Part 2: The Truth Under Pain
The mansion doors opened.
Slow.
Heavy.
And this time—
They didn't bring peace back inside.
They brought answers.
Underground Room — Night
Dark.
Cold.
Silent.
The traitor was tied to a chair.
Bruised.
Awake now.
Fear sat quietly in his eyes.
The door opened.
Damian walked in.
Behind him—
Lucas.
Ethan.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Damian stopped in front of him.
Silent.
Just staring.
The man swallowed hard.
"…You won't get anything from me."
No response.
Damian slowly pulled a chair.
Sat down in front of him.
Still silent.
That silence…
Was worse than any threat.
"You betrayed your own people."
Damian finally spoke.
His voice low.
Calm.
The man forced a smirk.
"I don't work for you."
A pause.
"You lived under my roof."
Damian said.
"You ate my food."
"You wore my name."
His eyes darkened.
"And you still say you don't work for me?"
Silence.
The man looked away.
"Who is inside?"
Damian asked.
No answer.
Damian nodded slowly.
Then leaned forward slightly.
"You think I don't already know?"
That made the man look back.
A flicker of doubt.
"I just want to hear you say it."
Still—
Silence.
Damian leaned back again.
"Lucas."
Lucas stepped forward.
The man tensed instantly.
"No—wait—"
Too late.
Pain.
Sharp.
Controlled.
A scream echoed through the room.
Ethan looked away slightly.
Still not fully used to this.
But he didn't leave.
He stayed.
Because this…
Was the life he chose.
Minutes Later
The man was breathing heavily.
Sweat.
Fear.
"…I'll talk…"
Damian didn't react.
"Speak."
"…There's another one…"
The room went still.
Lucas frowned.
"Who?"
The man hesitated.
Then—
"…Not a guard."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then who?"
The man looked straight at Damian.
"…Someone close."
Silence.
Heavy.
Damian's eyes darkened slowly.
"How close?"
The man swallowed.
"…Inside your house."
A pause.
"…At your table."
Everything froze.
Ethan's heart dropped.
Lucas stiffened.
Even Damian—
Paused.
"…Say the name."
The man closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them.
"…I don't know the name."
That made it worse.
Because now—
It could be anyone.
Upstairs — Same Time
Elara sat with Seraphina.
Holding her close.
Amelia stood near the window.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Her fingers clenched slightly.
Her thoughts racing.
Because she knew something.
Something she hadn't said.
And now—
It was catching up.
Back Underground
Damian stood up slowly.
Silent again.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Then he spoke.
"Lock him up."
Lucas nodded.
As the man was dragged away—
He shouted weakly.
"They're already close to you!"
The door slammed shut.
Silence filled the room again.
Ethan finally spoke.
"…You think he's telling the truth?"
Damian didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Yes."
A pause.
"And that makes it worse."
Because now—
Trust was broken completely.
And danger…
Was sitting at their table.
To be continued…