Chapter 42

• The room was suffocating in its darkness, the only light spilling in from the crack beneath the door. Aria sat on the edge of the bed, her body trembling with silent sobs. She had become Dante's plaything, a role she never wanted to accept. Her mind reeled with thoughts of escape, of a life beyond the walls that caged her. But she knew better than to hope—hope was a luxury she couldn’t afford.
• The creak of the door opening made her freeze, her eyes snapping up to meet the cold, dark gaze of the man who had stolen her freedom. Dante loomed in the doorway, his very presence a storm about to break. The air grew thick with tension, and she felt the weight of his stare on her as if it were a tangible force, pushing her down into the mattress. She bit her lip to keep from whimpering, willing herself to be strong.
• Dante stepped into the room, his footsteps heavy and deliberate. Aria's heart hammered in her chest as she scooted back on the bed, trying to put as much space as possible between them. But it was a futile effort—the room was his domain, and she was his possession. His eyes narrowed, the shadows playing across his face as he took in her fear. He didn't like that she had stepped back—it was a sign of disobedience, and she knew all too well what that meant.