A Love That WS Sacrificed

pation. She had spent her entire life under the illusion of control, of knowing who she was and where she stood within the twisted fam

with an almost clinical detachment. There was something unsettling about the way he looked

older than she had ever heard it. "Then listen caref

of unspeakable things. She had grown up in the world of power, manipulation, and ruthlessness,

r gave me a choice, Father," she said, her voice low but steady. "I was never allowed to choose my ow

art of the plan, Calysta. Your role was decided the moment you were born. You're

ieving she had some semblance of agency, some power in her own decisions, but now, everything s

words out despite the sharp sting of b

tly. "You don't get it, do you? I didn't give you a choice because it was

st. "What are you talking about? What

quickly. "Lucien isn't the man you think he is," he said, his voice taking on a darker tone. "He was never meant to be yo

all of this-my marriage to him, the betrayal-was part of you

supposed to become a threat. But when he started acting on his own, when he decided t

tter on her tongue. "You never had control, did yo

ure. "You don't understand what it takes to build an empire, Calyst

think Lucien is your enemy? After everything you've done to him, to me? You're the

human-vulnerable, even. "Lucien has his own plans, Calysta. I nev

in her chest as a realization dawned on her. "You never wanted me to marry him, did you? Not for love, not

guilt. "What I wanted, Calysta, was to end the war. To end the bloodshed. The Thorns, the rivalry, the games we've pla

The war. Lucien. And her. She had always been a part of this twisted ga

"So, what happens now?" she asked, her voice bar

oment, he seemed unsure of what to sa

d a beat. "What

ay here and play the part I've set for you, or you can leave everything behind and go to him. Th

ol she had been denied. Her father's voice, cold and calculating, still echoed in her ears, but something inside her s

pawn, and I won't be Lucien's. I'll make my own choices, my own future. A

ointment pressing down on her. But in his eyes, Calysta saw something else-something she h

u leave, there's no coming back. The war will follow you. And th

behind. As the door closed behind her, she took a deep breath, knowing th

ybe, that was all