steps would be even more dangerous.
Darius' shadow loomed somewhere beyond the estate, his plans already unfolding, but Liana felt something deeper now: courage, love, and the fierce determination to protect the only heart she had ever truly claimed as her own.
A love forbidden… yet unyielding, indomitable, eternal.