Chapter 5 Why? Let me go Aiden.

Chapter 5 Why? Let me go Aiden.


ELARA

I stood still under his control. He towered over me, seven-foot-eight. The man I had returned to destroy stood over me and I couldn’t do anything.

Anger surged through me, but I knew that would be a weakness and I wouldn’t show one, not now.

He squinted, staring at me like he had just recognized me.

This time, I tried to leave his grip but his hand grabbed my arm and yanked me against his waist.

“What are you doing?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I wanted.

“Who are you?”

But he didn’t answer, only his eyes scanned the horizon. We were too close and when I tried to twist away again, his grip tightened.

“Don’t turn around,” he said finally, low and smooth.

“If anything happens, stay still.”

I fidgeted immediately. Something was off and then I sensed it.

Turning slowly, my stomach dropped. A massive dog stood near the hedges. I froze and the old fear from my first life returned.

I grasped Aiden’s collar instinctively. Some things didn’t change for me and fear of dogs was one of them.

“Easy…” I whispered, my voice trembling despite my effort to stay steady.

I could feel my knees threatening to buckle. I didn’t dare look at Aiden again. Without any other option, I feigned collapse. This time I didn’t want to die from a dog’s teeth.

“Good girl,” Aiden purred.

When I opened my eyes, I saw him crouched beside the dog, stroking her neck.

Relief washed over me, but I still blamed him for pulling me to a corner.

“Thank you,” I murmured under my breath as he led the dog away. Then he stopped and took a few steps forward.

“Elara Vance. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at the Government home.”

“Looking for ways to survive,” I said casually. We were known as the street girls, but I was tense. I had to navigate this life myself if I wanted to survive.

“The orphanage let me go,” I added and he nodded. I knew he didn’t understand why I was at the Blackthorne’s mansion and that was exactly what I wanted.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

But he didn’t take his eyes off me. One thing I knew was that I had caught his attention and when Damon would introduce me as his wife-to-be tomorrow, hell would break loose.

The Blackthorne’s mansion looked different. I didn’t know my way around.

“Shit.” I would have asked the snub for directions.

This place was huge and I wasn’t seeing anyone. The building just stretched on.

I took a step, then stopped.

A portrait caught my eye. I had passed this route before, so I turned the corner and fortunately nearly collided with a servant.

I smirked when I saw her immediately. This lady, she knew too much about me and I knew she was part of the accomplices. She was an informant for someone and that someone was who I wanted.

She looked down her nose at me with her arms folded.

“You lost?” she asked in a flat voice.

“Yes. I’m…” I stopped myself and she raised an eyebrow, but I didn’t answer.

I muttered a curse under my breath and moved on. Somebody like her didn’t deserve my response.

“Hey! You there?”

I spun at the familiar voice, the butler Keon. I flashed him a bright smile but he just stood at the end of the hall, not knowing me… yet.

“Keon… I’m looking for my room.”

He looked surprised.

“Are you a new live-in servant?”

“Just part of the family.”

He nodded.

“Follow me. I will take you to the main building.”

Soon we arrived at the building and a sense of warmth filled me.

I was very familiar with this place.

I stumbled on Aria’s nanny from earlier and was ushered into my room. Once I got in.

I let out a shaky breath and locked the door behind me. I was in the home of my killers.

I survived the first night. I needed to be prepared for tomorrow.

But boy, I was wrong.

There was a subtle knock and I opened it. Aria’s nanny walked into the room with Aria dressed like a princess from a Disney movie.

She handed a dinner gown to me.

“Mr. Damon… the dinner… don’t forget.” She kept breaking her words like she was scared or something.

I nodded, but wanted to scream and curse.

Aria just stared at me as her nanny adjusted her gown and placed her on my bed, then turned to leave.

“Why are you leaving her here?” I suddenly blurted out and she stopped in her tracks.

“I’m not allowed at the Blackthorne’s dinner halls. You will be the one to take her there.”

I stared at the little girl who didn’t take her eyes off mine like she was scanning me. We didn’t say a word to each other. I was never a fan of kids.

And Aria’s mum was still involved in her life, despite the restriction order.

Three years was nothing. I would have destroyed the Blackthorne family before then.

I stepped into the hall and got their attention, but Aria’s grip on my hand tightened like she also didn’t want to be here.

Damon immediately got up with a graceful stride and ushered us to the two seats by his side. I sat, not bothered by Aria who stood by me. There was a small cough from Damon’s aunt.

“I’d do that.” Damon flashed a smile and placed his daughter between us. But I didn’t care much.

Damon wanted my fame and would do anything for that. His orders earlier were just the initial issues and I would break them all.

My stomach grumbled at the food before me, but no one ate.

I couldn’t wait with them and dug into my food. I knew the Blackthorne tradition, pray before you eat and only eat when all the family is complete. But I wasn’t here to play by the rules. I was here to break those rules.

I felt Damon’s hand on my wrist by the fifth bite. That was when I heard footsteps.

Aiden wheeled in his mum and everyone at the table got up. She was the matriarch of the family. I got up too. I needed to play along if I wanted to succeed.

But once Aiden saw me, he stopped in his tracks. His gaze went from me to Damon like he was questioning everything.

He regained his composure and his face went cold again. Once they got to the dining table, the air shifted.

“Uncle Aiden, you came,” Aria’s little voice echoed. This was the first time I heard her speak.

She always cherished her uncle, despite him being a sworn enemy to her dad.

“I had to, baby. Your dad insisted at the dying minute that he had news to share with us.”

Aria just giggled.

My eyes returned and locked with Aiden’s immediately. I felt Damon’s hand on mine. My self-control let me sit still, else I would have thrown up at his touch.

Aiden looked away with a very calm composure.

“Let’s pray.”

“Heavenly Father, bless this food and let any ill heart change after the food. Amen.”

“Amen,” they replied and dug in.

I knew Aiden’s eyes were on me and he wouldn’t eat. He doesn't touch his food. The only time I knew he ate was when I cooked, that aside, I have never seen him eat. Then I heard the clink of a glass cup and looked up.

Damon stood with a smile.

“Today, I want to introduce you to someone special.”

My heart skipped. I didn’t know why, but it did.

He turned to me with the most loving smile and I returned it.

“This is Elara, an upcoming sports prodigy. I’ve decided to sponsor her.”

The room fell silent and all eyes were on me.

“Congratulations,” his aunt suddenly said, then looked at me.

“But I don’t see why you invited her to dinner. She isn’t part of the family.”

“I would be marrying her. We’re together.” The room fell silent again.

I bent my head not because I was shy, but because I was embarrassed. Before my death, my gullible self still didn’t have anything to do with this man. He had no direction.

“Wow… I mean… congratulations then. But isn’t she too young for that?” his aunt asked again while everyone kept quiet.

My heart was seriously beating against my chest now and I couldn’t control it. I was having a panic attack.

Not now… I cursed. Breathe.

But I had left my inhaler in the room and Damon didn’t notice and continued.

“We love each other, that’s what matters and she would be a huge profit to the family’s business.”

I stumbled to my feet, hoping to subtly leave without them noticing. But I felt dizzy and before I could fall, a hand grabbed my waist and pulled me to his chest.

He brought the inhaler to my face and Immediately I took three quick puffs my lungs cleared. I gasped like I had just returned from the dead.

I looked up and it was Aiden.

Without thinking, I pulled back with so much force.