EIRA POV
I don't understand.
What should I wear?
For the tenth time, I stood in front of my wardrobe, staring at the mountain of clothes scattered across my bed.
Today I had to go to that jerk Peter's house.
For Tessy.
Only for Tessy.
Otherwise, I'd rather jump into a volcano.
I groaned and threw another dress aside.
And to make everything worse—
Adrain had spent an entire week avoiding me.
An entire week.
No arguments.
No sarcastic comments.
No mysterious stares.
Nothing.
The silence was driving me insane.
"Ugh!"
Finally, my eyes landed on a dress.
Perfect.
Thank God.
Twenty minutes later, after what felt like a war against makeup, shoes, and my own hair, I rushed downstairs.
I was late.
Again.
The moment I stepped out of the cab—
I froze.
Holy.
Shit.
Peter's mansion looked less like a house and more like a palace.
Golden lights illuminated every corner of the estate.
Crystal fountains sparkled beneath the night sky.
Luxury cars lined the driveway.
The entire place looked like something from a fairy tale.
My stomach twisted.
I suddenly felt very small.
Very ordinary.
Everyone looked elegant.
Powerful.
Rich.
And then there was me.
Standing there like a lost child.
Before my anxiety could fully consume me, I spotted Tessy.
And instantly forgot everything else.
She looked breathtaking.
The royal-blue gown made her look like a princess.
The happiness shining in her eyes made her look even more beautiful.
The second she saw me, she ran forward.
"You look marvelous, like a princess!"
I laughed as she hugged me tightly.
"You look adorable too."
For a moment, everything felt perfect.
Then a woman approached and whispered something into Tessy's ear.
Her smile faltered.
"I have to meet someone. Sorry, Eira. I'll be back."
I nodded.
"Go."
She hurried away.
Leaving me alone.
Again.
A waiter approached with drinks.
I politely refused.
That's when I saw her.
Victoria.
The devil herself.
Wrapped in a blood-red dress that screamed for attention.
The moment our eyes met, a slow smile spread across her face.
Cold.
Cruel.
Victorious.
A warning bell rang inside my head.
Something was coming.
I could feel it.
Victoria leaned toward another girl and whispered something.
The girl immediately started walking toward me.
Not looking at me.
Looking behind me.
Confused, I turned.
Cold liquid splashed across my dress.
Gasps echoed around us.
"Ooops."
The girl covered her mouth dramatically.
"I'm so sorry."
Behind her, Victoria and her friends burst into laughter.
My hands clenched into fists.
Every instinct screamed at me to throw the drink back in her face.
But I didn't.
Not here.
Not today.
Not for Tessy.
So I swallowed my anger and walked away.
I climbed the stairs searching for a bathroom.
Halfway down the hallway—
A laugh stopped me.
A girl's laugh.
Soft.
Flirtatious.
Intimate.
Something felt wrong.
Slowly, I approached the partially opened door.
Then looked inside.
And everything inside me exploded.
Peter.
With another girl.
His hands on her waist.
His lips on hers.
Kissing her.
The same night he was supposed to announce Tessy as his future wife.
For a second, I couldn't breathe.
Rage burned through my veins.
How could he?
How could he look Tessy in the eyes every day and lie so easily?
My hands trembled.
Then an idea struck.
Proof.
I pulled out my phone.
And started recording.
Every second felt like an hour.
My pulse thundered in my ears.
The recording finished.
I slowly stepped back.
Almost free.
Almost—
CRACK.
The door shifted.
The sound echoed through the room.
Silence.
Peter turned.
Our eyes met.
My blood turned to ice.
Shit.
I ran.
As fast as I could.
My heartbeat pounded violently against my ribs.
Behind me, Peter appeared in the doorway.
Watching.
Following.
Hunting.
I searched desperately for Tessy.
Finally finding her mother.
"Where's Tessy?"
"Left hallway. Third room."
I didn't wait.
I ran.
"Tessy!"
She stood before a mirror.
Glowing.
Smiling.
Happy.
The sight nearly shattered my heart.
"I need to show you something."
"Not now."
She laughed softly.
"I have to look perfect for Peter."
The words felt like a knife.
"Tessy, listen!"
Nothing.
She was too excited.
Too happy.
Too in love.
My chest hurt.
God.
This was going to destroy her.
I grabbed her arm.
"It's important."
Finally, she looked at me.
Really looked.
And immediately saw something was wrong.
I opened the video.
Ready to show her everything.
Then—
The door burst open.
Peter.
His face perfectly arranged into concern.
"My father's looking for you, Tessy. It's time."
Tessy's eyes widened.
"Oh! I forgot!"
"Tessy—wait!"
For one second she hesitated.
For one second I thought she'd stay.
Then she smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, Eira."
And left.
With him.
The room fell silent.
Slowly.
Peter turned toward me.
That smirk.
That disgusting smirk.
Every alarm inside me screamed.
Run.
I stepped back.
He stepped forward.
My phone disappeared from my hands before I could react.
"No!"
I lunged.
Too late.
He watched the video.
His eyes slowly lifted to mine.
Then—
Delete.
Gone.
Just like that.
My proof vanished.
The next second—
SMASH.
My phone shattered against the wall.
The sound echoed like a gunshot.
My stomach dropped.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to interfere in my life?"
His voice was darker than I'd ever heard before.
I backed away.
Until the wall stopped me.
Trapped.
His hand shot out.
Grabbing my jaw.
Pain exploded instantly.
Tears burned my eyes.
I clawed at his wrist.
Nothing.
His grip tightened.
His other arm wrapped around my waist.
Dragging me closer.
Like prey.
Like property.
Like something he owned.
Fear flooded through me.
Real fear.
I struggled desperately.
The harder I fought—
The harder he held me.
"Why, Eira?"
His voice dripped poison.
"Why don't you listen to me?"
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
I couldn't breathe.
Couldn't move.
Couldn't escape.
And then—
Everything changed.
A powerful arm wrapped around me.
Pulling me away.
Shielding me.
Protecting me.
My body collided with a solid chest.
A familiar scent filled my lungs.
I looked up.
And my heart stopped.
Adrain.
He was here.
His arm held me securely against him.
As if making sure nobody could touch me again.
Ever.
His hand brushed my cheek.
Gentle.
So impossibly gentle it made my chest ache.
Then his eyes found the red marks on my face.
And something terrifying happened.
The warmth vanished.
Darkness consumed him.
Pure rage.
Pure violence.
Pure fury.
I had never seen anyone look that angry before.
Not even close.
Before I could react—
He moved.
One second he was beside me.
The next—
Peter was hanging in the air.
Held by the throat.
Like he weighed nothing.
Peter's eyes widened in horror.
His feet kicked wildly.
His hands clawed at Adrain's wrist.
Worthless.
Completely worthless.
"How dare you touch her?"
The words sounded less human and more like a growl.
A predator's warning.
Peter choked.
His face turning red.
Then purple.
Fear filled his eyes.
Real fear.
The kind that comes when death is staring directly at you.
"Adrain! Stop!"
I grabbed his arm.
Nothing.
He didn't even move.
"He'll die! Please leave him!"
Nothing.
His gaze never left Peter.
And for the first time—
I truly believed he was going to kill someone.
Right in front of me.
"Adrain, please!"
My voice broke.
Tears streamed down my face.
Finally—
His fingers opened.
Peter crashed onto the floor.
Gasping.
Coughing.
Desperately trying to breathe.
Adrain stood over him like death itself.
Cold.
Merciless.
Terrifying.
"Stay."
His voice was ice.
"Away."
Peter lowered his head.
Terrified.
"From."
Adrain stepped closer.
The room seemed to shake beneath the weight of his fury.
"Her."
Silence.
Deadly silence.
Then Adrain grabbed my hand.
And pulled me away.
Not gently.
Not roughly.
Just urgently.
Like he needed distance between me and Peter immediately.
We stormed through the hall.
His grip never loosening.
His rage never fading.
Only when we reached an empty corridor did he stop.
His hand slipped from mine.
And for one brief moment—
Pain flashed across his face.
Gone so quickly I almost imagined it.
Then he turned.
And walked away.
Leaving me standing there.
Breathless.
Shaking.
Heart racing.
Because Peter had terrified me.
But Adrain?
Adrain had scared me for an entirely different reason.
Because when he looked at Peter...
It wasn't anger I saw.
It was the fury of someone who would burn down the world for the person standing behind him.