Marriage Pact

ZARA'S POV

Three days, three blessed, quiet days. The mansion had never felt so peaceful, without Kai's oppressive presence. The weight that usually pressed down on me from every corner of the house has lifted, if only temporarily. I wandered the halls, feeling a strange sense of relief mingled with my ever-present dread.

Kai's mansion was an architectural marvel, sprawling and grand with its high ceilings, marble floors and crystal chandeliers. But to me, it was nothing more than a gilded cage. Every ornate detail, every lavish room was just another reminder of my confinement and lack of freedom.

But my heart whispers, ‘Not much longer.’ Kai's time is running out; just two months left. I can almost taste the freedom that awaits me.

My room, once a prison cell, now feels like a temporary refuge. I spent my days reading, daydreaming and counting down the days until Kai's inevitable departure. “What future awaits us,” I whispered, to the little one growing inside me.

Mrs Adler, My dad and Lena were coming over for dinner. I wasn't thrilled about it, but it's better than being alone in my thoughts.

The first to arrive was Lena. My heart lifted the moment I saw her walking in at the door. She was elegant as ever, each movement fluid and composed. She was attired in a fitted purple dress that emphasized her tall, slim figure. Her wavy dark hair was done up in a high ponytail, and her makeup was flawless to contrast the colour of her skin and bring out high cheekbones, highlighting those striking hazel eyes. That elegance she carried was offset by a warm, inviting smile.

Despite everything that happened, I still loved her and never once blamed her for the situation I was in. But I blamed my father for putting his company first, over the life, happiness and freedom of his daughter.

I ran to her, barely containing my excitement. "Hey, be careful. You shouldn't run at this speed. You are still in the early stage of your pregnancy," she warned.

I pulled her into a tight hug, not responding to anything she said. "I've missed you so much," I murmured, still holding her tight.

"Zara, I can't breathe," she said, muffled and hoarse as she tapped my back.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." I let go of her straight away, and we both started to laugh.

"I have missed you too, baby sis." Her eyes sparkled with affection as she spoke.

We walked to the sitting room, settling on the plush chairs. For a moment, it felt like old times, before almost the chaos.

“So, how have you been,” Lena asked.

“I've been…getting by,” I said carefully

“That's good,” she said, with a smile. “I have a message for you, from Liam.”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. “Liam? What did he say?”

She took a deep breath, her gaze steady. “He still loves you, Zara. He said he'll wait for you, till Kai is gone and you give birth to the baby, and you two will be together again.”

A mix of emotions surged through me—hope, longing and fear. “He said that?”

“Yes,” Lena replied, but there was something in her tone that made me uneasy. “But, Zara, do you think it's going to work out?”

I frowned. “ What do you mean?”

She hesitated and then spoke carefully. “I just think… things have changed. You've been through so much, and who knows how Liam will feel after everything? Do you also think you'll be able to leave this house even after Kai's death? And there's this baby to consider.”

I shook my head, clinging to the hope that Liam's words had given me. “Once Kai is dead, I'll be free. Mrs Adler only cares about the baby, not me. Liam and I can be together again, just as he said.”

Lena's eyes flickered with something, I couldn't quite read—concern, perhaps or something deeper. “I just don't want you to get hurt, Zara. Liam might love you now, but people change. Circumstances change.”

I swallowed hard, refusing to let doubt creep in. “I have to believe in this, Lena. It's going to be my only hope going forward.”

She sighed, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “I understand. Just… be careful. I don't want you to get your heart broken.”

“I appreciate your concern,” I said softly. “But Liam and I have been through too much to let go now. He loves me and I love him. Once Kai is out of the picture we can be happy.”

Lena nodded, though her expression remained troubled. “I hope you're right, Zara. I do.”

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of our conversation hanging in the air.

Lena and Liam were childhood friends and classmates, and she had been our biggest cheerleader since we'd been together. But she seemed uncertain now.

Despite Lena's doubt, I felt a renewed sense of determination. Kai's absence had given me a glimpse of what life could be like when he's finally gone; I was more resolved than ever to make that vision a reality. Liam's love was my beacon, and I would hold on to it, no matter what.

Soon enough, my father and Mrs. Adler arrived—a pointed reminder of the reasons I was stuck in this situation.

The madam had outdone herself this time around when it came to the meal. There were so many dishes, the array on the table looking too beautiful to eat. The irony did not miss me; after all, this was a gilded cage, and tonight, it was dressed in its finest.

We sat around the large table, the silence thick with unspoken words. Lena squeezed my hand under the table, offering a small comfort.

Dinner felt more like a formality than a family gathering. I had no interest in being a part of this charade, but keeping up appearances was essential.

The silence was broken by Mrs Adler's cough. "I hope you've been comfortable in Kai's absence, Zara," she said, her voice not showing any concern.

I forced a smile. "Yes, thank you. It's been...quiet."

My father's eyes, a mixture of pity and regret, met mine, but he looked away almost instantly. He felt no right to give way to emotions that would give him away as equally guilty in the setup, while we both knew the truth.

The dinner was dragging on. It became increasingly difficult to focus on small talk. Thoughts of the unborn child inside me and the unknown future lying ahead engrossed my mind. Lena, noticing my uneasiness, tried to shift the conversation to less weighty themes, but tension persisted in the air.

The doorbell rang just as we were finishing dessert. Madam Tess hurried to open it, and in a moment, Ethan entered the dining room. I had seen him two or three times before when he came by to visit Kai; however, we had not spoken.

Ethan was tall and lean with angular features. His dirty blond hair was slicked back, neat behind his ears. His mannerisms were such that he naturally drew eyes on him, his carriage exuding confidence in his stride.

Tonight, though, he seemed tight-strung, his usual relaxed air replaced by something much more urgent.

"Ethan, what a surprise," Mrs Adler said, her tone curious and annoyed at the same time.

"I need to talk to everyone," Ethan said, his eyes locking onto mine for a second before he went ahead. "It's about Kai."

My heart skipped. I'd assumed Kai was away on a business trip and this was just an opportunity for me to finally breathe without him looming over my every move. But the expression on Ethan's face told me otherwise.

Mrs Adler's face hardened. "What is it, Ethan? Spit it out."

Ethan took a deep breath, his eyes flicking around the room. "Kai wasn't in London for business," he said, his voice steady but heavy with tension. "He went for surgery."

A collective gasp filled the room. My mind was racing, trying to get my head around what Ethan was saying. Surgery? For what? Was it to do with his terminal illness?

He found a surgeon who could cure his illness. The surgery was incredibly risky, with only a 30% chance of survival. But…he made it. Kai is going to be fine," Ethan continued.

The room spun, and I gripped the edge of the table to keep me from going down. My well-thought-out plan for getting my life back after Kai died and after the baby was born, shattered in that second. He was going to survive. He was coming back.

Mrs Adler's face was a picture of shock and relief. My father looked as though he had been hit by an electric shock. Lena's hand tightened around mine, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"How…how long until he comes back?" I stammered, my voice barely audible.

Ethan turned to me; his expression softened a fraction. "He's regaining consciousness now. He will be well enough to come home in a week."

Those words hung suspended, like a death sentence. The plan for my escape was foiled. I would be stuck here with Kai again, at the mercy of his unstable moods and mean treatment. My future, that of my unborn child, seemed more uncertain than ever.

As the shock began to set in, I felt a shiver of fear run through me. How am I going to survive this? How do I protect myself and my child from a man who now had nothing to lose?

Ethan's bombshell had left us speechless—all of us except for me, that is–I've been given a taste of freedom, only to whisk it away. Now, with Kai returning within the next few days, my prison walls felt impenetrable like nothing else before.

The silence in the room was deafening. I turned to look at the faces of those who had shaped my destiny: My father, Mrs Adler, Ethan—realizing that none could help me now. I stood alone in this, more than ever.

Then, as if to add insult to injury, Ethan spoke again, his voice cutting across the tension like a knife…

"There's something else," he said, his eyes now focused solely on me. "Kai…he'll be expecting you to welcome him home."

My blood ran cold. The room seemed to close in around me, and I could barely breathe. Kai was coming back. And he cared about nothing but control.

I was left dangling over the edge, terrified of what awaited me once Kai returned.