Chapter 13 - Torn Between Fire and Ice

Damon sat alone in the dark, a glass of untouched whiskey in his hand, the city skyline glittering behind him like a cruel reminder of everything he could buy — except the one thing that mattered now.

Elina.

She was gone.

She hadn't called. Hadn't texted. Hadn't left a single message behind when she walked out of the penthouse. The silence had carved a hole in him that grew deeper with every passing hour.

His jaw clenched.

His world — once controlled and pristine — now felt like it was unraveling, thread by thread.

And it was all because he let her in.

---

Meanwhile…

Elina paced the hallway of Taylor's apartment, arms wrapped tightly around herself. The moment she stepped out of Damon's world, everything inside her ached. But she couldn't ignore the truth anymore.

She needed to breathe.

Taylor returned from the kitchen, offering her a cup of tea. "You didn't have to stay here, Elina," he said gently. "But I'm glad you did."

"I didn't know where else to go," she confessed. "Everything just felt… fake."

Taylor looked at her carefully. "Is it about Damon?"

Her lips trembled. "I thought I was just part of a contract. But somehow, it all started to feel real. And then, the lies kept stacking up."

Taylor placed the cup down and looked her in the eye. "You don't deserve that. You deserve honesty. Respect. Someone who chooses you without terms or signatures."

Before Elina could respond, the front door burst open.

"Elina!" a voice rang sharply through the hall.

Her best friend — Rose — stood in the doorway, her arms crossed and eyes blazing.

"You're living with Taylor now? What the hell is going on?"

Elina's face flushed. "I—I didn't mean to hide it. I just needed space. From Damon. From all of it."

Rose's gaze shifted between the two of them. "You promised to tell me everything. And instead, I find out from someone else that you've left his place."

"I was going to tell you," Elina said quietly. "But I just found out… the contract wasn't what I thought. Damon's family—his stepmother—manipulated the whole thing."

Rose's jaw tightened. "Are you saying they used you?"

"I don't know. Maybe. I signed thinking it was for my brother's treatment. But now I feel like I was a pawn in something bigger."

Taylor stepped forward protectively. "Whatever it is, she's safe now. That's all that matters."

---

Back at the Salvatore Mansion…

Selena stepped out of the sleek black car, adjusting her silk dress, her lips painted blood red. She strutted through the doors like she still owned the place.

Inside, Damon's stepmother — Vivienne Salvatore — waited in the drawing room, swirling a glass of wine, eyes cold with calculation.

"Well?" Vivienne asked. "Did you speak to him?"

Selena smirked. "He's still brooding like a wounded wolf, but give me time. Once I remind him of the world he belongs to, he'll forget about that charity-case girl."

"You better," Vivienne said icily. "I didn't go through all this effort to see my stepson throw the Salvatore legacy at the feet of some pauper."

Selena laughed, her voice laced with venom. "He's vulnerable. All I have to do is get close enough… and remind him what real women offer."

"Use whatever it takes," Vivienne hissed. "Seduction. Sympathy. Remind him of the rules."

---

Later That Night…

Damon stood in his office, eyes fixed on the contract Elina had signed. Her signature glared back at him like a ghost.

He ran a hand through his hair.

He didn't care about the contract anymore.

He just wanted her back.

A soft knock came at the door. Before he could answer, Selena stepped in, her perfume poisoning the air.

"I brought wine," she purred, sliding close. "You need company, Damon. You always shut down when things get hard."

"I'm not in the mood, Selena," he growled.

But she wasn't listening.

Her fingers trailed across his chest. "We used to be good together. Remember those nights in Paris? Milan? You were free then. Not tied up with guilt or sick little brothers."

He gripped her wrist, firm but not harsh. "Don't talk about her like that."

Selena's eyes narrowed. "Still defending her? Damon, that girl doesn't belong in your world. She's weak. Needy."

"And you?" he asked bitterly. "You're what? Classy? Loyal?"

"I'm real," Selena spat. "Not some sob story with a dying brother and empty pockets."

That was the last straw.

Damon stepped back. "Get out."

"You'll regret this," she snapped, storming out.

As the door slammed shut, Damon turned back to the window, his heart thundering.

He'd pushed Elina away.

But now… he'd burn the world down to get her back.