He stepped closer, gaze locked on me like a hunter.

“Who the hell you waitin’ on, huh?” he asked, voice quiet but full of warning.

I didn’t get the chance to answer. His hand was on my throat, tight. Not enough to choke me yet, but the message was clear. I wasn’t the one in control here.

“You trying to run again?” he muttered, his mouth too close. “What is it this time? Another man? Or you just gonna fake your own damn death again and think I’ll let it slide twice?”

I gasped, “I told you—I was waiting for Aziel. He doesn’t know where the ceremony is. He’s just a kid.”

His grip loosened, but his eyes didn’t soften.

Then, without a word, he dragged me in.

His mouth crushed against mine, hard and cruel. There was no tenderness. No care.

His hands pulled me down, shoved me to the floor. My skirt ripped as he pushed in. Rough. Ruthless. No warning. No mercy.

I bit my lip to keep from making a sound. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

By the time it was over, I lay there on the cold marble floor. Breathing in silence. Still.

He leaned over, brushed a piece of hair off my face, and pressed a kiss to my temple like he hadn't just wrecked me.

“Harmony,” he murmured, voice calm now. “Don’t betray me again. You still got my tracker inside you. Don’t forget it.”

His thumb brushed against the ring on my finger.

The one he gave me when he promised forever.

“The Eternal Bond collection,” he said, like it was some goddamn joke. “Margaret wants it on the wedding day. Give it to her.”

My vision blurred. The back of my throat burned.

“That ring was ours,” I said. “It meant something.”

He smiled like I was being dramatic. “It’s a piece of metal. I could get you ten more if that’s what you want. Don’t start acting like a child now.”

Of course. Just a ring. Just another lie.

I took it off slowly. My fingers were shaking, but I didn’t let it show. I dropped it into his hand. He didn’t even look at it.

Once he was gone, I let myself breathe. Then I got up and started moving.

The tracker. The money. The plan. I had to keep going. I had to stay ahead.

I’d already started selling everything he ever gave me. Jewelry. Cars. The yacht. All of it was converted into clean money, stashed in offshore accounts under new names.

I still had Aziel to protect. He was the only reason I hadn’t burned this entire place to the ground already.

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