THE RIVAL APPEARS
Elliana thought she knew jealousy. She thought she understood the way Austen's disapproval weighed on her.
But she hadn't seen Rhea until that night.
The streets near the docks were quiet, save for the distant hum of engines. Leon had promised just a "quick ride," a way to blow off the tension building between them—but as they pulled up, headlights cut through the darkness.
A sleek red car blocked the road. Rhea stepped out, heels clicking against the asphalt, eyes sharp as knives.
"Still playing with fire?" she called, her voice echoing.
Leon's jaw clenched. "Go home, Rhea."
"I think she belongs to me," Rhea said, stepping closer to Elliana. Her eyes never left hers. "And I don't share."
Elliana stiffened. "I'm not yours."
"You think you have a choice?" Rhea's smile was cruel. "He always comes back to me."
Leon's hand rested lightly on Elliana's shoulder, a silent warning to stay back. But Rhea ignored it.
"You're out of your league, kid," she whispered to Elliana, stepping closer. "And he's not who you think he is."
Elliana met her glare. "I know exactly who he is. And I know he isn't yours to control."
Rhea's lips curled. "We'll see about that."
Before Elliana could respond, Leon's voice cut through the tension. "Get out of here."
Rhea laughed softly. "Not until I've made sure she knows she's just a distraction."
Elliana's heart pounded. She wanted to run, to hide, to escape the entire dangerous world Leon had pulled her into—but she didn't.
Instead, she squared her shoulders. "I'm not afraid of you."
Rhea's eyes flared, a dangerous mix of jealousy and obsession. "You will be."
With a final glare, she slid into her car and sped off, tires screeching on wet asphalt.
Elliana turned to Leon, voice shaky. "She's… intense."
Leon ran a hand through his hair, jaw tight. "She's dangerous. Don't underestimate her."
Elliana looked at him, heart racing. "And you?"
He met her gaze, dark and unwavering. "I'll protect you… but sometimes protection isn't enough."
The silence after that stretched between them, heavier than the night air.
And Elliana realized something terrifying—she was no longer just caught between her father and Leon.
She was caught in the middle of two worlds, and neither was safe.