Unfiltered gaze

Unfiltered gaze

When Ellie said that, I felt the shock run deep into my bones. Not that I was completely surprised. She was my sister… a demon in human skin. It wasn’t unlike her to say something like that.

“Well…” I began, trying to steady my voice. “Diego asked me to follow him to Singapore. I’m not interested in going.”

Her expression darkened instantly.

“Girl, are you trying me?” she snapped. “You know the agreement we made. You’re going to seduce my husband, and in return, I will take care of your sick mother.”

My chest tightened.

“Going to Singapore with him is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for,” she continued coldly. “So don’t start acting difficult with me.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Ellie wasn’t going to let this go.

I already knew how this would end—she would force me to go to Singapore.

And the truth was… I didn’t want to go there at all.

“She’s your mother too,” I said, my voice tightening. “I don’t know why you’ve changed so much. That woman gave birth to you, raised you… and you just abandoned her because everything fell apart? Because we became poor? Ellie… how could you do that?”

Her face twisted in disgust.

“Don’t bring that poverty nonsense into this,” she snapped. “I’m rich now—a rich bitch. So erase that from your mouth. I abandoned that family the moment I made it, because you people were never worth keeping around.”

My chest tightened painfully.

“And you,” she continued, her voice turning colder, sharper, “you’d better learn how to speak to me properly. Know your place. You’re nothing but a servant.”

Her words hit harder than I expected.

“Just because I call you my sister outside doesn’t mean you’re still my sister,” she added. “So don’t get comfortable.”

I swallowed hard, my throat burning.

“We’re going to Singapore,” she said firmly. “You’re going to seduce my husband, and we’re going to follow the plan. No excuses.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I forced them back.

“Don’t you think we’re rushing this?” I asked, my voice slightly shaky. “Diego and I… we barely have anything. I don’t even think he’s into me. The way he behaves—he hardly even looks at me.”

She walked toward the window, a slow, knowing smile spreading across her lips.

“Oh, Diego is interested in you,” she said calmly. “He just needs the right… environment. A private place.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“He doesn’t really like women,” she continued, almost casually, “but he has some level of interest in you.”

She turned to face me, her eyes cold and calculating.

“And you,” she said, her voice dropping, “are the perfect pawn I’m going to use to get what I want.”

My breath caught.

“So don’t ruin this for me.”

I bit my lip, holding back the words that were threatening to spill out.

As much as I wanted to disagree, she was right.

I had signed a contract—she would take care of my mother, and in return, I would become exactly what she called me… a pawn. There was no going back now.

She was completely consumed by power, convinced that Diego was obsessed with me.

But I didn’t see it.

If anything, Diego looked like he hated me. The way he spoke, the way he barely acknowledged my presence—it didn’t feel like obsession at all.

So what was I supposed to do now?

How was I going to escape this?

I couldn’t.

If I ran, my mother would be the one to suffer for it.

“I… I need to think about it,” I said quietly.

She stepped closer, her hands coming down on my shoulders, her grip firm and unyielding.

“There is nothing to think about,” she said coldly.

A chill ran through me.

“You will go to Singapore,” she continued, her voice leaving no room for argument. “And you will act exactly like the pawn I told you to be.”

Her fingers pressed harder into my shoulders.

“Do not mess with me, Lyla.”

“So now, I’m going to make arrangements,” she said. “I’ll get you seductive clothes for Singapore—and everything else you need to know.”

Her tone was casual, like she was planning a trip, not ruining my life.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

And just like that, she turned and walked out, slamming the door behind her.

The sound echoed through the room.

I stood there, frozen, like a statue, listening to her footsteps fade down the hallway… unable to move, unable to think.

Then my legs gave out beneath me.

I collapsed to the floor.

“Oh my God…” I whispered shakily.

This was the heaviest thing I had ever been forced to do.

Seducing a man.

The thought alone made my chest tighten.

He was going to hate me even more.

Would I look desperate? Pathetic? Stupid?

The questions wouldn’t stop.

And for the first time, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

I broke down.

Tears streamed down my face as quiet sobs escaped my lips, my body trembling under the weight of everything crashing down on me.

Later that evening, I lay on my bed, drowning in my thoughts, until a knock on my door pulled me out of it.

I quickly sat up and went to check who it was.

When I opened the door, a maid stood there, smiling brightly.

“Miss, Mr. Diego is looking for you in his office. He said it’s urgent. Do you know the way, or should I show you?” she asked politely.

Even though I felt completely broken inside, I managed to return a small smile.

“I know the way. You don’t have to bother,” I said.

She nodded and left.

The moment the door closed, I leaned back against it, my heart suddenly racing.

What does he want now?

What is he going to say?

I pushed myself away from the door, changed into something more comfortable, and made my way to his office.

When I got there, I knocked.

The door slid open automatically.

I paused, slightly startled. I still wasn’t used to the kind of technology in this house.

Slowly, I stepped inside.

Diego was seated behind his desk.

This time, he wasn’t dressed in his usual sharp clothes. Instead, he wore a black robe, loosely tied, revealing part of his chest.

My throat went dry.

My eyes lingered there for a second too long.

I tried to look away… but I couldn’t.

“What are you staring at?” he asked suddenly.

I froze.