Lana traced the ruby pendant around her neck, its weight unfamiliar yet strangely grounding. It was a symbol of ownership, a declaration to everyone in this estate that she was Dean’s.
But ownership was a fragile thing.
The fire crackled in the hearth, the room cloaked in thick silence. She had been left alone for hours, but she knew better than to think it meant she wasn’t being watched.
Dean had made his move.
Now it was her turn.
She rose from her chair, padding to the window. Beyond the glass, the estate stretched out like a labyrinth—winding garden paths, high stone walls, men stationed at every corner. She had been cataloging them since the day she arrived.
Escape wasn’t impossible. But it was close.
Her fingers brushed the cool glass as she exhaled.
She needed more than an o
