Blood…
All I can see is his blood… through the flickering lights of the street.
Rain fell like it was trying to erase something. The streetlights flickered above, casting shadows across the empty road and the world blurred into thunder and lightning.
"Elena!"
His voice cracked through the night.
She saw him… barely standing, surrounded, outnumbered by the goons and then… the fourth blow landed.
A dull, sickening sound erupted within him.
Her breath hitched.
Her back slammed against a solid chest as her arms were wrenched behind her, a grip locking her in place before she could even run to him.
"Stay still," Lucien, her very own brother, whispered near her ear, his voice laced with cold amusement.
"No… let me go!" she struggled, her voice trembling, her body twisting against his hold.
It didn't matter. It never did.
Another punch… This time harder.
He staggered, nearly falling but forced himself upright. Blood spilled from the corner of his lips, mixing instantly with the rain.
The word echoed in her mind, louder than the storm, louder than her own heartbeat.
"Elena…" he called again, his voice weaker now, strained but still reaching for her.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"Stop it!" she cried, her voice breaking apart. "Please… stop!"
No one listened.
They never listened.
Another hit drove into his ribs. A sharp gasp left him as he doubled over, barely able to breathe.
Her nails dug into her palms as panic clawed through her.
Why is this happening to me?
Her vision blurred, not from tears… she didn't even realize when they started but from the sheer force of everything collapsing at once.
Why is God punishing me?
Lucien's grip tightened as she struggled again, harder this time, desperate and reckless.
"Please… just stop," she whispered now, her voice shaking uncontrollably.
But the rain swallowed her words whole.
Is it because I defied my father?
Another kick sent him to his knees.
He didn't get back up this time.
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
Am I a bad person?
He lifted his head slowly, painfully, as if it took everything in him just to do that much and then… his eyes found hers.
Through the rain with pain in his eyes.
He looked at her.
Not with blame. Not with anger.
But with something softer.
Something that made her chest ache even more.
"Elena…" he whispered, barely audible now.
Their eyes locked.
And in that moment, everything else faded.
If I'm the bad one… then why is he the one bleeding here?
Her breath caught.
She tried to move again… to reach him, to do something but Lucien's hold didn't budge.
"Watch," Lucien murmured, almost lazily. "You should see what happens to people who forget their place."
Another blow.
Her body jerked forward instinctively, but she was pulled back again, harder this time.
Helpless.
Completely helpless.
Something inside her twisted, shattered, screamed and then, just as suddenly… it stopped.
Her body went still.
The struggle drained out of her limbs. Her fingers slowly loosened, her breathing evening out despite the chaos in front of her.
The rain continued to fall. The blows didn't stop. His voice, calling her name, faded into something distant.
But Elena Vaughn no longer fought, no longer begged, no longer screamed. She just stood there, her eyes fixed on him as the last of something fragile inside her quietly slipped away.
"He's not moving anymore, boss!"
The words cut through the noise and suddenly everything went still.
.
.
.
"Elena."
The voice called her was soft.
Polite.
Her gaze flickered and in the next moment, the rain was gone. The blood… gone. The flickering streetlights were replaced by warm golden lighting and the cold pavement beneath her feet turned into polished marble.
She blinked once, then again.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Perfectly untouched.
"You look absolutely stunning, Miss Vaughn."
The stylist's voice carried a hint of admiration as she adjusted the final strand of Elena's hair. Soft curls framed her face, her makeup flawless… delicate enough to highlight her innocent features, precise enough to maintain the image expected of her.
Elena didn't respond. She simply watched herself in the mirror, her expression calm, almost distant. Porcelain skin, gentle features, a face that could convince anyone she had never known pain. Only her eyes betrayed her… sharp, cold and far too empty.
Behind her, her stepmother, Eleanor Vaughn spoke instead, her tone polite as she dismissed the stylist. "Thank you. You may leave."
The woman smiled and quietly exited, the soft click of the door leaving behind a silence that felt heavier than before.
It didn't last.
"You better keep your act together this time," she said, the sweetness in her voice gone, replaced with something far more cutting. "Don't you dare be ungrateful towards us again."
For a brief second, Elena remained still.
Then she laughed.
Soft at first, almost like she found something amusing, before it grew just enough to feel deliberate. She turned slightly in her chair, her expression shifting effortlessly into something lighter, almost playful.
"Mother…" she said, forming a small pout, her voice gentle yet laced with something unreadable. "I don't like it when you raise your voice at me."
She stood up, smoothing the fabric of her gown as she walked toward her, every step measured, every movement controlled.
"You don't want this arrangement to break, right?" she continued, her tone soft but steady. "In fact… this is something you desperately need."
Her stepmother's lips pressed together, the reaction subtle but enough.
Elena noticed.
Of course she did.
A faint smile curved her lips… sweet, innocent, perfectly deceptive.
"Then don't worry, Mother," she said quietly. "I'll be the most obedient daughter you've ever seen."
After all… this would be her fifth engagement.
_________________________
Eleanor Vaughn descended the staircase with Elena by her side, her posture as graceful as ever, her expression perfectly composed.
At the foot of the stairs stood Victor Vaughn.
He didn't move as they approached, his presence alone enough to dominate the entire space. Unlike Eleanor's polished elegance, Victor carried something far more rigid… something cold and unyielding.
His sharp gaze settled on Elena the moment she stepped down, assessing her, as if measuring her worth in silence.
Even though he needed her tonight, there was no softness in his eyes.
Only warning.
He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, towering over her as he looked down.
"If you screw this up…" His voice was low, controlled, and chilling in its calmness. "You won't get the chance to ever set foot outside again. For the world, I'll declare you dead if I have to."
The words hung heavy in the air.
But Elena didn't flinch.
Instead, she smiled.
Wide and beautiful. Almost obediently.
"Don't worry, Father," she replied lightly, her tone laced with a quiet edge. "I know if I screw this up today… it won't just be my life at stake. It'll ruin everything you've ever built."
Her eyes met his, unwavering.
"So I'll be on my most pleasing behavior tonight."
Victor's expression darkened, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. His hand twitched at his side… an instinct, sharp and dangerous.
Eleanor noticed immediately.
She reached for his hand, her grip gentle but firm, interrupting the moment before it could escalate.
"Let's go, honey," she said smoothly, as if nothing had happened. "We'll be late for dinner with the Hales."
_____________________________
The night air was colder outside.
Lucien Vaughn stood near the car, a cigarette resting between his fingers as smoke curled lazily into the air. He glanced up the moment they stepped out, his expression shifting into something openly displeased the instant his eyes landed on Elena.
A quiet scoff escaped him.
"I hope you gave her proper instructions," he said, his tone edged with irritation as he looked toward his parents. "Or do I need to handle that in my own way?"
Elena let out a soft laugh.
As if none of their words affected her.
"I'm getting tired of repeating myself," she said, tilting her head slightly, her gaze brushing past him without a hint of concern. "But since you seem to need reassurance… this is the third time."
She paused just enough to let it settle.
Then smiled.
"I'm going to change our fate tonight."
Her eyes flickered toward all three of them, something unreadable passing through them.
"I'm sure… you'll all be proud of me."