Chapter 17 Chapter 17
Valerie POV
I let out a slow breath of relief, hoping, foolishly, that I had finally cleared the air between us. I hoped he understood now, that he knew nothing would ever happen between us. This was only an agreement, nothing more. I just wanted the days to pass. One hundred and eighty-three days. That was all I needed. After that, I would leave in peace,Or so I thought.
Peace was the last thing waiting for me.
I turned to leave, my hand barely reaching the door, when suddenly his hand closed around mine. Before I could react, he pulled me backward so hard that I almost lost my balance. I would have fallen to the ground if not for his strong arm wrapping tightly around my waist, pulling me flush against him.
My breath hitched in shock.“What the hell are you doing?” I shouted, my voice sharp with panic.
Before I could scream again, his lips crashed against mine,for a moment, my mind went completely blank. I couldn’t understand what was happening. The world seemed to freeze around us as his grip tightened, holding me there while his mouth moved against mine. Everything felt wrong,and yet terrifyingly confusing.
I hated that my body reacted before my mind did.
My heart pounded wildly as something unfamiliar twisted inside my chest. I didn’t want him to stop. That realization scared me more than the kiss itself. I felt trapped between anger and something I refused to name.
But then reality slammed into me,this was wrong. So wrong.
I shoved him away with all the strength I had, breaking free from his hold. My hands shook as I stepped back, my chest rising and falling rapidly as I struggled to breathe.
Before I could stop myself, my hand flew across his face.
The sound of the slap echoed through the room.
He let out a low growl, his jaw tightening as he slowly turned his head back toward me. My vision blurred, and for the first time in my life, tears spilled down my cheeks. I hated myself for them. I hated that he had pushed me to this point.
“How dare you?” I whispered, my voice breaking.
He didn’t apologize. He didn’t even speak at first,Instead, a smirk slowly spread across his lips.
He shrugged casually, as if nothing had just happened. “Not a bad kisser after all,” he muttered, pressing his thumb against his lips as if replaying the moment.
My heart skipped painfully in my chest.
I stared at him, rage burning through me so fiercely I thought it might consume me. Every part of me wanted to attack him, to scream, to tear him apart for crossing that line. And yet another part of me wanted to disappear, to forget everything, to give in to the strange pull I didn’t understand.
Why was this happening to me?Why did he have this effect on me?
I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms, grounding myself in the pain. I would not let him see how deeply this had shaken me. I would not let him win.
“You crossed a line,” I said, my voice trembling but firm. “Don’t ever touch me like that again.”
His gaze stayed locked on mine,unreadable and intense. The smirk faded just slightly, but the danger in his eyes remained.
I wiped my tears away angrily, lifting my chin in defiance. Whatever this was,this tension, this confusion, it would not control me. I refused to let him break me, no matter how hard he tried.
This was just a contract,nothing more.
And no matter what my heart tried to tell me in that moment, I would never allow myself to forget that.
“You are sick,” I muttered, turning sharply toward the door.
I had barely taken a step when his voice cut through the air, cold and deliberate, stopping me in my tracks.
“If you ever disobey me again,” he said calmly, “and leave this man without the guards stationed to your service, I promise you,your friend will pay for your mistake.”
The words hit me like a blow.
I froze, my breath catching painfully in my throat. Slowly, I turned back to face him, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might tear through my chest. He knew. He had known all along. Every secret. Every precaution I thought I had taken.
Shock coursed through me, followed by fear so sharp it made my knees weak.
“You wouldn’t dare,” I whispered, my voice barely steady.
His lips curved into a dark, confident smile. “Try me and see.”That was all it took.
I couldn’t stay in the same room with him for another second. The air felt heavy, suffocating, like the walls were closing in. Without saying another word, I spun around and rushed out of the room, not daring to look back.
My footsteps echoed loudly as I hurried down the hallway, my pace quickening with every step. My heart raced wildly as my mind replayed everything that had just happened inside his room. The kiss. The threat. The cold certainty in his voice.
This wasn’t a coincidence.
This was control,something dark and dangerous was forming, tightening around me, and I could feel it clearly now. If I stayed, I wouldn’t be safe. Not emotionally. Not physically. Not at all,He kissed me.
And then he threatened the life of my friend.
The realization made my stomach twist painfully. I didn’t know what he would do next, and that uncertainty terrified me more than anything else. He had crossed a line, a line that could never be undone.
I walked faster, almost running now, desperate to reach the safety of my room. My thoughts spiraled, each one heavier than the last. It was too fortunate, too calculated, that I had chosen not to tell my father everything. If I had, Luciano wouldn’t have been able to use my friend as leverage.
Or maybe he still would have.
The thought sent a chill down my spine.
I reached my room and pushed the door open, stepping inside before slamming it shut behind me. I locked it quickly, my hands shaking as I leaned against the door for a moment, trying to steady my breathing.
Only then did I allow myself to move.
I crossed the room and collapsed onto the bed, the mattress sinking beneath my weight as exhaustion and fear crashed over me at once. I stared at the ceiling, my chest rising and falling rapidly, my body trembling despite my efforts to stay calm.
I needed to leave.
That truth was undeniable now.
Closing my eyes, I tried to escape into sleep, hoping rest would quiet the chaos in my mind, even if only for a little while.
Just as my body began to relax, a sharp sound broke the silence.
My phone beeped,I stiffened instantly, my eyes snapping open as dread settled deep in my chest.