Marry him. The words echoed in my mind, a grotesque parody of a fairy tale. Kaelen Vex, the man who might have killed my brother, was offering me a twisted version of happily ever after. Protection for Anya, yes, but at the cost of my freedom, my dignity, perhaps even my heart.
The rain continued its relentless assault as Kaelen led me away from the graveside, his hand a firm pressure on my elbow. Numbness crept over me, detaching me from reality, as if I were watching a tragedy unfold from the outside. Anya clung to my hand, her small fingers digging into mine, her wide eyes darting nervously between Kaelen and the mourners still watching us from a distance.
Kaelen's carriage, a sleek black monstrosity, waited at the edge of the cemetery. The interior was opulent, a stark contrast to the bleakness of the day—velvet seats, polished wood, and an air of hushed luxury. It felt like stepping into another world, a world where darkness and secrets thrived.
As the carriage rumbled through the city streets, I stole glances at Kaelen. His profile was sharp, aristocratic, his jaw a rigid line. He stared out the window, unreadable. An aura of power surrounded him, an almost tangible force that both intimidated and fascinated me.
"Why me?" I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He turned, his gaze piercing. "You are Liam's sister. You are Anya's guardian. And you are… resilient, Mrs. Thorne. A quality I admire."
Resilient? I was grieving, terrified, and being forced into a marriage with a man I barely knew. And yet, he saw resilience? Perhaps it was a mask, a shield I had erected to protect myself and Anya.
"And what will happen to Anya?" My voice trembled slightly.
"She will be cared for," he said, firm. "She will have the best tutors, the finest clothes, and every opportunity I can provide."
It sounded like a promise. It also sounded like a transaction. Anya, my precious niece, reduced to a bargaining chip.
We arrived at the Vex estate, a sprawling mansion that loomed against the stormy sky like a gothic fortress. A place of shadows and secrets, a labyrinth of stone and silence. Servants in crisp uniforms stood at attention, their faces impassive, their eyes watchful. It was clear this was a well-oiled machine, and I was the new cog being thrown into its workings.
Kaelen led me through a grand foyer, its high ceilings and marble floors echoing with our footsteps. Paintings of stern-faced ancestors stared down from the walls, their gazes heavy with judgment. It was a house steeped in history, in power, and in an unsettling sense of unease.
I was shown to my room, a spacious chamber that felt more like a prison than a sanctuary. The furniture was elegant, the fabrics luxurious, but the atmosphere was cold. Sterile. A gilded cage.
A woman with a kind face and gentle eyes introduced herself as Mrs. Gable. She was polite, helpful, but also reserved. A part of the machine, no doubt, playing her role.
As Mrs. Gable unpacked my meager belongings, I wandered to the window. The view was of manicured gardens stretching as far as the eye could see. But beyond that, the city loomed, a distant reminder of the life I was leaving behind. A life where Liam was still alive.
A knock on the door startled me. Kaelen stood in the doorway, his presence filling the space.
"Dinner will be served shortly," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "I trust you will join me."
It wasn't a request. It was an order.
I nodded, my throat tight with a mixture of fear and defiance. I would play his game, for now. I would protect Anya. But I would never forget. And I would never forgive.