I felt the world tilt the moment I stepped into that ballroom. The scent of expensive champagne, the low hum of string music, the glittering chandeliers—it was all overwhelming. But nothing rattled me more than the sight of my parents standing at the center of it all, beaming at Camille like she was the greatest treasure they'd ever received.

I shouldn't have come.

Chase had told me to smile, to be polite, to keep up appearances. He had given me a cursory glance before we stepped out of the car, his voice as smooth as ever.

“Don’t embarrass me tonight.”

That was all he had said. No warmth, no concern, just a reminder that I was here for one reason—to be seen, but never truly acknowledged.

I kept my hands clasped tightly together as we made our way through the room. Camille turned at just the right moment, as if she had been waiting for this entrance, for this moment of staged perfection. She looked breathtaking, wrapped in a dress that shimmered like liquid gold under the soft glow of the chandeliers. Her smile was slow, practiced, just the right amount of pleasant surprise.

“Oh, sister,” she breathed, taking a few graceful steps toward me. “You actually made it.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. The words sat heavy on my tongue, tangled and impossible. My heartbeat thrummed against my ribs. Chase had already stepped ahead, answering for me.

“Of course we came. It’s your big night.” His voice was effortlessly smooth, his hand reaching into his pocket.

Camille’s eyes gleamed with anticipation before he had even presented the small, velvet box. I already knew what was inside before she had even opened it. A delicate silver bracelet, one I had seen in old photographs of Chase’s mother. An heirloom passed down through generations of the Knight family.

He had told me it was lost.

I had asked about it once, early in our marriage, when I still believed in the illusion of love between us. I remembered the way he had brushed off my question with a lazy shrug, his lips curving into a faint, dismissive smile.

“Just an old piece of jewelry,” he had said. “Nothing important.”

But it was important. Just not to me.

Camille gasped softly as she lifted the bracelet into the light. “Chase, this is beautiful.”

He smiled at her in a way he had never smiled at me. “It suits you.”

My fingers twitched at my sides. I felt unsteady, like I had wandered onto a stage where everyone else knew their lines except me. I turned quickly, my voice barely above a whisper. “N-Need air.”

I didn’t wait for a response. I slipped away from the crowd, moving toward the garden, where the cool air pressed against my skin like a balm. The estate grounds were just as grand as I remembered—pristine hedges, marble fountains, flowers blooming in curated perfection. I clutched the railing of the balcony that overlooked the pool, staring at my trembling hands.

This wasn’t new. I had long since learned how to stomach heartbreak in silence. But tonight, it felt unbearable.

“Running away already?”

Camille’s voice drifted through the night air, as soft as silk and just as suffocating. I didn’t turn to face her. I didn’t need to.

She stepped closer, her perfume cloying and sweet. “It’s pathetic, you know.”

My fingers curled around the railing. I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “D-Don’t…” The word came out fragile, unsteady.

Camille only laughed. “Don’t what? Tell the truth?” She leaned in, her voice dropping lower. “You must be the most oblivious woman alive. Did you really think Chase married you out of love?”

I stiffened.

She sighed dramatically. “He needed to keep Michael under control. You were a convenient way to do it. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut. The words jumbled together, twisting, turning, pressing against my skull.

Camille hummed. “No? Still in denial? Fine, I’ll spell it out for you. Chase never wanted you. He belongs to someone else—always has.”

I wanted to say something—anything—but my throat burned, my thoughts tangled beyond repair.

Camille reached for my wrist, her nails pressing into my skin. “You should just leave, Mia. Leave before you embarrass yourself even more.”

I yanked my arm back, my breath uneven. “S-Stop.”

She tilted her head, watching me struggle to force out the word. Her smirk deepened. “You’re so weak,” she murmured. Then, without another word, she stepped back—stepped up onto the stone ledge overlooking the pool.

And then she let out a bloodcurdling scream.

I barely had time to react before she flung herself backward, crashing into the water with a dramatic splash. The noise shattered the quiet, sent ripples of panic through the air.

Within seconds, voices called out, hurried footsteps echoing against the marble. The doors burst open, and people rushed forward.

Chase was the first to reach the pool’s edge. His face twisted in alarm as he pulled off his jacket, ready to jump in.

Camille surfaced, gasping for air, her hands thrashing. “Mia—she pushed me!”

The words slammed into me like a fist.

My breath caught. My stomach twisted violently. “N-No, I—”

“She pushed me!” Camille’s sobs were choked, her voice trembling. “I was just trying to talk to her, and she—she shoved me in!”

I took a step back, shaking my head. “T-That’s… n-not…” The words wouldn’t come out right. They never did when I needed them most.

Camille reached toward Chase. “I was so scared,” she whispered. “I thought I was going to drown.”

Chase didn’t look at me. Not even once. He pulled Camille into his arms, his voice low, soothing. “You’re safe now.”

The whispers started, soft but growing. The murmurs of the guests, the judgment in their eyes.

I turned on unsteady feet, my heart hammering against my ribs. I needed to leave. I needed to get out of there.

But as I moved toward the front of the house, I saw something that stopped me cold.

Through the blur of tears, beyond the marble steps, Chase was walking toward a sleek black car parked by the entrance. And he wasn’t alone.

A woman stood by the open door, waiting. Chase’s hand touched her waist, a slow, intimate motion. She tilted her head up, her lips parting in a soft smile.

And then he kissed her.

A deep, unhurried kiss, filled with something I had never once seen in his gaze when he looked at me.

I stared, the weight of realization settling like a stone in my stomach.

He had never been mine. Not for a single moment.

And she kissed him back.

Not a secret. Not a mistake.

A promise. Chase was trying to punish me for God knows what. Why he kept touching Camille in front of me could only mean punishment.

Twice tonight he has kissed her without a care in the world.

I felt something inside me crack.

I stood there, frozen, as Chase pulled away and murmured something to her—something soft, something gentle—before opening the car door for her.

She slid inside effortlessly.

Then, without a single glance in my direction, Chase followed.

The engine hummed to life.

And just like that, they were gone.

Leaving me alone in the cold.

Alone with the truth I had been too blind to see. I Needed to leave.

The room was cold. I couldn’t feel my hands anymore as I clutched the podium. My chest felt like it was going to burst. The guests stared at me, waiting for me to say something—anything. I could already hear Camille’s voice in my head, sweet and innocent, like she always played it.

“You owe me an apology, Miracle,” Camille had said earlier. Her eyes, full of fake hurt, shone under the bright lights. “You pushed me. I’ve been hurt so much by you, and all I wanted was to help.”

I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell them all the truth—that she had tripped, that it wasn’t my fault. But I couldn’t. Chase was behind me, his face hard, staring at the guests. I didn’t dare look at him. He’d already made it clear what would happen if I didn’t do this.

I opened my mouth. Nothing came out at first. My throat tightened, my words stuck. I wanted to run. I wanted to hide from all of them. Camille was standing next to me, her hand on my arm, pretending to console me. It made me want to throw up.

“I… I’m sorry, everyone,” I finally forced myself to say. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.” The words felt foreign, like I wasn’t even speaking them. I could feel the eyes on me, and every inch of my skin burned with humiliation.

Chase’s hand on my back was cold, and it made my body tense. I could feel the weight of his anger. Camille squeezed my arm tighter, her nails digging into my skin. I tried not to flinch. I didn’t want to give her that satisfaction.

The room was silent for a moment before a few people murmured, and I was dismissed. Camille took my arm and led me out, her head held high, looking proud of herself. I hated her. I hated how she always managed to twist everything to her advantage.

As soon as we left the room, Chase turned to me. His eyes were dark, and his voice low. “You’re lucky I’m still keeping you around,” he said. “Don’t forget that.”

I couldn’t even reply. My mouth was dry, and I just nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. Camille’s smug smile was the last thing I saw before they walked away. It felt like my entire world was crashing down, and I didn’t even know how to stop it.

That night, the house felt emptier than usual. I was alone. The silence echoed in the hallways. My feet moved on their own, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of Chase’s study. The door was slightly ajar, and I could see the glow of the desk lamp through the crack.

I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t be sneaking around, but my heart pounded, and I couldn’t help myself. I pushed the door open just a little wider and stepped inside.

The room smelled like leather and whiskey. The faint scent of cologne lingered in the air, reminding me of him. I didn’t want to think about him, but it was hard not to. Everything about this house was about him—his rules, his control. I hated it. I hated him.

I glanced at the desk. Papers were scattered across the surface, and there, at the edge, a folder caught my eye. It was thick, marked with something I couldn’t quite read from where I stood. I walked closer, my hands shaking. The first paper I pulled out made my stomach drop.

Financial transactions. Large sums of money, moving into offshore accounts. Camille’s name was listed. I froze. My heart pounded in my chest. What was this? What was she doing?

I flipped through the papers quickly, trying to understand, but the more I saw, the worse it got. These weren’t just business deals. There were connections—names I didn’t recognize. Leon Romano. The rival Mafia boss. Camille’s name was tied to his in more ways than I cared to count.

I stumbled back, almost knocking over a glass. My breath came in ragged gasps. My mind was racing. Camille wasn’t just playing Chase. She was playing him and everyone else.

I had to get out of here. My mind screamed for me to leave, but I couldn’t. I needed to know more. I had to find out everything.

The door creaked open behind me. I froze. My heart dropped into my stomach as I turned around. Michael stood there, his eyes dark and intense. He was always calm, but there was something different in his gaze tonight.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice low.

“I…” I didn’t know what to say. My hand was still clutching the papers. I couldn’t let them go. “I found something,” I whispered.

He stepped inside the room, closing the door behind him. His eyes scanned the desk, and I saw his jaw tighten. “Chase is preparing to throw you away,” he said, his voice cold. “You’re a pawn to him, Miracle. Always have been.”

I shook my head, my heart sinking. “No, he… he won’t. He needs me.”

Michael stepped closer, his gaze hardening. “He won’t need you for long. Not when he’s done with you.” He paused, his voice lowering. “Get out while you still can. You don’t have much time.”

I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to scream, to beg him to tell me what to do. But nothing came out. I just stood there, unable to move, the weight of his words settling on me like a stone.

He gave me a final, almost pitying glance before turning and walking out of the room, leaving me alone once again. The papers on the desk felt heavier now, like they were weighing me down. Camille, Chase, Leon Romano—it was all connected.

I couldn’t stay here anymore. But where could I go? What could I do?

I wasn’t sure, but I knew one thing for certain.

I was done being their pawn.

The silence in the room swallowed me whole as I stood there, staring at the papers. I had to figure this out. For

The morning was heavy, suffocating even. I couldn’t breathe right as I walked through the mansion, my heart pounding. I had to talk to Chase. I had to ask him about Camille. But I knew it wouldn’t go well. Still, I had to try.

When I found him, he was in his office, talking to some of his men. They looked at me when I stepped inside, but no one said anything. Not even him.

I took a deep breath. “Chase,” I started, my voice barely above a whisper. “I need to talk to you.”

He didn’t even look at me. “Not now, Miracle.” His voice was flat, dismissive. I could feel my chest tighten, but I kept my ground.

“Chase,” I repeated, trying to get his attention. “About Camille—”

He raised a hand, cutting me off. “I said, not now.” His eyes stayed on the papers in front of him. I stood there, frozen, my mouth dry.

That was it. He wasn’t even going to listen. I could feel the tears building up, but I wouldn’t let them fall. I wouldn’t let him see me break.

I turned and walked out without saying another word.

The day dragged on, dragging me down with it. Camille seemed to be everywhere I turned. She was in the kitchen, smiling as she ate breakfast. She was by the pool, laughing with some of the staff. She was even standing outside the study, looking at me with that smug, too-perfect smile.

She was taking my place. Everywhere I looked, she was there, like she owned everything.

At dinner, it was worse. I was already sitting at the table, trying to keep my mind busy, but when Camille walked in, my stomach twisted. She was wearing a red dress, the kind of dress that turned heads, and she didn’t even glance my way as she sat down next to Chase.

I couldn’t help it. My eyes drifted to her, and I saw her give me a small, mocking smile. She knew what she was doing.

The dinner went on in a blur. My mind was so distracted by Camille and her every move that I almost didn’t notice what happened next.

Camille “accidentally” knocked over her wine glass. The red liquid splashed across the table, and I could feel the coldness of it hitting me before I even realized what was happening. It soaked my dress, turning it dark with wine.

I sat there, stunned. Everyone at the table went quiet for a moment before laughter erupted. Camille’s eyes twinkled with malicious delight as she “apologized,” but it was clear she didn’t care. She was loving every second of it.

I had to sit there, soaked and embarrassed, while everyone laughed and whispered. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t say anything. My face burned with humiliation.

Chase didn’t even look at me. He just kept talking to Camille, like nothing had happened. Like I wasn’t sitting there, drenched in wine and ignored.

Camille leaned closer to him, her voice soft but loud enough for me to hear. “You should start packing,” she whispered. I could see the smug smile on her face as she stared at me, making sure I understood.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to stand up and tell them all the truth, to make them understand how much they were hurting me. But I couldn’t. I just sat there, feeling smaller and smaller.

When dinner finally ended, I excused myself and went to my room. But I didn’t feel like I had a room anymore. It was just a space. Just a place I was supposed to stay in while they did whatever they wanted with me.

That night, I locked myself in the bathroom. I didn’t want to see anyone. I didn’t want to face the truth, but I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my soaked dress still clinging to my skin. My makeup was ruined, and my hair was a mess.

I was nothing to them.

I had no place here anymore. I wasn’t needed. I wasn’t wanted.

I sank to the floor, my hands gripping the edge of the sink. I felt the tears finally spill over. I didn’t even try to stop them.

I had nothing left.

But then something shifted in me. I couldn’t stay like this. I couldn’t just sit here and let them tear me apart. I had to do something.

I couldn’t rely on Chase. I couldn’t rely on anyone here. I had to get out.

I wiped my eyes, taking a deep breath. I stood up, straightened my dress, and made my way back down the hall.

I couldn’t face them tonight, but there was one thing I had to do.

Chase’s study.

I needed to get the files. The ones I’d found the night before. The ones that could be my way out.

I moved quickly, as quietly as I could, making my way back to the study. The door was still ajar. I slipped inside, the darkness welcoming me. The desk was just how I had left it. The papers, the folders, everything was still there.

I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed the folders, all of them, and shoved them into my bag. I needed every piece of information. I didn’t know what would happen, but I knew I couldn’t leave without it.

I looked around the room one last time before slipping out. The house felt so empty now, like a prison I couldn’t escape. But with these files, I had a chance. I could make a plan. I could figure out how to get out of here, how to leave them all behind.

I didn’t care about Camille or Chase anymore. They didn’t control me. Not anymore.

I didn’t know what I was going to do yet, but I had the power to change it. I could make my own way.

The mansion felt colder than ever as I walked back to my room, the weight of the files heavy in my bag. But for the first time in a long while, I felt like I had control.

It was time to make my escape.