The hallway was silent. Not just empty, but suffocatingly, unbearably silent.
Lilith stood there, staring at the closed door, her breath coming in uneven gasps. Her mind screamed at her to move, to run, to do something, but her body wouldn't listen.
Lucian's voice still echoed in her head.
Don't fucking come back.
The words cut deeper than she thought possible. She pressed a hand to her chest, gripping at the fabric of her dress as if she could hold herself together.
One step. Then another.
She didn't know where she was going, only that she needed to move. The walls of the estate blurred as she walked, her vision hazy, her breathing shallow. It wasn't until she reached the dimly lit sitting room that she realized her hands were shaking.
Her legs gave out before she could reach the chair. She barely caught herself against the edge of the table, her fingers pressing into the polished wood. The room tilted, her heartbeat too loud in her ears.
She sucked in a breath, but it did nothing to steady her.
The ring was still on her finger.
Her gaze fell to it, the soft glow of candlelight reflecting off the delicate band. The same ring Lucian had placed on her hand months ago, his touch warm, his eyes softer than she had ever seen them.
Lili, you're mine.
Her throat tightened. She curled her fingers, willing herself to pull it off, but her grip trembled. It felt fused to her skin, like tearing it away would hurt more than she could bear.
You're mine.
Not anymore.
With a sharp breath, she forced herself to move. The ring slipped free, colder than she expected. She stared at it for a long moment before placing it on the table. Not tossed. Not abandoned. Just… left behind.
Her fingers hovered over it before she turned away.
She had nothing left here.
The quiet didn't last.
A door creaked open somewhere behind her, and the hurried click of footsteps followed. Lilith didn't turn. She couldn't.
"Gods above," came a sharp whisper. "Lilith?"
A warm hand landed on her shoulder, gentle but firm. The familiar scent of rosemary and lavender filled her nose. Elena.
Lilith forced herself to straighten, but her limbs felt too heavy, her body too foreign. She couldn't even bring herself to wipe the wetness from her face.
Elena sucked in a breath. "What did he do to you?"
Lilith flinched.
The silence was enough of an answer.
The soft warmth of Elena's fingers vanished, replaced by the crackle of barely contained rage. "That bastard," she spat, voice trembling with fury. "That fucking bastard."
"Elena—" Lilith's voice broke.
But the maid wasn't listening. She was pacing now, hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I knew something was wrong. I felt it. And I told myself—no, I convinced myself—that Lucian wasn't like the others. That he'd never—" She cut off, turning to face Lilith, eyes blazing. "But he did, didn't he?"
Lilith couldn't answer.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't do anything except press her hands against her arms, trying to hold herself together.
She had thought she'd run out of tears, but her vision blurred again, her body betraying her.
Elena must have seen it because her fury burned hotter. "I should go up there and make him regret every damn thing he—"
"No."
Lilith barely recognized her own voice. It was hoarse, weak, but certain.
Elena's brows furrowed. "No?"
Lilith shook her head. "Don't… don't speak about him like that."
Elena stared at her in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
Lilith pressed a hand to her mouth, forcing back another sob. Her body shook, her heart felt like it was being crushed in someone's fist, but still—still—she defended him.
Because Lucian was hurting too.
Because even now, she loved him.
"Elena," she whispered, voice breaking again, "he thinks I betrayed him."
Elena let out a sound that was half a scoff, half a growl. "And that excuses him treating you like this?"
"No," Lilith admitted, "but…"
She couldn't finish the thought.
Because what was she supposed to say?
That she understood? That she didn't blame him, even as her heart bled from his words? That, even after everything, a part of her wanted to run back to him and make him see the truth?
Pathetic. She was pathetic.
Elena exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples before stepping closer. "Look at me," she murmured, voice softer now. Not angry, but pleading.
Lilith obeyed, though she wished she hadn't. The pity in Elena's gaze was too much.
"You have to leave," the maid said firmly. "Now."
Lilith's breath hitched.
There it was. The thing she had been trying to ignore.
She had nowhere to go.
But staying wasn't an option.
Elena must have seen the hesitation in her eyes because she grasped Lilith's hands, squeezing tight. "If you leave now, you can still control the story. But if you wait—" she shook her head, voice filled with warning. "You know what happens to women scorned in noble houses, Lilith. You know what they'll say about you. What they'll do to you."
Lilith swallowed, throat raw.
She knew. Gods, she knew.
So she nodded. "Help me."
Elena didn't hesitate. "I already am."
The estate halls were too quiet.
Lilith moved like a ghost, her footsteps barely making a sound against the marble floors. Elena led the way, her pace quick, purposeful, like she could rush Lilith out before reality caught up.
No one stopped them.
But the whispers were already spreading. The shadows behind the columns, the glances from half-opened doors—they all knew. And none of them would help her.
Lilith's throat burned. She had spent years in this house. Now she was nothing more than a rumor in the making.
When they reached the back entrance near the stables, Elena exhaled, rubbing her hands together for warmth. A single lantern flickered in the cold air, illuminating the saddled horse waiting for her.
"It's not much," Elena murmured, tightening the straps on the saddle. "But it'll get you far enough."
Lilith nodded, pulling her cloak tighter around herself.
She felt… empty. Like a part of her had already been left behind in that room with Lucian.
"There's an old safehouse in the valley," Elena continued. "You can stay there until you figure out what's next."
Lilith hesitated, fingers tightening around the reins. What's next?
For the first time in her life, she had no answer.
She turned to Elena, guilt twisting in her gut. "If they find out you helped me—"
Elena scoffed. "They'll find out. But I don't give a damn."
Lilith swallowed hard. "Lucian will know."
The maid's expression hardened. "Then let him."
A sharp ache lodged itself in Lilith's chest. She wished she had Elena's anger. But all she felt was this hollow, aching void.
Elena hesitated, lips parting like she wanted to say something more. But then she just shook her head and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You deserved better." Her voice cracked. "You still do."
Lilith closed her eyes, holding onto her for a moment too long.
"Thank you."
And then—she mounted the horse.
The wind howled as she rode through the estate gates.
She kept her eyes forward. Refused to look back.
But when she reached the top of the hill, something in her demanded one last glance.
Her breath caught.
The estate stood dark and empty, except for one lone candle flickering in Lucian's study window.
She couldn't see him.
Didn't know if he was there.
But something told her he was.
And that? That was almost worse.
Tearing her gaze away, Lilith pressed her heels into the horse's sides and disappeared into the night.