Chapter 7: Caught in the Trap
814 Words
Elena had never felt so trapped.
The walls of Damian’s estate were closing in on her, suffocating her with each passing moment. She needed to act fast—before he uncovered the truth, before the past she had tried so hard to bury came crashing down around them.
Her footsteps were light as she walked through the halls, her mind racing. She had to find a way to stop him.
If Damian discovered why she had truly left, he wouldn’t just be furious—he would be in danger.
She reached his office, heart pounding.
The door was locked.
Of course.
Damian wasn’t careless. He never had been.
Elena bit her lip. There was no way to stop his investigation from the inside. That meant she had only one option—she had to convince Damian to drop it himself.
But how?
⸻
The opportunity came sooner than she expected.
That evening, a maid delivered a message to her room.
“Mr. Blackwood has requested your presence for dinner,” the woman said.
Elena’s pulse quickened.
A dinner with Damian was the last thing she wanted, but maybe it was exactly what she needed.
A chance to change his mind.
Taking a deep breath, she allowed the maid to lead her downstairs.
⸻
The dining room was extravagant, like everything else in Damian’s world. A grand chandelier hung above the long table, its golden glow casting shadows on the walls.
Damian was already seated at the head of the table, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked up when she entered, his gaze unreadable.
“Elena,” he said smoothly. “You actually came.”
She lifted her chin. “You gave me no choice.”
His lips twitched, as if amused. “Sit.”
She hesitated, then walked toward the seat across from him. The moment she sat down, a server appeared, placing a plate of food in front of her.
Elena ignored it. She had no appetite.
“I heard you’ve been trying to escape,” Damian said casually, swirling the whiskey in his glass.
Her breath caught.
He knew.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said carefully.
Damian leaned back in his chair, studying her. “Lying doesn’t suit you, Elena.”
She forced herself to meet his gaze. “And keeping me locked up like a prisoner suits you?”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away.
“You disappeared,” he said after a moment. “You left me standing at the altar, humiliated in front of the world. And you expect me to just let that go?”
She swallowed hard. “I had my reasons.”
“Then tell me.”
She shook her head.
His expression darkened. “Fine. Keep your secrets. But understand this—I will find out the truth.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
She couldn’t let that happen.
Taking a steadying breath, she leaned forward. “Damian, please,” she said softly. “Let this go.”
His eyes flashed. “Why?”
“Because it won’t change anything.” She forced herself to hold his gaze. “Knowing the truth won’t fix the past. It won’t change what happened between us.”
Damian was silent for a long moment.
Then he stood, walking toward her.
Elena’s heart pounded as he stopped beside her chair, his presence overwhelming.
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’re wrong,” he murmured. “The truth changes everything.”
She shivered at his touch.
He was too close.
Too dangerous.
And worse—she wasn’t sure if she wanted to pull away.
“Elena,” he said softly, his fingers trailing down her jaw. “Tell me why you left.”
Her throat tightened.
This was it.
She could lie. She could tell him she never loved him, that she had used him for his wealth. Maybe then he would hate her enough to let her go.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Because deep down, she didn’t want him to hate her.
“Elena.” His voice was a whisper now, but there was an unmistakable edge of demand.
She opened her mouth—to lie, to tell the truth, she wasn’t sure.
But before she could speak, a loud crash shattered the moment.
Elena jerked away, her heart hammering.
One of the servers had dropped a tray, the sound echoing through the dining room.
Damian straightened, his expression hardening once more.
“Go to your room,” he said coldly.
She hesitated. “Damian—”
“I said go.”
She flinched at the sharpness in his tone but didn’t argue.
As she walked away, she could feel his eyes on her back.
She knew one thing for certain.
Time was running out.
And soon, Damian would know everything.
- Writer
