Chapter 8

The next day, Aveline rose slowly from her bed, her limbs stiff from another night of restless sleep. She dragged herself into the bathroom to freshen up, letting the cold water shock her system awake. When she returned, a towel was draped over her damp hair, strands clinging to her neck and shoulders.

As she moved toward her dresser, her eyes caught something again,the door.

That door.

The one she discovered days ago, but forgot to check last night.

She paused.

A nervous flutter stirred in her stomach as she stepped closer, the floorboards creaking beneath her bare feet. Her hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment before she slowly turned it.

The door creaked open.

Aveline's breath caught in her throat.

And what she saw inside made her entire body freeze.

The walls were covered in paintings,dozens of them, all framed in dark wood. The light was dim, but she could still make out the haunting faces staring back at her.

A man with cold blue eyes.

A woman with a sharp, elegant face.

Over and over again.

Some portraits were of them standing side by side. Others showed them alone, their expressions stern and hollow. She recognized them immediately from the files she had glimpsed before:

Dominic's parents.

But it was the painting in the center of the room that sent a sharp chill through her spine.

Aveline.

Painted with haunting detail, her expression twisted in pain, her skin pale and sickly. Her body was soaked in blood, dripping down her arms and neck, pooling at her feet. Her eyes in the painting were wide, broken. Her lips parted as if mid-scream.

The painting was massive.

Too detailed.

Aveline stumbled back a step, her breath caught in her throat. Her hand flew to her chest, to the collar she still wore. It felt heavier than ever.

What was this?

Why would Dominic paint something like this?

She backed out of the room quickly, her heart pounding so hard it echoed in her ears. She slammed the door shut, pressing her back against it.

Her legs felt weak. Her body trembled.

Whatever this is,whatever Dominic truly wanted from her,it was far worse than she ever imagined.

Aveline was still gripped by fear when a sudden knock on her door made her flinch. She sprang to her feet, eyes wide and heart racing.

Eve walked in, her gaze flickering over Aveline for just a second,long enough to make her nervous.

"You are required to join the master for dinner," she said calmly before turning and walking out, not sparing another word.

Aveline stood frozen.

Dominic was back.

And that disturbing painting of her covered in blood still haunted her mind. She rushed to change into something appropriate, not daring to be late. After what she saw in that hidden room, who knew what kind of punishment awaited her next?

She arrived at the dining room and saw Dominic already seated, dressed casually in a black fitted shirt and slacks, eating quietly. She hesitated, then approached the table and sat down, keeping her head low. She focused on her food, trying to finish as quickly as possible. The less time she spent around him, the better.

"Why are you rushing your food?" Dominic's voice broke the silence, calm but cold.

Her hand froze, the spoon halfway to her mouth.

"Did you forget the rules?" he added. "Speak when spoken to."

Her blood turned cold.

"I… I w-was just hungry," she replied, voice barely above a whisper, still not meeting his eyes.

"Is that so?" he said, leaning back. "You shouldn't rush. You don't want to choke and die… do you?"

His words dripped with dark mockery.

The spoon slipped from her trembling hand and clattered loudly on the floor.

Dominic raised a brow in amusement and stood, walking slowly toward her with his hands in his pockets.

"You seem scared of the word death, huh?" he said, looming over her.

Aveline sat stiffly, eyes wide, every muscle in her body tense. Was this it? Was he going to kill her? Make her look like that painting?

"Look at me," he ordered.

But she couldn't move. Her thoughts were spiraling too fast, her fear paralyzing her.

Dominic grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look up at him.

"I don't like repeating myself," he said, his tone like ice.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away. She didn't want to cry,not in front of him.

Dominic let go of her jaw and straightened.

"You're coming with me to a business party at seven. Someone will be sent to get you ready," he said flatly, then turned and walked out.

Aveline let out the breath she'd been holding, clutching her chest to calm her racing heart.

"A party?" she whispered. "Why does he need me there?"

She finished the rest of her food quietly, her thoughts clouded, then returned to her room.

---

6:00 PM

Aveline was standing by the window, lost in thought, when a knock sounded at her door. It opened, and Eve stepped in, carrying two boxes. Behind her was another woman with warm brown skin and curled hair tied back neatly.

That must be the stylist, she thought.

"I'm Linda," the woman said with a kind smile. "I'll be helping you get ready."

Aveline gave a small nod.

She was told to bathe again. Afterward, Linda helped style her hair into a soft updo with loose curls and applied gentle makeup that made her features glow. Finally, she opened one of the boxes and revealed the dress.

It was a long, deep crimson gown with a low back and a slit at the side that brushed her thigh. The fabric hugged her body like a second skin and shimmered faintly under the light. A thin silver necklace with a small red gem completed the look, and matching heels were slipped onto her feet.

"You look beautiful," Linda said with a smile.

Aveline stared at her reflection. She hardly recognized herself. She looked… elegant. Almost like she belonged.

But she knew better.

"Follow me," Eve said from the doorway, snapping her out of the trance.

Aveline nodded and followed her, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor echoing down the hall. Linda walked behind her in silence.

Outside, a sleek white car waited. The cold evening air brushed against Aveline's skin, sending a shiver down her spine. It felt good to be outside again… even if only for a moment.

Dominic stood by the car, dressed in a fitted dark gray suit with a black shirt underneath, his hair styled perfectly. He was on the phone, eyes unreadable.

They stopped in front of him.

"I'll be on my way now, Master Dominic," Linda said with a respectful bow before turning and leaving.

Dominic barely glanced at Aveline before getting into the car. Eve opened the door on the other side, and Aveline climbed in, her heart pounding.

Dominic didn't speak to her during the drive, which she was silently grateful for.

---

At the Venue

They arrived at a grand estate bathed in golden light. Expensive cars lined the entrance, and men and women in designer clothing walked toward the main hall, laughing and chatting like royalty.

The driver stepped out and opened their door.

Aveline stepped out beside Dominic and immediately felt dozens of eyes on her. Her heart pounded, and she kept her gaze low as they walked into the building.

Inside, it was stunning,crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, classical music played softly in the background, and waiters moved through the crowd with champagne trays. Elegant conversations and clinking glasses filled the air.

Dominic placed a hand on her back, guiding her toward a group of men and women chatting near the center of the room.

"Oh my, Cross, I didn't expect to see you here," said a man in his mid-forties, laughing. "You're not usually one for parties."

"Well, Harrison, I'm here now," Dominic replied flatly.

Harrison laughed again. "Still as grumpy as ever."

"I didn't know you had yourself a woman," another man said, eyeing Aveline.

Aveline's stomach twisted in discomfort as attention shifted toward her.

"Yeah," a younger woman named Rose said sharply, eyeing her from head to toe. "You're not exactly the relationship type, Cross."

"Surprised?" Dominic said without looking at her.

"Definitely," Rose replied coolly.

After some forced small talk, Dominic excused them and led Aveline to a quieter corner.

"Stay here. Don't try to run," he said, then left without looking back.

Aveline fidgeted with her dress, feeling out of place in a sea of luxury. She looked around at the laughter, the champagne, the glittering jewelry. If her parents were still alive,if Dominic pmhadn't destroyed their lives, maybe she would've grown up in this world too. Maybe she'd be laughing with her parents. Loved. Free.

But instead, she was here.

Alone.

Caged.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

"Aveline," a voice said behind her.

She froze.

That voice.

She knew it. The voice that had haunted her nightmares, the one that made her childhood hell.

She turned slowly.

Standing a few feet away, wearing a twisted smile and a suit that didn't suit him at all, was.....

Elias vale