Chapter 15: The Choice I Made

Ivy’s POV

The sound of my own pulse filled the hall, weak but steady as Cassian raised the gun to Adrian, his fingers tight on the trigger as his eyes locked on Adrian.

Adrian’s jaw clenched. “Put the fucking gun down, Cassian. We all know you’ve got no balls to pull the trigger like a man.”

Cassian tilted his head followed by a faint smile which tugged at the corner of his lips but didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You think you’re so fucking untouchable because you hide behind her like a pussy.”

Adrian stepped forward, so close that the gun was now directly pointed at his chest, “Because she’s the only reason you’re still breathing.” Adrain shot back.

Heavens help me …I can’t believe I’m standing in between two men whose fate depends on the decision that I make. I hope Cassian won’t do something stupid. I had to stop him from pulling that trigger and shooting Adrain at any cost.

Cassian’s eyes glinted—a very dark look in his eyes that said it all before he parted his lips to speak. “Funny. I was about to say the same thing about you.” He turned his gaze to me, then back to Adrian. “You think I don’t see it? The way you look at her? Like she’s something forbidden you want to ruin all because you can’t have her.”

“Don’t,” Adrian snapped. “Don’t fucking go ther—“

“Oh, but it’s true.” Cassian cut him off before he could finish, his tone dropping lower and crueler. “You’re obsessed with your own step-sister. Aren’t you ashamed of that? Tell me, Adrian — when you close your eyes, is it guilt you feel, or just think with your dick instead?”

Adrian’s restraint snapped and before I could realize it he lunged in an instant. He swung the gun out of Cassian’s hand and the metal hit the cold floor. My scream tangled in the air as they clashed against each other, a brutal motion of grunts and violence.

“Just stop fighting!”

“Stop!” I cried out, but my voice was useless against the noise. Cassian twisted his arm as the gun slipped from his hands— almost, but recovered again. They both crashed against the wall harder this time; pictures fell, breaking on the floor.

“Let it go!” Adrian snarled.

Cassian’s teeth were clenched like a caged animal fighting in a way that his life depended on it. “You think she’ll choose you? After last night?”

Adrian froze — a blink of his eyes flicking to me. Cassian seized the opportunity and drove the edge of the gun into Adrain’s ribs. Adrian staggered back coughing from the brutal impact as Cassian raised the gun to his face again.

“Cassian, please!” I screamed.

He ignored me and still went on. “You want her to be yours so bad, don’t you?” he hissed. “Then you can die with her name on your lips.” Adrian wiped blood from his mouth as though it was nothing, before parting his lips to reply, “Do it,” he spat. “Prove her right about what you are.”

Cassian’s finger tightened on the trigger—

“Enough!”

The voice thundered through the hallway and we all turned to see Damian standing there. My dad.

His presence sucked the air from the room as he stood at the end of the corridor in a composed demeanor, yet his eyes burned with colder than rage. “Dad,” I breathed, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

Damian’s gaze flicked to me, then to Cassian, then back to Adrian. “You and your sister have disgraced this family enough,” he said quietly. “Step away from him.” Adrian stared at him in disbelief. “You’re siding with him? After everything he’s done—”

“He’s her fucking fiancé, Adrain!” Damian snapped. “Your future brother-in-law. And you want to fucking attack him all because you can’t have Ivy to yourself?”

Cassian’s evil smirk returned, faint but smug. He straightened his posture and wiped the blood on his lip. “He’s out of control. I’m so glad you saw it yourself.”

Damian’s voice hardened. “Restrain him.”

“What?” The words leave Adrian’s mouth in disbelief. Before he could move, Damian’s hand shot forward — a hard shove that sent Adrian staggering back. Cassian wasted no time and followed with a blow to his stomach. Adrian winced in pain, gasping.

“Dad please! I cried, stepping forward to stop them, but Damian’s arm caught me, flinging me back without wasting time. “This isn’t your concern,” he said, without looking at me. “He needs to learn the consequences of his actions.”

“Consequences?” I shouted. “For protecting me?” Adrian swung back at Cassian— a wild and desperate punch that landed on his jaw. It sent Cassian stumbling but he recovered fast, driving his knee into Adrian’s side before Damian’s fist came next—Two ruthless men against him.

Adrian tried to fight back, but the more he tried it felt as though he was wasting his time. Every sound of his ragged and desperate breath to survive— cut into me like glass.

“Listen to me Dad, please for once. I’ll do anything you tell me to!” I screamed again. “Please just stop!” My begging went deaf. Cassian pinned Adrian against the wall, his forearm pressed across his throat while Damian just stood there, watching silently.

“You should have let go of her the moment I told you to.” Cassian’s voice was a growl. Adrian struggled for air, defiant even as he coughed blood. “She’s not yours.”

Without wasting time, Cassian pulled the gun again and pressed the barrel against Adrian’s chest. My heart stopped.

“Cassian, no!” I cried, fighting Damian’s grip. “Don’t—please!” Damian’s voice was

“End this,” Damian’s voice came out low and final. “I won’t have him ruin everything we’ve built.” Cassian’s hand steadied, finger on the trigger.

Adrian’s eyes found mine — wide, pleading. “Ivy,” he gasped, something inside me broke because before he could realize it, I tore free of Damian’s grasp. My legs carried me before I could think and I stepped between them.

“Cassian—”

The sound exploded before I could finish.

For a heartbeat, I didn’t understand what happened. My visit faded before me— the world tilting into a sound of a collapsed ringing void. All I knew was that I could see the shock in Cassian’s eyes as it widened. Followed by Adrian’s voice which broke into a shout that I couldn’t hear.

The pain hadn’t reached me yet — just a strange, crushing calmness as I looked down to see the faint bloom of blood spreading across my dress. I tried to speak, but no words came.

And then —

Darkness.