Page 45 of Sinful Obsession

At last he stood, dragging his chair back toward his desk, his back to me.

His voice dropped like a blade. “Don’t mistake mercy for forgiveness.”

Chapter 7

CHARLOTTE

Three endless, suffocating days had passed, and I was still trapped in this godforsaken house.

No maids bustling through the halls, no guards patrolling the perimeter, no one to break the oppressive stillness. Just me, the flicker of a muted television, and these cold, unyielding walls.

Isolation pressed down on me until even silence felt like it had weight.

The only small relief was that the stupid ring my captor had burned into my finger was finally gone.

The procedure was agonizing, a searing pain that left me biting back tears, but the relief of its absence is a small victory.

My finger, still tender and wrapped in a bandage, throbs faintly as a reminder of what I’ve endured.

I’ve scoured every corner of this house for answers, for a way out, for something.

I had also tried using the house computer to search for Ethan—the same Ethan Cassian had mentioned three nights ago during our heated conversation—but nothing came up. Not a face, not even a trace. I didn’t know what he looked like, where he lived, or if he was even real anymore.

How long was I supposed to rot in the shadows like this?

That left me with only one option. Vincent. My brother.

The thought of relying on him twists my stomach—he’s family, yes, but trust is a luxury I can’t afford. Still, I have to be smart. Cunning. If I’m going to escape, I need him.

So I used the house phone, dialing the same number he had called from a few days ago. The line clicked, and after a few tense seconds of silence, his voice came through.

“It’s Charlotte,” I whispered. “How can you get me out?”

His reply was confident. “Just walk to the main gate of the estate. Keep the guards talking. We’ll handle the rest.”

I frown, gripping the receiver tighter. “You mean you’re going to storm the gate with your men? That’s your plan?”

“Don’t worry about the details, Charlotte,” he says, irritation creeping into his voice. “I’ll get you out.”

“Don’t worry?” I almost laughed. “A move like that could start a full-blown war.”

His tone hardened. “We can handle war. Charlotte, do you want out or not?”

My stomach twisted. “How can I even trust you?”

“You’re asking how you can trust your own brother?” he snapped. “I’m the only family you have left. You don’t have a choice.”

My chest tightened.

His words felt like a trap. “Find Ethan first. Then I’ll make my move.”

Silence stretched across the line before Vincent repeated slowly, almost bitterly, “Ethan?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “He’s a close friend. I need to speak with him.”

He exhaled sharply, the sound heavy with annoyance. “You’re still hung up on that friend of yours?”

“How could I not be?” I retort, my voice shaking with defiance. “He’s the only one I know I can trust. I need to talk to him, Vincent.”