The Girl in the mirror

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📖 Until You Beg

Chapter Eight – The Girl in the Mirror

By Peace Lovie

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Zariah didn't recognize the girl in the mirror.

She stared at her reflection as if it belonged to someone else—a woman with calm eyes and red lips, hair sleek like silk, posture too straight to be soft.

She looked… dangerous.

And she felt it too.

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Cassian had left before sunrise.

No goodbye.

No note.

Just his scent on her sheets and heat in her chest.

The night before had been reckless—wild and wrong and unforgettable.

But today?

Today was war.

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Zariah dressed in black.

Tailored slacks. Silk blouse. Gold hoops. Blood-colored lipstick.

She wasn't dressing for attention.

She was dressing for power.

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At the office, Elias looked up and paused mid-sentence.

"Damn," he muttered. "You look like the villain in a revenge film."

Zariah smirked. "Good."

He tried to joke. "You didn't kill Cassian, right?"

Her smile didn't fade.

"I don't have to," she said. "He's doing it to himself."

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Cassian hadn't come in today either.

Which made it easier.

She slipped into his office. Not sneaky. Not afraid.

She was beyond fear now.

She opened his drawer—the one with locked contracts.

Inside were the documents from the old company.

Her father's name.

Cassian's.

And a third name.

Luca Grange.

That one she didn't know.

But something about it felt… heavy.

She snapped a photo of the files, tucked the original back, and walked out like nothing happened.

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Back at her desk, she did a deep search.

> Luca Grange – Disappeared six years ago.

Businessman. Silent investor. Linked to several shell companies—many absorbed by Cassian Vale's corporation.

Zariah's heart beat faster.

Was Luca the real enemy? Or just another man Cassian sacrificed?

She didn't know.

But she planned to find out.

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She spent her lunch in a silent cafe, going through the files.

Everything pointed to a single theory:

Cassian didn't just inherit his empire.

He stole it.

Piece by piece. From her father. From Luca. From anyone in his way.

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Her phone vibrated.

> Cassian: "Come to the penthouse tonight. We need to talk."

Zariah stared at the screen for a long time.

Then typed back—

> Zariah: "Of course."

But inside?

She was sharpening her smile like a knife.

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The penthouse smelled like spice and smoke.

Cassian poured whiskey when she entered, offering her a glass.

Zariah took it, sipped, and studied him.

He looked tired.

Worn.

Like power didn't fit right on him anymore.

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"I've been thinking," he said.

Zariah raised a brow. "That's dangerous."

He smirked. "I want to tell you everything."

"Start with Luca Grange."

The name sliced through the air.

Cassian blinked once. Then set the glass down.

"You found the files."

"You left them for me."

He didn't deny it.

"I knew if you kept digging, you'd find him."

"So tell me," she said. "Who was he?"

Cassian sighed.

"He was our partner. My mentor. And the man who tried to kill your father."

Zariah froze.

"What?"

"He blamed Zeke for a lost deal. Said he cost us millions. He wanted revenge. I didn't let him do it."

"So you did the job for him?"

"No," Cassian said. "I got rid of Luca."

Zariah's voice dropped. "You killed him?"

Cassian didn't blink.

"I erased him. His name. His businesses. His power."

Zariah stepped back. Her chest was tight.

"You keep saying you protect people by destroying them."

"It's the only way I know."

She stared at him.

"You're not broken, Cassian. You're addicted. To control."

He moved closer.

"You think I don't know that?"

"Then stop."

He touched her hand.

She let him—for a second.

Then she pulled away.

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"I need space," she said.

He flinched.

"You're pushing me out."

"I'm saving myself," Zariah whispered.

Cassian nodded slowly.

"I'll wait."

Zariah laughed bitterly. "You don't wait. You own. You control."

"Not you."

He looked her dead in the eyes.

"I never owned you. I just… wanted to be worthy of you."

And with that, he let her go.

No fight.

No lie.

Just silence.

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Back in her apartment, Zariah looked in the mirror again.

Same red lips.

Same fierce eyes.

But this time… she knew the girl staring back.

She wasn't weak.

She wasn't confused.

She was ready.

Ready to rise.

Ready to burn the empire.

Ready to break the man she couldn't stop loving.

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