Chapter 12: Caught Between Two Men
Serena was restless.
The mansion felt like a cage. Luxurious, cold, and too quiet. Mona had brought her food twice. She barely touched it. Hours dragged like chains and the walls began to close in.
So when the sun dipped slightly and the air shifted, she slipped out. Quiet. Fast. Just to breathe.
She didn’t think Lucian would notice.
But he did.
From the far window of the west corridor, Lucian stood in shadow, watching her dart between the hedges, her frame small against the stretch of green. His jaw clenched, but he didn’t move.
Let her go.
Let her think she had a choice.
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Serena walked through the gates, breathing deeply for the first time in days. The city air was no cleaner, but it felt real. Familiar. It carried the dust and noise of lif
