A Love That WS Sacrificed

ion by the edge of the city. The mansion loomed ahead, dark and imposing, a silent reminder of the power games that had ruled her life for as long as she co

as walking into-whether this meeting would end in a confrontation, or if there was something else waiting for her. But one thing

they softened. He was dressed in black-dark jeans, a crisp shirt, and a jacket that seemed to mirror the coldness i

a man caught between duty and desire. "I

t bothering to hide the apprehension in her voice. "You've ma

ity. Calysta could feel the weight of the past in this room-the decisions made, the alliances forged, and the betrayals

ed, gesturing to the leathe

fort show. She wasn't going to let him see how badly h

r tone clipped. "What is it that you want? And make

hers. "I've never played a game with you, Calysta," he said, h

tanding? The manipulation, the lies, the entire war between

's not a misunderstanding. But the part you don't see, the part no one tells you, is that this whole thing was never

t do you mean by that?" she demanded

her. "I never planned to fall for you, Calysta. It wasn't supposed to happen. I was just following orders, just playing my part. But the more I got

er breath catching in her th

u more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. And that's the part you don't get, Calysta. I'm

think I'm going to just forgive everything? Let everything sli

ed you to understand. We're not the only ones trapped in this, Calysta. There's a bigger picture. My father, your father-they'v

hink you can just undo everything with a few words? After

way out. I can offer you the freedom you think you want, but only if we work together. If we join forc

moment, Calysta was speechless, her mind spinning with the possibilities. Could she rea

ning. She couldn't keep pretending that she was powerless in this war. If she wanted her freedom, if

t this is your last chance, Lucien. One mistake, and I'l

omething-something that looked like res

t the weight of her decision settling into her

om. For her future. And maybe, just maybe