Chapter 11
883 Words
To Win, You Must Lose
Leona’s head was a war zone.
Every time she tried to focus, her thoughts scattered like smoke. Elias’s words from last night—the kiss, the confession, Vivienne’s poison—danced through her mind like ghosts she couldn’t exorcize.
What was she supposed to do with all of this?
She wasn’t a queen. She was a woman who’d signed a marriage contract in the middle of a crisis. She wasn’t supposed to want this. Wasn’t supposed to need him. And yet, here she was.
She couldn’t even breathe without her mind running back to his words, his eyes, the way he held her hand like it meant something more than the ring on her finger.
“Vivienne’s not going to let up,” Elias said as he set down a stack of papers on the dining table. “She’s going to drag this out until we’re both empty.”
Leona folded her arms. “Then let’s empty her first.”
He looked at her, a little surprised. “What are you suggesting?”
“We take the fight to her,” she said, the idea settling inside her like an instinct. “We turn this into a battle of wills. Make it clear to her—this isn’t just about us. It’s about everything she wants to destroy.”
Elias was quiet for a long moment. His fingers drummed on the table, calculating.
“You’re thinking about using the clinic, aren’t you?”
Leona nodded. “If she wants to play games, we can play with the stakes she values. I’ll take the board, but I need your leverage.”
“I’m not throwing you into this without protection,” Elias said, his voice low. “The clinic is yours, Leona. But we both know what she can do with a little public pressure.”
Leona straightened. “She’s already made it clear she’ll destroy us both if she can. We don’t have a choice anymore, Elias.”
He rubbed his hand over his face. “You don’t understand. Vivienne will go for your heart before she goes for anything else.”
“Then let’s give her the fight she’s asking for,” she replied, her voice low and steady.
By the time they got to the press conference, it felt like the world was holding its breath.
Elias had arranged a public statement. Something designed to show the strength of their marriage and his commitment to the clinic—emphasizing that nothing would get in the way of their plans.
And, of course, to push back at Vivienne without making it seem like a direct confrontation.
Leona stood beside him, perfectly poised but with a storm churning in her chest. The reporters swarmed, their cameras flashing, their questions sharp.
A single reporter spoke first, his voice eager. “Mr. Thorne, Ms. Vale—there’s been some controversy surrounding the legitimacy of your marriage. Could you clarify your intentions behind such a sudden and unexpected union?”
Elias’s face didn’t change. “Our intentions are simple,” he said, voice smooth but firm. “Leona and I are committed to our future together—personally and professionally. The clinic, our vision for the future, and this marriage, are all part of that plan.”
“But there are rumors—” another reporter started.
Elias cut him off. “Let me be clear,” he said, his voice suddenly hard. “Leona and I have faced a great deal of challenges—none of which were easy. But what we have now is real, and we will not be distracted by baseless accusations.”
Leona’s breath caught. The world was watching. Every word, every gesture was a calculated move. But for the first time, it didn’t feel like a game.
It felt like truth.
Later, as they walked out of the conference room, Elias turned to her. “That wasn’t bad.”
Leona gave him a tight smile. “It was the first round. You’ll need more than ‘real’ to keep her off your back.”
“I’ve never been afraid of Vivienne. Not once.”
“No,” she said, looking up at him. “But you’re afraid of losing everything. Everything she could take from you.”
He didn’t respond at first. Then, quieter, “It’s more than that. It’s what she could do to you. To the people we care about.”
She watched him closely. “Is that why you kissed me? To protect me?”
Elias’s gaze softened, his lips barely curving into a smile. “Part of it.”
Leona’s heart tightened. “And the rest?”
He hesitated. “I think you know.”
And just like that, in a way she hadn’t expected, something inside her clicked.
That night, after everything had settled, she lay awake in bed. Elias was asleep beside her, but the space between them felt infinite. She thought about their vows, their promises to each other, and wondered how long they could keep playing this dangerous game before it all came crashing down.
She wanted to pull away. Wanted to keep herself distant from him, to remember the reasons she’d fought so hard against this marriage in the first place.
But she couldn’t.
Not anymore.
- Writer
