Chapter 28: The Devil’s Embrace
Tears streamed down Lilia's face as the weight of her realization sank in. The person she had been desperately trying to escape from was the same person she now felt compelled to seek out.
Her breaths came in short, ragged gasps, a mix of exhaustion from running and the dryness clawing at her throat. Every inhale burned her lungs, but she didn't stop. All that mattered was escaping the sight of that old, disgusting man. Her legs moved faster, fueled by fear and desperation, even as her muscles screamed in protest.
She risked a glance behind her. The sight of him clutching his head sent a fresh wave of revulsion through her. He looked disoriented, stumbling slightly, yet the danger he represented was undeniable. A shiver ran down her spine.
What did he even want from her? She had no idea. What could a man like him possibly need from someone like her? The questions swirled in her mind like a storm, but there was no time to dwell on them.
"Z... Zethan."
The name tumbled from her lips, startling her. It was almost instinctual, as though some unseen force had pulled it from deep within her. In this moment of sheer panic, it was the only name she could think of—the only person she felt could save her.
Had she been foolish? Foolish to think she could escape this nightmare unscathed? A bitter laugh almost escaped her. What was she even doing? Running into a world she thought was a fairytale, only to be slapped with reality.
The irony of it all twisted painfully in her chest. Zethan, the man she had run away from, was the person she was now trying to run back to.
If only she had chosen him. If only she had gone through with the engagement. At least then, she might have had the time and resources to plan a proper escape. She could have gathered money, prepared herself for freedom. Instead, she had clung to a naive dream of independence, unprepared for the harsh reality that awaited her.
No apartment. No job. No plan. What kind of escape was this? The thought gnawed at her, eating away at the confidence she had once possessed. Was she truly just a... rich brat?
The evening breeze bit into her skin, chilling her to the bone. Tears streamed down her cheeks as her body trembled, her resolve crumbling with every step. Loose strands of her hair whipped against her face, escaping from the claw clip that once held them in place. She barely noticed. Her vision blurred, the world around her spinning.