His to Ruin

Crystals hung from the high ceiling, reflecting a dim light that made the room feel like an illusion away from reality. Expensive gowns rustled as guests moved about, champagne glasses clinked elegantly, and at the center of it all stood Alec and Camilla. They looked perfect together. In an ivory gown that clung perfectly to her body, Camilla smiled gracefully at the guests who came to congratulate her. Her face showed no flaws, only the grace of a woman destined to be at the top. At her side, Alec, strapping in a black suit, displayed a charisma that was hard to ignore. Danny raised his glass without actually drinking. "Disgusting," I turned to him. "What?" He looked at me with a frown that showed he was truly disgusted. "This show. Like anyone actually believes they love each other." I shifted my gaze to the center of the room, to my sister, laughing softly as Alec whispered something in her ear. "Alec's the perfect guy for her," I said finally. Danny chuckled sarcastically. "Alec is the perfect man for business, Daniella. That's the difference." I knew he was right. But what makes my chest tighten even more is not that fact. It was that Alec, the man now whispering to Camilla so calmly, had once looked at me differently. Had spoken my name in a softer tone. Had made me believe, if only for a moment, that he wasn't just a shadow of this world. "You look like you're going to cry," Danny's voice interrupted my reverie. I looked up, giving him a sharp look. "I never cry." I knew my place. And it wasn't next to him. "There's someone who wants to see you, Daniella." Our father, Dominic Abelli’s voice is like the scrape of a dagger on glass. Sharp, cold, and flawless. I lift my head, swallowing any discomfort that wants to creep to the surface. Beside him, a man stood. Joshua Shaun. His pale blue eyes scrutinized my face with an interest that made my stomach twist uncomfortably. He was a few years older than me, with a firm jaw and a smile that forced to appear warm. But I knew men like him, like Alec, like all the men in this room. Their smiles were never just smiles. I straighten my back, displaying the posture I was taught as a child: calm, submissive, and obedient. "Daniella," Joshua extends a hand, which I greet with a light, casual squeeze. "I heard you just got back from France." I smiled slightly. "Yes, college in Paris." "College?" He raised an eyebrow. "I thought the Abelli family didn't let their women wander abroad for too long." My smile didn't change, but inside my head, I imagined smashing this champagne glass into his face. "A smart woman is more valuable," Danny interrupted. Joshua chuckled, raising his hands. "I was just joking." I didn't respond. Instead, my eyes darted to the center of the room, where Camilla stood with Alec. But she wasn't looking at Alec. She was looking at me. I recognized that expression of dislike hidden behind Camilla Abelli's perfect demeanor. We never really got along, but right now, the look in her eyes was more than just plain dislike. She hated me. I don't know why. >>> The balcony door was open slightly, letting the night breeze infiltrate the majestic and silent mansion. I should have been in my room, but my steps led me to this hallway, and I accidentally passed through a room that wasn't completely closed. "What do you want from me, Alec?" Camilla's voice sounded sharp. "I want you to stop pretending," Alec replied. I stopped behind a pillar, and my breath caught. Camilla snorted. "We have no choice. I did my duty. You should, too." "Duty?" Alec laughed. "Damn it, Camilla. I married a contract, not a woman." A soft clink was heard as a glass was placed on the table. "You knew this game from the start." I held my breath deeper, curiosity and discomfort fighting inside my mind. "And you knew from the start that I wanted her." Alec's voice was so low like he was holding back a growl. My heart beat faster. Her? "Forget about her." Camilla sounded fed up. "Because you're mine now." Who? I should have left. I shouldn't have listened any further. And so I left. Later that night, I tried to distract myself. Books were scattered on my study table, alongside scribbled notes. I prepared myself for the new semester, drowning myself in texts and numbers. Until the sound of the door opening. I stiffened, turning my head. Alec stood in the doorway. His black tie was untied, the buttons of his shirt open at the top. His hazel eyes were dark and sad, and the faint scent of alcohol filled the room with him. "Why are you here?" I shouted. He didn't answer. He just walked closer, his steps unsteady, but his expression was the same: cold, sharp, and tired. "I love you," he murmured, his voice almost inaudible. Then he chuckled bitterly. "But I hate you." I froze. My heart seemed to stop for a moment before it resumed beating faster. "Alec, you're drunk," I warned, standing up from my chair. But he was already in front of me, too close. His hand came up, touching my jaw with gentleness contrasting with his usually cold demeanor. Then he looked down. "Camilla..." I pushed his chest away quickly. "I'm not Camilla." He didn't hear. Or maybe he didn't care. Instead, his hands curled around my neck, pulling me closer, his breath warm on my skin. I resisted, my body stiffening. But Alec was stronger. And in one motion, he threw me onto the bed. >>>> The blood smelled like hot metal burning in the air. I stood there, panting, with my hands covered in red. The world around me spun, a mix of screams and sobs that still echoed in my ears. Camilla lay on the marble floor, her pale blue dress now a sea of dark red. Her eyes, once full of light, were now empty, open without expression, staring at the ceiling of the room with a gaze that she no longer saw. I don't know who's shouting. Me? Anyone out there? Or maybe it was just the voice inside my head breaking into pieces? My legs were weakening. I wanted to run, I wanted to scream, I wanted to wake Camilla up from this nightmare. But I stood trembling, waiting for someone to pull me out of this invisible abyss. Heavy steps echoed in the room, and Alec came in. His body stiffened as he looked at Camilla. "What are you doing?" His voice was low. Too calm. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Just a silence that killed me slowly. Then he moved. In an instant, I was cornered against the wall. His hand gripped my jaw, forcing me to look up at him. His hazel eyes, which always seemed like hidden embers, were now completely on fire. "You killed her." Not a question. A verdict. I shook my head frantically, searching for words that wouldn't come. His hazel eyes flashed. "You killed her." I shook my head again, tears falling unbidden. "I didn't—" But he didn't care. He never cared. And at that moment, I knew my only option was to run. Before, Alec completely destroyed me.