Camila's POV
How did I get here?
The question had been echoing in my mind since I had agreed to this marriage, but now, more than ever, it burned like a bitter poison. From the first moment I stepped into this mansion, I had hoped for something beyond the cold, calculated game of power and alliances. But every look he gave me, every word he spoke, reminded me of the cage I was now trapped in.
This wasn't marriage. This was captivity.
I wasn't sure when the shift had happened. Maybe it was the moment Daniil had accepted the alliance, knowing full well the consequences it would bring to both of us. Maybe it was when he looked at me with indifference, a possession to be moved around at his will. But today, as I stood in front of him, something inside me snapped.
"You think you can control me, Daniil?" I spat the words out, my voice rising in volume, shaking with the anger I had spent far too long bottling up. The words felt foreign on my tongue, but they were no less real. I was done playing the part of the docile wife.
His gaze flickered to me for the briefest of moments, his lips curling slightly, as if my outburst had amused him. "What exactly do you think you can do, Camila?" he asked, his voice low, his tone mocking.
I didn't flinch. No. I had had enough of being pushed around, of being dismissed like I didn't matter. I had spent too many days walking on eggshells, too many nights listening to him call the shots while I sat idly by. But no more.
I clenched my fists, the blood rushing in my veins. "I've been silent for far too long, Daniil. But not anymore." The words tumbled out of me, like a dam finally breaking, and I couldn't stop them. "I'm not some prize to be won in your game. You don't get to treat me like one of your pawns, moving me around at your whim."
His eyes narrowed, his posture stiffening as he studied me. He wasn't used to this. The sudden change in me must have been a shock, because for a moment, I saw something flash across his face, surprise, maybe even a hint of respect. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by the cold indifference I had come to know.
"Shouting won't change anything," he said, his voice colder than before, as if he were speaking to a child throwing a tantrum.
I didn't care. I took a step toward him, my heart pounding in my chest, but this time, it wasn't fear. It was defiance. "No," I snapped. "But it will make you see me. It will make you realize that I'm not just some woman who will sit quietly in your shadow. I won't be invisible to you any longer."
His gaze softened for a fraction of a second, but the shift was imperceptible. If I hadn't been looking so intently, I might have missed it. Still, I saw it. I saw that, for the first time, I had caught his attention.
"You're making a mistake," he warned, his tone now laced with something darker, a warning that sent a chill racing down my spine. "This is not a battle you're ready to fight, Camila."
I stood my ground, not backing down, even though I knew he was right. I had no experience in this kind of world of power, manipulation, and danger. But the fire inside me burned too brightly to ignore. I would fight. Not just for myself, but for the chance to regain control of my life.
"We'll see about that," I said, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at my insides.
His expression didn't change, but I could see a flicker of something in his eyes. Perhaps he wasn't used to women standing up to him. Perhaps he didn't expect this version of me. For a split second, I wondered if I had made a grave mistake, if my defiance would only bring me more suffering. But then I remembered that I had already lost everything. What else did I have to lose
Daniil's eyes narrowed further, his lips tightening into a thin line. "If you want to play games, Camila, be prepared for the consequences. I don't care what you think you've gained today, but remember this, there's no going back. Once you cross that line, you're in my world now."
The weight of his words hung in the air, thick and suffocating. But I refused to be intimidated. Not anymore.
"I'm not afraid of you," I said, my voice louder now, emboldened by the raw emotion swirling inside me. "And I won't let you make me feel small any longer."
There was a long pause. Daniil's face remained unreadable, but the flicker of something, whether it was admiration or irritation. I couldn't tell. I held his gaze, refusing to look away. I was no longer the frightened woman who had entered this marriage with hope in her eyes, willing to submit to a life she never wanted. Now, I was someone else. Someone who had made the decision to fight, to carve out a space for herself, even if it meant facing the wrath of the man standing before me.
"You've made your choice," he said quietly, almost as if to himself. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
I couldn't bring myself to respond. The tension between us crackled, thick with unsaid words and emotions. I wasn't sure where this newfound strength would take me, or if it would be enough to survive what was coming. But for the first time since marrying him, I felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, I could change my fate.
Daniil turned away, his back to me as he walked toward the door, his footsteps echoing in the silence. "We'll see how long this lasts," he called over his shoulder, his voice a low, dangerous rumble.
And with that, he was gone. But I didn't feel defeated. No, something had shifted inside me, and I wasn't going to let it go.
I had just begun. And I wasn't going to back down now.
This was only the beginning.
The question was, what would happen next?