The heavy rain lashed against the tall windows, blurring the world outside into a swirl of gray and shadows. Inside, the grand estate of Adrian Blackwell remained untouched by the storm, its marble floors and sleek, modern furnishings immaculate. In the study, only the soft ticking of the clock on the wall broke the silence, its rhythm a constant reminder of the time that was running out.

Lia stood near the large desk, her gaze fixed on the man seated before her. Adrian Blackwell, the billionaire who had made her life a living hell for the last three years. His cold eyes were trained on the screen of his laptop, his sharp features illuminated only by the soft glow of the desk lamp. His every movement was precise, and controlled. But as always, there was something unreadable in his expression—something that kept Lia at arm's length, even though he was the one who had demanded her presence, her obedience.

"Are you still standing there?" Adrian's voice was low, laced with annoyance. His eyes never left the screen.

Lia inhaled sharply, her nerves stretched tight. For three years, she'd followed his every word, every command. She had been his servant, his personal assistant, his shadow. And for three years, she had heard the voice in her head—promising her that if she endured it all, if she obeyed his every whim, she would be rewarded.

50 million dollars.

That's what the voice had promised. It had seemed impossible when she first heard it, but with each passing day, the voice had become more and more certain. It had whispered in her ear, urging her forward, keeping her grounded even as Adrian pushed her to her limits.

"Yes, Mr. Blackwell," she replied quietly, her hands folding together in front of her. She tried to ignore the way her heart was hammering against her chest. Tonight marked the end of her contract. At midnight, everything would change.

"You've been unusually quiet tonight, Lia. Are you sick?" His voice was sharp now, as though her silence had finally caught his attention.

"No, sir," she answered quickly. "I'm fine."

The last three years had been a blur of exhausting tasks, from running errands to managing his endless schedule. And yet, despite the harshness of his treatment, there had been moments when Lia had wondered if there was more to Adrian than the cold, distant figure he projected. But those moments were fleeting, like shadows in the night. Adrian was a man of power and control, and she was merely his servant.

It had been her choice to stay—her choice to obey. She had done it for the money, for the future she had promised herself. But now, as the hours dwindled down, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What would life be like after tonight?

The voice in her head was quiet now, almost like it was waiting, too.

Adrian finally looked up from his laptop, his gaze locking onto hers. "You've served me well, Lia. I'll admit that much."

Her stomach twisted. She had never heard him sound this... soft. His words, though still distant, lacked the usual bitterness, the disdain that he often directed her way.

"You've earned your reward," he continued, his voice lowering to an almost uncertain tone.

Lia blinked, trying to mask her shock. He had never said it like that before. He was always so sure, so cold. But now, there was a trace of something else—something that made her question if he was truly the same man who had given her those impossible orders.

"Thank you, Mr. Blackwell," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

She turned to leave, her footsteps silent on the polished floors. But just as she reached the door, a voice stopped her—a voice she hadn't heard in three years.

"Lia..."

Her body stiffened, her heart skipping a beat. That voice. She knew it, and yet she didn't. It was the voice that had whispered to her all this time—the voice that had guided her through the darkest moments of her life.

"Lia," it called again, softer this time, but still unmistakably clear in her mind.

She froze, turning slowly. Adrian was standing now, his expression unreadable. "What is it?"

"I..." She didn't know what to say. The voice was growing louder, and yet Adrian remained oblivious. Her fingers tightened around the doorknob, as if that would anchor her to reality.

"Come here." Adrian's command cut through the air, pulling her from the depths of her thoughts.

With trembling hands, she stepped back into the room, her heart pounding in her chest. "What did you mean by that? By what you said about... the reward?"

Adrian narrowed his eyes, studying her carefully. For a brief moment, she thought she saw something flicker behind his gaze—a vulnerability that was quickly masked by his usual indifference.

"It's simple," he said, his tone cool again. "You've earned it. The money will be transferred at midnight, as promised."

The words sent a shiver down her spine. Midnight. The moment everything would change.

And yet, something in her gut told her this wouldn't be the end. It couldn't be.

"You'll leave, of course," Adrian continued, his voice distant once more. "You've done your part. I won't keep you."

Lia nodded, though a wave of doubt crashed over her. She had done everything she was told to do. She had obeyed, endured, and sacrificed. The reward was hers, but why did it feel like something was about to slip from her grasp?

The voice in her head was silent now, as if it had gone away forever.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It was quick, sharp, and too timely to be a coincidence. Lia turned toward Adrian, her breath catching.

"Go ahead," Adrian said, his voice now a command again.

Lia moved towards the door, her hands shaking. But as she opened it, what she saw stopped her cold.

A man stood there, tall and imposing, his face hidden by the shadows of the hallway. His posture was confident, and his eyes gleamed with an intensity that made her heart race.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man stepped forward, his voice surprisingly familiar. "I'm here to take you."

Her breath hitched in her chest. There was something about his voice, something she couldn't place, but it stirred something deep inside her.

"What do you mean? Who are you?" she repeated, her pulse quickening.

The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black envelope. He held it out to her, his eyes never leaving hers.

Lia hesitated for only a moment before taking the envelope. As she opened it, the words inside confirmed what she already feared:

You're not done yet.

The room felt suddenly smaller, the air thicker. Adrian's voice, full of authority, echoed from behind her. "Lia, don't listen to him."

But it was too late. Lia could already feel the weight of the decision pressing down on her. Whatever game had been set in motion, she was no longer just a servant. She was something more—something she had yet to fully understand.

As the man stepped into the room, his voice barely audible, he spoke the words that would change everything:

"You've been chosen."

And with those words, Lia knew that this was only the beginning.

The true game had just begun.