Chapter 2

I held Lyra in my arms as Bastian’s men escorted us back to the estate where I lived.

"Seven days from now, I will come get you. Have your valuable things ready," he said on the phone.

I hung up and started packing.

The first thing I took was Mom's emerald necklace and the Knight family trust fund papers. Then, I got my passport, bank cards, and the hidden evidence I had kept for years.

I moved fast and packed everything into an ordinary-looking suitcase.

Lyra was asleep upstairs, unaware that I would soon be taking her away.

Just then, the sound of keys turning in the lock echoed from the foyer.

Realizing that Alistair was home, I quickly kicked the suitcase under the bed and got up, walking out of the bedroom. He stood there in a crisp suit, holding a bouquet of white roses.

"Baby." He came up and wrapped his arms around me from behind. His warm kiss landed on my neck, right where the Corvinus family tattoo was, a rose with thorns.

"I'm sorry about the camp trip. I shouldn't have left you two. Thank goodness you're both okay," he said gently.

His embrace used to make me feel safe, but after what I heard, it just made me sick. I caught the scent of sweet jasmine perfume on him, Mallory's signature fragrance.

My stomach churned. I wanted to throw up, but I forced myself to stay composed. "It's fine," I said, turning to take the roses. "Family business comes first."

He stared into my eyes, as if searching for something.

I kept my smile.

We had been married for 10 years, and I used to feel safe beside him. After hearing what he and Mallory talked about and did, though? All I had left was pretense.

He caressed my cheek and whispered, "You must've been terrified."

"It was alright. Lyra was brave."

"That's good." He kissed my forehead. "I'm going to take a shower."

I watched him walk into the bathroom, my fingers digging hard into my palms. Before long, my nails broke through the skin, and the pain kept me alert.

This was not the time to alert him, because I needed to wait patiently and ensure they all paid the price.

Just then, Alistair's phone rang. It was lying on the bed, and I saw the name "Honey" flash on the screen. I stared at the word, and my heart went cold.

The ringtone kept going, and the sound of running water in the bathroom stopped.

I turned to leave, but it was already too late.

Alistair rushed out in his bathrobe and grabbed the phone. His voice was laced with urgency as he asked, "What's wrong?"

I could hear Mallory crying. "Alistair... She sent people to threaten me... They said they'd make me disappear... I'm so scared... I'm carrying your baby..."

Alistair's expression changed instantly. He looked up, his eyes sharp like daggers. "Was it you?"

"What?"

"Don't play dumb!" He lunged at me, grabbing my shoulders. "You sent people to threaten Mallory! Where did you take her?"

"I didn't..."

A sharp slap landed across my face. My head whipped to the side, and my lip split open, the taste of blood flooding my mouth. I clutched my face, staring at him in disbelief, my expression full of shock.

He looked at me, a flash of pain crossing his eyes as he moved to embrace me. However, I quickly sidestepped.

We stood in silence, then the phone rang again. Without a word, he turned and left. I held my face, still tasting blood.

I could not wait any longer, desperately wanting to leave. So, I rushed to Lyra's room, scooped up my sleeping daughter, and headed from the master bedroom toward the back of the walk-in closet.

There was a hidden door there, a secret passage I had insisted on having installed during renovations years ago.

I opened the door and carried Lyra inside. The passage was narrow, lit only by dim emergency lights, and our shadows stretched long behind us.

As we neared the exit, I breathed a sigh of relief. A hand suddenly shot out from the darkness and clamped down hard on my arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" Alistair stood there, his eyes ice-cold.

"Let go of me!" I struggled against him. His grip was terrifyingly strong, nearly crushing my bones.

"Why are you trying to leave? You're the Donna of the Corvinus family. Are you really this upset over Lyra?"

He was furious beyond measure, dragging Lyra and me back out. Then, he hauled us all the way to the underground garage and opened the back door of a black sedan.

He shoved me inside roughly and slammed the door shut. After that, he climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine.

"Daddy, where are we going?" Lyra sobbed, barely able to catch her breath. Alistair glanced at her in the rearview mirror.

That look was cold and unfamiliar, as if he were looking at a stranger.

The car tore out of the garage and onto the dark streets. I held Lyra tight, my heart pounding hard during the entire ride.