Alec sat alone in the sterile, dimly lit living room, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and uncertainty. The woman's words had cut through him like a knife. There was no easy way out. His father's power, Maddy's trust, and his own future—all hung in the balance. His body was tense, his head aching as he tried to process the impossible decision before him.
He glanced toward the door, half-expecting Maddy to walk back in. But she didn't. He hadn't expected her to. She was probably miles away by now, her heart shattered into a thousand pieces by the lies he had told.
The woman's voice echoed in his mind. "If you choose Maddy, you lose everything. Your future, your family, your place in the world. Your father will never forgive you."
Alec closed his eyes, feeling the weight of those words crush him. How could he choose between the woman he loved and the empire his father had spent a lifetime building?
The silence in the room was deafening.
He was about to stand up and walk out when his phone buzzed. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the name on the screen: Maddy. She had texted him.
We need to talk. Where are you?
His hand shook as he read the message. His mind screamed at him to call her, to tell her everything. But then another part of him, the part that had been taught to protect the family legacy, reminded him that revealing his true identity now would be disastrous.
He stared at the phone for a moment, conflicted. Could he risk everything by telling her the truth? Or was it better to leave things as they were, to walk away from the love he had found in order to preserve the life his father had planned for him?
A sharp knock on the door broke his reverie, and his heart raced. Alec opened the door, half-expecting to find Maddy standing there, but instead, it was the woman—the one who had been pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Her cold, calculating gaze met his as she stepped into the room. "Alec," she said, her voice low, "I thought we'd made this clear. Time is running out."
Alec's frustration boiled over. "What do you want from me? I'm done with your games. You've already taken everything from me. Just leave me alone."
She didn't flinch at his anger. "Oh, Alec. You're only just beginning to understand. You think you can walk away from this? You think you can just disappear and live some normal life with Maddy? It's not that simple."
"Why?" Alec spat. "Why are you doing this? What's your angle? What does my father want from me?"
The woman's smile was cold, calculating. "Your father doesn't want anything from you, Alec. He's already got what he needs. It's you who's still looking for something—your 'true self,' your 'freedom,' your 'love.' But you'll never find it. Not while you're under his thumb."
Alec's chest tightened as he glared at her. "Then why are you still here? Why don't you just leave me to make my own choices?"
"Because you don't have the luxury of choice anymore," she said, her voice soft but sharp with finality. "Your choices are already made. You've made them without even knowing it."
"What does that mean?" Alec demanded, the frustration spilling over into his voice.
"Your father has already set everything in motion. Maddy's future is no longer in your hands. If you choose her, you will lose everything. Your name, your wealth, your place in this world. Your father won't forgive you. And you'll be nothing—nothing more than a failed heir with no future and no family."
Alec's heart pounded in his chest. Every word she spoke felt like a hammer, each blow driving him further into despair. He had no idea how deep the manipulation ran. Was there really no way out?
A knock at the door interrupted his spiraling thoughts. Alec's heart skipped again. He opened it cautiously, half-hoping it was Maddy. But instead, standing in the doorway was a man he didn't recognize. Tall, sharply dressed, with an air of quiet authority about him.
The man's eyes met Alec's. "Alec, it's time to go."
Alec blinked, confused. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The man stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his gaze never leaving Alec. "Your father sent me. He needs to see you. Now."
Alec felt a cold chill run down his spine. He had no idea what was going on, but the woman in the room wasn't looking surprised. In fact, she seemed pleased, as though everything had gone exactly according to plan.
"Alec," the woman said, her voice soft but ominous, "your father's already made his decision. You don't have a choice. If you want to keep Maddy and keep any semblance of control over your life, you need to follow through. Your father is watching."
Alec's blood ran cold. "What are you talking about?"
The man in the doorway cleared his throat, looking more serious now. "Your father made arrangements. You'll meet with him. You'll do what's required, and this... this situation with Maddy will be resolved."
Alec's mind raced. "Resolved? What does that mean? Are you threatening her?"
The woman's expression remained impassive. "You're the one who's been playing games, Alec. If you don't make a choice soon, the consequences will be irreversible."
Alec's frustration bubbled over. He grabbed the man by the sleeve. "Where is she? Where is Maddy?"
The man didn't flinch. "Your father's people are already looking into her. You don't have to worry about that right now. Your future is at stake. Maddy is no longer part of the equation."
Alec shook his head, his thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess. "No! I won't let you do this. I won't let my father control my life, my love—none of it!"
But the man wasn't moved by Alec's outburst. He remained calm, his expression unreadable. "You don't have a choice."
Alec was about to retort when the woman spoke again, her tone filled with an icy finality. "This is it, Alec. Your future is waiting. If you go with him now, you may just be able to salvage what's left of your life. But don't wait too long. Your window is closing."
Alec looked from the man to the woman, and then back at the door where Maddy had disappeared only hours earlier. The weight of his choices pressed down on him like a suffocating cloud.