Chapter 2 The Devil's bargain

Chapter 2: The Devil's Bargain

I couldn't breathe.

Julian's hand was still wrapped around my throat, his thumb resting against my erratic pulse. He wasn't squeezing, but the threat was absolute. The darkness of the room felt alive, pressing in on me as the scent of cedar and rain filled my lungs.

Say my name.

My mind raced. I was trapped under the weight of a man who looked exactly like my husband, but whose soul was entirely different. If I screamed, the guards downstairs would rush up. But if the guards found Julian in my bed, the ensuing scandal would be catastrophic. Adrian would destroy me. My father would rot in prison.

I had to survive. I had to play the game.

I swallowed hard, my throat moving against his palm.

"Julian," I whispered.

The effect was instantaneous. The suffocating tension in the air shattered. The hand around my throat loosened, sliding up to cup my jaw with a tenderness that made my stomach flip.

A dark, satisfied groan rumbled in his chest. "Again," he demanded softly. "Say it again."

"Julian," I repeated, a little louder this time.

He let out a breathless laugh, a sound of pure, unadulterated relief. He leaned down, and instead of the brutal assault I expected, his lips brushed against mine. The kiss was soft, almost reverent, completely at odds with the terrifying threat he had issued seconds ago.

"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that," Julian murmured against my lips. "He doesn't deserve you, Sera. He treats you like a possession. A cold, dead trophy. But I..." His thumb traced my cheekbone. "I would burn the world down just to keep you warm."

My heart hammered against my ribs. This wasn't just a physical game; it was psychological warfare. Julian wasn't just stealing his brother's wife; he was trying to steal his life, piece by piece. And he wanted me to be his willing accomplice.

I had to be smart. I couldn't show fear, but I couldn't show eagerness either. I had to be the scared, neglected wife who was desperate for a sliver of affection.

"You're insane," I breathed, my voice trembling-not entirely from acting. "If Adrian finds out-"

"He won't," Julian cut me off, his voice hardening. "He's in Tokyo, distracted by the harbor project. He thinks he's so clever, trying to edge me out of the market. He has no idea I'm right here, in his bed, holding his most precious treasure."

He shifted his weight, reaching into the pocket of his dark coat. The sound of metal clinking filled the quiet room.

He took my hand and pressed something cold and sharp into my palm.

I frowned, running my thumb over it. It was a small, silver key.

"What is this?" I asked.

"The key to the bottom left drawer of his office desk," Julian whispered. "You've been looking for a way to clear your father's name, haven't you? You've been playing the dutiful wife, waiting for a moment to sneak into his files. You're not as subtle as you think, darling."

My blood ran cold. He knew. He knew about my father. He knew about my agenda. I was completely transparent to him.

"I..." I started, but my voice failed me.

"Don't lie to me, Sera," Julian said, his tone taking on an edge of eerie calm. "I know everything about you. I know you hate him. And I know you want revenge. That drawer contains the evidence you need. The proof that Adrian orchestrated your family's ruin. But you can't access it until you bypass his biometric lock. The key alone won't do it, but I can help you with the rest."

My mind spun. This was exactly what I wanted. The evidence. The truth. But why would Julian give it to me?

"What's the catch?" I asked, my voice steady now.

Julian leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear. "The catch is that you play my game, Sera. You let me in. You let me love you. And when I finally destroy my brother and take his empire, you will stand by my side. Not as Adrian Blackwood's widow, but as Julian Blackwood's wife."

He pulled back slightly. Even in the pitch black, I could feel the intensity of his gaze.

"I will be back tomorrow night," he said softly. "The power will still be out. The guards will be blind. And you will be waiting for me."

Before I could answer, he pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead and slipped off the bed. His footsteps retreated across the room, fluid and silent. The door opened and closed with a soft click, and I was left alone in the suffocating darkness, clutching the silver key so tightly it bit into my palm.

The storm raged outside, but inside, a storm was brewing in my chest. I had just made a deal with the devil. But if the devil was the only one who could help me destroy my monster of a husband, I was willing to burn in hell.

I lay back on the pillows, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I had the key. I had a twisted, obsessive ally. But as I stared up at the ceiling, a terrifying thought crossed my mind.

Julian said he knew everything about me. He knew about my father. He knew about my plan.

But what if he didn't know the most important thing of all?

What if he didn't know that I wasn't just planning to destroy Adrian?

I was planning to destroy them both.

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