Bound by Vows and Lies

CHAPTER FOUR

The Burden of Decisions

Looking at herself in the mirror, Elena held the crumpled note firmly in her trembling hand. She had dark wrinkles under her eyes from lack of sleep, and her mouth was set in a tight line. The message from Victor stayed in her thoughts like a haunting reverberation.

"All decisions come with outcomes."

But which outcome would have more negative effects? Should one choose Damian’s precise manipulation or Victor’s hidden dangers? Both men saw her as a pawn, yet Victor's words sparked a seed of defiance in her.

Her thoughts were abruptly cut off by a loud knock, causing her heart to race. She faced the door.

"Elena, it's Margaret speaking." said Margaret in a soft voice.

Elena felt a mix of relief and anxiety as she opened the door and saw her mother with a neatly pressed dress, its fabric glowing softly in the light.

Margaret stated, her voice tense, that this was from Damian's tailor. "He anticipates that you will be wearing it the next day."

Elena grabbed the dress, surprised by how heavy it felt in her hands. "Undoubtedly he does." she whispered, laying it across the bed.

Margaret paused, twisting her hands together. "Elena, I understand that you're upset with us in this circumstance. However, time is not waiting. This marriage could possibly be the main solution to—”

"Stop," Elena sharply interjected. "Do not make excuses for this. You betrayed me. Take possession of it."

Tears welled in Margaret's eyes as she flinched, yet she remained silent. Instead of staying, she departed silently, leaving Elena by herself with the dress and her swirling thoughts.

The shadows draw near.

The night lingered prolonged and burdensome. Elena couldn't sleep, so she walked back and forth in her room, feeling a mix of fear and anger in her mind. She attempted to envision how being married to Damian Blackwood would impact her life, uncertain if "wife" was the appropriate label to describe the relationship.

She stopped in her tracks when she heard a knock on her window.

She caught her breath as she turned around, anticipating Victor to appear.

But upon drawing the curtain back, she found nothing.

However, the feeling of discomfort persisted. She quickly looked at the crumpled note on her desk, and an idea came to her.

What would happen if Victor had left something different?

She was resolute as she snatched the note and scrutinized it with greater attention. This time, she observed slight impressions on the paper’s top layer. Speedily, she searched through her drawer for a pencil and started coloring in the markings.

The secretive message gradually appeared, consisting of just one sentence penned in Victor's unique handwriting.

"Let's meet at the ancient dock by 12 am. Come by yourself."

Elena felt a sinking sensation in her heart. She refused to engage in Victor's manipulations, yet she couldn't resist the opportunity to gain an advantage. Damian had made it obvious that she was entering a world filled with secrets. If Victor could provide her with a way out, then perhaps she wouldn't feel entirely helpless.

Putting on her coat, she left the house, feeling the cold night air on her skin.

Meeting at midnight

The aged dock was enveloped in fog, its aging wooden supports groaning. Elena looked around nervously, feeling on edge.

"Bold of you to show up," Victor's voice lazily uttered, appearing from the darkness.

Entering the moonlight, he had his hands casually in his coat pockets. "I was somewhat anticipating for Damian to be sent instead by you."

Elena maintained her distance as she stated that she did not trust either of them. "I want explanations."

Victor gave a smug smile. "Smart girl. What do you want to know?"

“What game are you engaged in with Damian? Why am I involved in it as well?"

Victor's demeanor turned grim. "Damian lacks trust in people, yet he is fixated on maintaining control. You are the ideal instrument for solving that. An uncontrollable bride poses a risk."

"What significance does that hold for you?" Elena asked with insistence.

Victor moved closer with a single step, his voice quiet and full of malice. "Due to the fact that Damian took something away from me. Something I will never be able to recover. Now, I wish to witness his downfall completely."

Elena made a displeased expression with her brow. "So, this is merely payback in your eyes."

"It's fairness," Victor pointed out. “If you make the right choices, you could potentially survive this situation. But if you have faith in Damian, you are in imminent danger of dying."

Elena felt nauseous in her stomach. She doubted both of them, but Victor's strong demeanor made her reconsider Damian's level of threat.

She asked with caution, "What exactly do you want from me?"

"For the meantime. Only your collaboration," Victor stated. "Stay alert and aware. Keep an eye out for any weaknesses in Damian's defenses. You will know what to do when the time arrives."

"What if I don't?"

Victor's smile came back. "You will then discover the reason why Damian Blackwood is feared by everyone."

Returning to her residence

When Elena got back home, she walked up the stairs to her bedroom, feeling the weight of her fatigue on her shoulders.

However, upon opening the door, she became completely still.

Her room had been thoroughly searched through. The curtains were ripped, her drawers cleared, and the engagement ring Damian had gifted her was missing.

On her bed rested a lone rose, its deep crimson petals contrasting with the white sheets.

Underneath was a message penned in graceful script that did not belong to Victor.

"Elena, loyalty is crucial above all else. If you betray me, forgiveness will not be granted. - D"

She felt a chill in her blood. Damian was aware. In some way, he was aware that she had encountered Victor.

The walls were encircling her more swiftly than she expected, and she sensed both men's grips tightening around her.

Carefully, she picked up the rose, feeling the sharp thorns poking her fingers. Blood seeped out, marring the petals as though the flower had bled.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, the gravity of her circumstances made her hands tremble.

"Not only am I a pawn if I don't play flawlessly. I am a victim of circumstances."

An abrupt vibration from her phone startled her out of her daydreams. Grabbing it, her heart raced as a mysterious number appeared on the screen.

After pausing briefly, she picked up.

A rumbling voice, deep and familiar, called out "Elena." It was Damian.

"Tonight, you have been occupied," he remarked, his voice cold and composed. "We must have a conversation. At this moment."

The call ended abruptly, causing Elena to hold onto the phone with her shaking hand.

He is aware of everything.

And nobody knew what he would do next.