Chapter 94

• There came another mirthless laugh from him, smooth as velvet yet dark as the night. "No, Anastasia. You will always have me. Always. But therein lies the problem, does it not? The harsh truth is that you possess no one else. That is the only reason you remain tethered to me. You lack alternatives, places to go."
• "That is not true—"
• "And if that were to change? If you were given the opportunity to start anew in a different place, with a blank slate, free from anyone seeking to ruin you, devoid of the ghosts from your past, without debts demanding repayment, embarking on a fresh life with enough money to sustain you for the rest of your days, would you hesitate to accept that offer and run away from me?" His question was not harsh, and his tone remained steady, unwavering.