Bound By Betrayal, Claimed By The Devil

The slap came out of nowhere. It echoed through the room, sharp, humiliating, impossible to ignore. Erica’s head snapped to the side, her vision blurring for a second as the sting spread across her cheek. Then came the laughter. Soft at first. Then louder. Crueler. “You really have no shame, do you?” Lillian’s voice sliced through the noise, dripping with mockery. “Living under our roof and still acting like you’re one of us.” Erica didn’t respond immediately. She had learned that silence was safer. But tonight… Tonight felt different. “I never said I was,” she finally said, her voice quiet but steady. That only made things worse. Lillian’s lips curled. “Oh? Then maybe you need a reminder.” A shove. Hard. Erica stumbled forward, crashing into a passing waiter. Glass shattered against the marble floor, drinks spilling over her dress, soaking into the fabric like a stain she couldn’t wash away. The room erupted again. “Disgusting.” “Why is she even here?” “I heard her mother begged to stay in this house before she died…” That one hit. Hard. Erica’s fingers tightened at her sides. Her chest rose and fell unevenly. Not here. Not in front of them. Not again. But something inside her, something that had been bending for too long finally snapped. Slowly, she straightened. Lifted her chin. And when she looked up again… Her eyes were no longer soft. They were sharp. Cold. Unfamiliar. “Are you done?” she asked. The room went quiet.Even Lillian hesitated for a second. Because this wasn’t the Erica they knew. This one didn’t look like she would cry. This one looked like she might break something. Lillian recovered quickly, stepping forward with a sneer. “Or what? You’ll finally grow a spine?”She raised her hand again but it never landed. A hand caught her wrist mid-air.Firm. Unyielding. Dangerous. “Touch her again…” The voice was low. Controlled. Deadly. “…and you’ll regret it.” A chill swept through the room. Because everyone knew that voice. Slowly, Lillian turned. And her face lost all color. “Mr. Adrian…” The name spread like wildfire through the crowd. Erica froze. Because the man standing beside her tall, composed, impossibly intimidating was now looking directly at her. Not with pity. Not with curiosity. But with something far more dangerous. Interest.