Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating. Deadly.
Rina stood frozen in the center of the room, her fingers trembling slightly at her sides as Marek's words echoed in her mind.
"Everything changes."
Her heart pounded violently against her chest.
She didn't understand.
No—she refused to understand.
"Stop speaking in riddles," Rina said, her voice shaking but firm. "What do you want from me?"
Marek smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
But like a man who already knew how the story would end.
"What I want…" he repeated slowly, stepping away from his desk. "Is what has always belonged to me."
Rina frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Before Marek could respond, Damien stepped forward, his presence sharp, dangerous.
"You've said enough," Damien's voice cut through the room like ice. "She's not part of this."
Marek let out a low chuckle.
"Not part of this?" he repeated, amused. "Damien… you've always been good at lying. Even to yourself."
Rina's chest tightened.
Her eyes moved between the two men.
One was hiding the truth.
The other was revealing it piece by piece.
And she didn't know which one was more dangerous.
"Tell me the truth," she demanded, her voice louder now. "All of it. No more secrets."
Damien turned to her.
For a moment—just a moment—his expression cracked.
Something raw flashed in his eyes.
Regret.
Fear.
Possibly even guilt.
"Rina…" he started.
But Marek interrupted.
"Fine," Marek said smoothly. "Let's stop pretending."
He walked closer.
Each step echoing like a countdown.
"You want to know who you are?" he asked softly.
Rina swallowed.
"Yes."
Marek's gaze darkened.
"You are not just some girl your guardian raised out of pity."
Her heart stopped.
"You were taken," Marek continued calmly. "Hidden. Raised under a false identity."
"No…" she whispered.
Her mind rejected it immediately.
This couldn't be real.
"You were born into power," Marek said. "Into a family that controlled things most people don't even know exist."
Rina shook her head.
"This is a lie."
"Is it?" Marek tilted his head slightly. "Then ask him."
Her eyes snapped to Damien.
"Damien…" her voice broke. "Tell me he's lying."
Silence.
That silence said everything.
Her breath hitched.
"No… no, no…"
"It's not that simple," Damien said quickly, stepping closer to her. "Rina, listen to me—"
"You knew?" she cut him off, her voice shaking with rising anger. "You knew all this and you said nothing?"
His jaw tightened.
"I was trying to protect you."
"By lying to me?!" she snapped.
"Yes!" he shot back.
The force in his voice stunned her.
"You don't understand what kind of world you belong to," Damien said, his voice dropping, intense. "If they found you sooner, you wouldn't even be alive right now."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"Then why now?" she whispered. "Why is everything happening now?"
Marek answered this time.
"Because," he said simply, "the time for hiding is over."
Rina turned to him slowly.
"What does that mean?"
Marek smiled again.
"It means your existence can no longer be ignored."
Her pulse raced.
"There are people looking for you," he continued. "Powerful people. Dangerous people."
"I already know that," she said quietly.
"No," Marek corrected. "You don't."
He stopped right in front of her.
Close enough that she could feel the weight of his presence.
"They are not just enemies," he said softly. "They are your blood."
Everything inside her froze.
"…What?"
Damien stepped forward instantly.
"That's enough."
But Marek didn't stop.
"You come from a family built on power, control… and blood," Marek continued. "And they want you back."
Rina felt like the ground beneath her was disappearing.
"My family is dead," she said weakly.
Marek's eyes sharpened.
"No," he said.
"They're very much alive."
Her breathing became uneven.
Her thoughts scattered.
Nothing made sense anymore.
"Why…?" she whispered. "Why would they want me?"
Marek's gaze darkened.
"Because you are the heir."
The room spun.
"The last one," he added.
Rina staggered back slightly, her hand pressing against her chest.
"No… I'm not…" she muttered. "I'm not part of any of this…"
"You are," Marek said firmly. "And whether you like it or not… your blood decides your fate."
"Stop it!" she shouted suddenly.
Her voice echoed through the room.
Tears burned in her eyes.
"I don't want this!" she said, shaking. "I don't want power, I don't want enemies—I just want my life back!"
Silence fell again.
Damien stepped toward her slowly.
"You can't go back," he said softly.
Her heart shattered at those words.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because the moment they find you…" his voice darkened, "everything you know will be destroyed."
"And you?" she asked bitterly. "What are you to me in all this?"
He didn't answer immediately.
That hesitation hurt more than anything.
"I was supposed to protect you," he finally said.
"By owning me?" she snapped. "By turning me into a deal?!"
His eyes hardened.
"That was the only way to keep you close," he said.
Her breath caught.
Close.
Not safe.
Close.
"You don't own me," she said quietly.
His gaze darkened.
"No," he said.
"But I won't let anyone else take you either."
The possessiveness in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.
Marek watched the exchange with quiet amusement.
"How touching," he murmured. "But this isn't about feelings."
He turned toward the door.
"It's about survival."
Rina's heart pounded.
"What happens now?" she asked.
Marek paused.
Then slowly looked back at her.
"They're coming," he said.
A chill ran down her spine.
"Who?" she whispered.
Marek's eyes gleamed.
"Your real family."
And at that exact moment—
A loud crash echoed from outside.
The windows shattered.
Glass exploded across the floor.
Rina screamed as Damien instantly pulled her down, shielding her body with his.
Gunshots rang out.
Chaos erupted.
"They found us," Damien muttered.
Her heart raced wildly.
Everything was happening too fast.
Too sudden.
Too real.
"Stay behind me!" Damien ordered, grabbing her hand tightly.
But Rina's mind was stuck on one thing.
Her family.
Were they here to take her?
Or kill her?
The door burst open.
And shadows flooded the room.