Chapter 17: The Revelation

Ardian’s fingers tightened around the armrest of his chair as he watched the news unfold.

"Aurora Lancaster, heir to the Lancaster Empire, missing. The young heiress was last seen yesterday morning, shortly after leaving a hospital where she was caring for her fiancé, Sebastian Evans. Reports confirm that the two have been engaged since childhood, with their families planning an official announcement soon..."

Fiancé?

Ardian's breath hitched. His lips curled into a slow, eerie smile, but his eyes were dark, unblinking.

"Engaged?" he whispered. His grip on the remote tightened until it cracked under the pressure.

No.

This couldn’t be real.

Sebastian and Aurora?

He had known about Sebastian, of course. The man was a nuisance, a presence always lingering around Aurora. But an engagement?

A marriage that had been decided since childhood?

His mind raced, and a strange laugh bubbled up in his throat. It started as a quiet chuckle, then grew louder, hysterical, unstable.

How dare they?

How dare she keep this from him?

Ardian stood abruptly, knocking the chair over as he stormed toward the locked room where Aurora was kept.

His footsteps echoed down the hall, each step heavier, faster, fueled by the chaos burning inside him.

He pushed the door open with such force that it slammed against the wall, making Aurora jump in fear.

She sat on the cold floor, her arms wrapped around her knees. At the sight of him, her body tensed, her lips trembling.

"Tell me," Ardian said, his voice eerily calm.

"Tell me about Sebastian."

"What was that in the news!!! You are engaged since childhood?!,"

Aurora swallowed, trying to control her shaking hands. Her mind raced.

She had to be careful. If she showed fear, it would only excite him. If she defied him, he might hurt her.

She had to make him believe she didn’t care for Sebastian.

"I-It’s not like that," she said softly, forcing herself to meet his gaze.

"It was just... how we were raised. Our families decided it for us, but it’s not real."

Ardian tilted his head, watching her. "So you don’t like him?"

She nodded quickly, desperate. "No. It’s just what people assume. We never..."

She stopped when she saw it. The way his lips twitched, the way his eyes darkened.

For a brief moment, she thought she had convinced him. But then...

"Liar."

The word cut through the air like a blade.

Aurora's heart dropped.

"You like him, don’t you?" Ardian stepped closer. His voice was soft, but there was an edge to it, something terrifying.

"Of course, I know that you like each other. You just never confessed properly, right?"

He let out a breathy laugh. "Did you think I’m a joke, Aurora? I can see right through you. I know you better than anyone."

Aurora shook her head frantically. "No, I...."

"This isn’t good," he murmured. His expression shifted, the amusement in his eyes fading into something much darker.

"You’re lying to me. You shouldn’t lie to me, Aurora. I should teach you something. I should punish you for lying to me."

Aurora’s blood turned cold.

"Look," Ardian continued, kneeling in front of her. His fingers reached out, gently brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"It’s not your fault. The whole ‘engagement’ thing? That’s just because I came into your life too late. I should have been there earlier. But it’s okay. I won’t blame you for that."

His fingers trailed down to her jaw, tilting her chin up. His touch was gentle, almost affectionate.

"But lying to me? That’s different."

Aurora whimpered.

"Sebastian is your past," Ardian whispered.

"I am your present. And your future."

Her breath hitched.

"Now," he whispered, his lips ghosting near her ear, "shall we begin your punishment?"

Aurora screamed as he grabbed her wrist and yanked her to her feet.

"No! Ardian, please!" she pleaded, struggling against his grip.

But he was too strong.

She stumbled as he dragged her down the dimly lit hallway, her bare feet scraping against the cold floor. Her heart pounded in terror.

He pulled open a heavy, rusted door at the end of the hall. The air that hit her was damp and suffocating.

"Please," she sobbed, her voice breaking.

"Don’t lock me up, "

Ardian ignored her. With one violent shove, he threw her inside.

Aurora hit the ground hard, her hands scraping against the rough concrete.

She gasped, trying to crawl back toward the door, but Ardian was already closing it.

"I’ll come for you in a few hours," he said, his voice disturbingly casual.

"I need to calm myself down first. If I don’t, well..." He chuckled.

"You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry."

The door slammed shut.

Aurora pounded against it.

"Ardian! Let me out"

No answer.

She spun around, her breathing ragged, her vision blurring with tears. The room was small, dimly lit by a flickering bulb.

The air was unnaturally cold.

Too cold...

Her body shivered as she wrapped her arms around herself. Then her eyes landed on something.

A large, metal freezer sat in the corner.

Aurora hesitated.

Something felt... wrong.

A sharp chill ran down her spine as she forced herself to move closer. She didn’t want to open it. Every instinct in her screamed not to open it.

But she did.

She lifted the lid...

And screamed...

The smell hit her first.... metallic, sickly sweet.

And then she saw them.

A pair of severed hind legs, twisted unnaturally. A torso, partially frozen. And then...

A head.

A human head, staring back at her with dead, frozen eyes.

Aurora’s scream shattered through the room, her whole body trembling in pure terror. She stumbled backward, her stomach twisting in horror.

She couldn’t breathe.

She couldn’t think.

Ardian was a monster.

Her mind spiraled, the reality sinking in.

She was trapped.

With a man who had no limits.

With a man who thought she belonged to him.

And he wasn’t going to let her go.

Ever....

TO BE CONTINUED...