Chapter 2
The other end of the line was chaotic.
Violin music drifted through, mixed with the clinking of wine glasses.
Someone was yelling loudly in Moridian.
"Lucas," I said, my throat rough.
"Anna?" Lucas' voice came through with a lazy smile. "You got the necklace? Do you like it?"
I stared out the floor-to-ceiling window at the gray sky.
"John dropped off two boxes," I said.
There was a brief silence on the other end.
The noise in the background faded, as if someone had closed a door to shut it out.
"That useless idiot." Lucas chuckled, his tone completely calm. "So you saw everything?"
"Yeah," I replied.
"That crown is the engagement token the Clement family specifically wanted. I had the diamonds cut from abroad for this," Lucas said.
He paused, sounding so indifferent that it was like he was chatting about the weather. "Three days ago, Charlotte and I registered our marriage."
Three days ago? That day, he told me he was heading to Raven Isle to handle a shipment of weapons.
I spent three hours simmering soup at home, packed it in a thermos, and sent it with him for the trip.
Turned out he wasn't going to Raven Isle at all.
He was getting married.
In the lounge, Mary had quietly slipped over to the doorway.
The respect in her eyes had vanished, replaced by that scornful look people give the other woman.
I knew that look all too well.
When I was a kid, that was exactly how the neighbors used to look at my mom.
"Lucas, let's break up," I said, my voice steady and firm.
There was a dismissive chuckle on the other end.
"Anna, don't be ridiculous," Lucas said.
His voice dropped, slipping into that commanding tone he always used.
"I've told you Charlotte is just a business asset. She's useful for our family business.
"The Clement family runs the port's shipping lines. I need that status.
"You're the only one I care about."
He sounded so sure of himself that it was downright absurd.
"You claim I'm the only one you care about, so you turn me into the person I hate most?" I shot back.
My fingers clenched hard around the edge of my phone.
"You know full well how my mother died," I added.
"This is different," Lucas said, his tone growing impatient. "You're not like those women out there."
"How am I different?" I shot back.
"I'll keep you for life," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Just behave and don't stir things up in front of Charlotte. I'll come back to stay with you."
He didn't even bother lying to me anymore.
He was convinced I couldn't live without him.
I repeated, "I said it again. We're over."
"Anna." Lucas' voice got a little sharper. " I've been too nice to you, huh?"
Suddenly, the sharp click of high heels echoed from the other end of the line.
Next, a sweet voice leaned in close to the receiver. "Lucas, who are you talking to?"
It was Charlotte's voice.
"No one," Lucas replied, his tone instantly softening.
"Is it Anna?" Charlotte giggled. "What, is she walking out on you?"
"What if she does?" Charlotte's voice was taunting.
Lucas smirked, completely unfazed. "She wouldn't dare. Her brother's still in the hospital I own. Without me, she can't even afford tomorrow's ventilator bill."
His words were like a rusty knife, cutting right into my Achilles' heel.
And he didn't just stab. He twisted the knife, making it hurt even more.
I turned my head and stared through the glass at my brother, hooked up to all those machines and tubes in his hospital room.
He was Lucas' deadliest leverage in this world, the one thing he could use to control me completely.
He thought I'd give in with tears in my eyes, just like I had every time over the past five years.
He thought I'd swallow that bloody glass, all for my brother's sake.
"Anna?" Lucas' voice came through the phone, sharp and commanding. "Babe, wear the necklace and wait for me tonight."
I stared at the green lines flickering across the monitor.
"Mm," I murmured, barely above a whisper.
Without hysterics or tears, I hung up and blacklisted his number.
Then, I scrolled to the very bottom of my contacts and tapped on a hidden number.
It was the number Adrian, the vampire prince, had given me.
Five years ago, before Lucas ever saved me, I'd accidentally taken a bullet for Adrian when he was badly hurt.
He gave me this number and said it could grant me one wish.
I'd never used it.
I always thought as long as Lucas was by my side, I'd never have any reason to use it.
I opened the message window and started typing. [Come get me, and take away the only man I still care about in this world.]
I hit send.
And the screen showed that the message was sent.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and picked up the necklace box from the table.
I walked over to the trash can and let it slip from my fingers.
It landed with a dull thud.
The card labeled "Cage" went in with it, both ending up among the used cotton swabs and medical waste in the trash can.