Above the roar of the helicopter blades and the crashing thunder, Arisa could only hear the frantic beating of her own heart. Looking out the window, she saw Abir's mansion on the mountain engulfed in a sea of fire. The red glow reflected in her eyes, creating a haunting aura.
Abir shut the door and sat beside her, his expression devoid of regret. He took her bandaged hand in his.
"Stop looking back, Arisa," Abir said, his voice low and firm. "With those flames, your past, your tears, and your brother—everything burned to ashes today. From now on, you belong only to me."
"You destroyed everything, Abir..." Arisa whispered. "Where are we going? Where does this sky end?"
Abir gave a mysterious smile. "We aren't going to any country, Arisa. We are going to my private island. A world in the heart of the Pacific where there are no laws, no police. There, you will be the only queen."
Hours later, the helicopter landed on a secluded yet high-tech island. Surrounded by turquoise waters and white sand stood a massive glass mansion that looked like a mirage. As they stepped out, hundreds of armed guards stood with bowed heads, awaiting Abir's command.
Abir led her into the glass house, which offered a panoramic view of the ocean. He stood her before a grand dressing table adorned with diamonds and jewels.
"This is all for you, Arisa," Abir murmured. "I want you to erase every trace of your old self. Tonight, you will be reborn as a new Arisa—one that I will craft with my own hands."
Arisa looked at her reflection. The innocence in her eyes was gone, replaced by a deep melancholy and an inexplicable attraction toward Abir. He leaned in, whispering near her ear, "Don't be afraid. I know Aryan will look for you. But he will never find the coordinates of this island. And even if he does, this blue ocean will turn red with his blood."
Arisa realized she was caught in a web with no escape. She didn't know if Abir loved her or had made her his ultimate obsession. All she knew was that even as a queen in this glass palace, she was merely a bird in a gilded cage.
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