It had been a year and six months since Diara had signed the contract and moved into the Crownstar mansion, a sprawling estate that radiated power and wealth from every corner.
The contract had been a lifeline then, a flicker of hope promising escape from her uncle's oppressive house and a future with Kellan, a man she had once believed she could love.
She had imagined something different, something safe. But she could never have imagined the reality she now lived in—a gilded cage worse than any prison.
The mansion was cold, suffocating despite its grandeur. Each marble floor, crystal chandelier, and ornate tapestry felt like a mockery of her suffering. The house was filled with people—servants, employees, guests—but none of them saw her.
To them, she was invisible, a shadow that flitted about unnoticed. Once, she had been full of life, her eyes bright and her spirit untamed.
