The streets were eerily quiet as Selene trudged forward, the cold biting at her skin. Her heart pounded as she approached the one place she still believed was safe-Noah's house.
Her fiancé.
Her last hope.
Her father had cast her aside like trash, and her so-called family had never cared. But Noah... he had promised her forever. He had sworn he would always love her, no matter what.
And she needed to believe that promise was real.
Selene's fingers trembled as she pushed open the front door. She had a spare key. Noah had given it to her months ago, telling her that his home was hers. That she could come to him whenever she needed him.
The house was dimly lit. She stepped inside, her heartbeat a thunderous drum in her chest.
And then she heard it.
A woman's laugh.
Selene froze.
Her stomach twisted violently as she followed the sound, her steps slow, hesitant-as if her body already knew what her mind refused to accept.
The bedroom door was slightly ajar.
Her fingers curled into fists as she pushed it open.
And then...
Her world shattered.
Noah was there, lying in bed-with her half-sister.
Their bodies tangled in silk sheets. His hands gripping her waist. Their breaths mingling in a whisper of betrayal.
For a moment, Selene couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.
Her half-sister, Layla, was the first to notice her. A smirk curled on her lips, unapologetic, victorious.
"Oops," Layla drawled, stretching lazily against Noah's bare chest. "Looks like she found out."
Noah stiffened, his eyes widening. "Selene-"
But she was already backing away.
Her chest ached-no, burned.
A cold, sinking weight pulled at her, suffocating her in its grip.
She had nothing left.
No family. No love.
Not even a reason to exist.
The next thing she knew, she was running. The streets blurred around her, the city lights flickering like distant stars. Her heart pounded in her ears, but she barely felt it.
The night was colder than usual, the wind slicing through Selene Calloway's thin dress like a thousand tiny blades. She barely felt it. Her bare feet sank into the damp earth as she stood at the edge of the riverbank, staring down at the black, rushing water.
This was it.
She had nothing left. No mother. No home. No love.
Tears blurred her vision, mixing with the drizzle that had begun to fall. The moon's reflection rippled on the water's surface, distorted-just like the life she had once dreamed of. A life that had been ripped away from her the moment she learned the truth.
Her mother's death had never been an accident.
The words still echoed in her mind, slicing through her soul like a rusted dagger.
Her mother had been murdered.
By her own father.
Selene let out a bitter, broken laugh, the sound barely reaching her own ears. The man who was supposed to love and protect her had been nothing but a parasite-marrying her mother for wealth, using her until she was no longer useful, and then discarding her like trash.
And he hadn't done it alone.
The woman he had always claimed was just a business partner, the woman her mother had despised-his mistress, now his wife-had been a part of it. Together, they had stolen everything. Her mother's fortune. Her dignity. Her life.
And now they lived happily in the very house that should have been her mother's. Raising their daughter-her half-sister-as the beloved princess of the family while Selene had been left to rot.
A new wave of grief slammed into her, making her knees buckle. She wanted to scream, to curse the heavens, to claw at the earth beneath her feet until she disappeared. But there was no one to hear her cries. No one to care.
She took a step forward.
The wind howled. The river raged.
One more step, and it would all be over.
Selene closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
Then, she let go.
For a single, terrifying moment, she felt weightless. The cold air rushed past her, her hair whipping around her face as she fell toward the icy embrace of the river.
But she never hit the water.
A force yanked her back with brutal strength, pulling her against something solid. Arms. Strong, unyielding arms wrapped around her waist, stopping her descent in an instant.
Selene gasped, her eyes flying open in shock.
She wasn't falling. She was being held.
A deep, smooth voice murmured against her ear, "Not tonight, sweetheart."
Her body trembled as she turned her head slightly, and her breath caught in her throat. The man holding her was tall-towering over her-his broad frame draped in a sleek black suit that somehow remained pristine despite the storm brewing around them. Midnight-black hair framed a chiseled face, sharp and striking.
But it was his eyes that stole her breath.
A stormy, mesmerizing silver. Cold, unreadable, yet filled with something raw. Something she couldn't quite understand.
Selene struggled, her nails digging into his sleeve. "Let me go."
His grip didn't loosen. "Not happening."
Her vision blurred with fresh tears. "Why? You don't even know me."
The man's jaw tightened slightly. His voice dropped to a whisper, rough yet strangely gentle.
"Because I know what it's like to want to disappear."
Her breath hitched.
He... understood?
Selene didn't have time to process it before he moved. Without warning, he scooped her into his arms as if she weighed nothing, cradling her against his chest.
Her body tensed. "What are you doing?"
He glanced down at her, his expression unreadable. "Taking you home."
She stiffened. "I don't have a home."
His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Then I'll give you one."
And just like that, her fate was sealed.
The car ride was silent.
Selene sat curled against the plush leather seat, her damp hair sticking to her skin, her hands clenched in her lap. Across from her, the man-Lucian Blackwood-watched her with an unreadable expression.
His name sounded vaguely familiar, but her mind was too numb to process it.
Her body was still trembling, but not from the cold. From the weight of everything.
Her mother was dead. Her father had betrayed her. And she had almost-
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to push the thought away.
The car slowed to a stop. She barely noticed when Lucian stepped out and opened her door, waiting for her to move. When she didn't, he sighed and leaned down, his voice softer this time. "Come inside. You need to warm up."
Selene hesitated. This man had saved her life, but why?
Still, she was too exhausted to argue. With slow, shaky steps, she followed him inside.
The penthouse was breathtaking-floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, casting soft reflections against the marble floors. Dark furniture and gold accents gave the space an air of power, of control.
Lucian walked ahead, disappearing down a hallway before returning with a thick robe and a towel. He placed them in her hands without a word.
"The shower's down the hall. Take your time."
Selene stared at the robe. It was warm, soft. Luxurious.
Something she didn't deserve.
Her throat tightened. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
Lucian's gaze darkened slightly. He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "Because someone should be."
Her chest ached.
No one had ever said that to her before.
After a moment, she turned and walked toward the bathroom. She didn't trust him. She didn't trust anyone.
But for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to run.
---
Later that night, Selene sat curled up on the bed Lucian had led her to. A tray of untouched food rested beside her, but her stomach felt hollow.
The door creaked open. Lucian stepped inside, placing a steaming cup of tea on the nightstand.
She eyed him warily. "You're being too nice."
Lucian arched a brow. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Her fingers tightened around the blanket. "People aren't kind for no reason."
Lucian exhaled, his gaze softer than before. He sat on the edge of the bed, resting his forearms on his knees.
"You don't trust me," he murmured.
She didn't respond.
Lucian's voice was quieter this time, almost like a vow.
"But you don't have to be afraid of me, Selene. No one will ever hurt you again. Not while you're mine."
Her heart pounded.
She should've been afraid.
But for the first time in forever, she felt something else.
Safe.
And that terrified her even more.