Luna's POV
I stormed into the study without waiting for an invitation, my pulse racing with anger. I had spent the entire day trying to push down the frustration that had been building inside me, but now it was boiling over, and I couldn't hold it in any longer.
Alexander was seated at his desk, reviewing papers with his usual air of detached authority. He didn't even look up as I entered, as though my presence was inconsequential.
"Alexander," I said sharply, my voice trembling with fury.
His head lifted slowly, his piercing eyes meeting mine. "You seem upset," he said, his tone infuriatingly calm.
"Upset?" I snapped, stepping closer to the desk. "Upset doesn't even begin to cover it. I can't do this anymore."
He raised an eyebrow, setting his pen down with deliberate care. "Do what, exactly?"
"This!" I gestured wildly around the room. "This arrangement. This… this nightmare. I'm done, Alexander. I'm leaving."
His expression didn't change, but a dangerous edge crept into his voice. "Leaving? That's not how this works, Luna."
"I don't care how it works!" I shot back. "You've treated me like I'm nothing, made it clear that I'm just a pawn in whatever twisted game you're playing. I've had enough. I quit."
He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor as he loomed over me. "You don't get to quit," he said coldly, his voice low and commanding.
My breath hitched, but I refused to back down. "I'm not your property, Alexander. I don't care what kind of deal we made. I'm walking out of here, and you can't stop me."
"You think this is that simple?" he said, stepping closer, his towering presence suffocating. "You agreed to this, Luna. You signed the contract. And you'll fulfill your end of the deal."
"To hell with the contract!" I yelled, the words escaping before I could stop them. "I'd rather have nothing than stay here another minute, being treated like some disposable object."
For a moment, the room was silent except for the sound of my ragged breathing. Alexander's jaw tightened, his hands clenching at his sides as he stared at me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
"You think you're the victim here?" he said, his voice like ice. "I ask and you came to me, Luna. You agreed to this arrangement for money. And now that it's not to your liking, you want to run?"
His words stung, but I refused to let him see how deeply they cut. "I didn't ask for this," I shot back. "I agreed out of desperation. But I didn't agree to be treated like I'm worthless."
He took another step closer, his eyes blazing with anger. "You knew what this was from the beginning. This is a business transaction, nothing more. You have a month, Luna. After that, you'll get what you came for, and you'll be free to leave."
"A month," I repeated, my voice hollow. "You really think I can endure another minute of this, let alone a whole month?"
"You don't have a choice," he said coldly. "You agreed to a month. And I intend to hold you to it."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I felt the fight drain out of me. But then the anger returned, hotter and fiercer than before.
"You're a monster," I said, my voice trembling. "You act like you're untouchable, like nothing and no one can hurt you. But the truth is, you're just a coward. You're so afraid of letting anyone in that you'd rather destroy them than risk being vulnerable."
His expression darkened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the cold, unyielding mask he always wore.
"Say whatever you want, Luna," he said quietly. "It doesn't change anything. You'll stay until the month is over. And then you can leave and never look back."
I stared at him, my chest heaving with emotion. "You really don't care, do you?"
His silence was answer enough.
Without another word, I turned and walked out of the study, slamming the door behind me. My heart felt like it was breaking, but I refused to let the tears fall.
If Alexander Cole wanted me to stay, then I would. But I would spend every remaining day of this arrangement building a wall around my heart so impenetrable that not even he could break it.
And when the month was over, I would leave this place—and him—behind for good.