Page 34

As the weeks passed, she noticed the subtle changes in Vice's demeanor.

The coldness in his eyes had thawed, if only slightly, and he began to show her moments of tenderness that she hadn't expected.

Yet she remained wary, knowing that his affection was as much a weapon as his cruelty.

Each time she felt herself succumbing to his charms, she reminded herself of the reality of her situation and the danger that lurked beneath the surface.

The castle became a prison of desire and fear, where every touch could be a lie, every smile a mask. Ivy grew more adept at navigating the treacherous waters of their relationship, using her newfound knowledge to manipulate him in return. She knew she had to keep her ultimate goal in mind: escape.

One evening, as they lay by the fire, their bodies entwined in a semblance of intimacy.

Vice kissed her neck with a tenderness that was as surprising as it was disturbing.

Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion, her heart torn between the love for her family and the fear that consumed her in this twisted game.

The warmth of his touch was a stark contrast to the coldness of her captivity.

Her eyes remained fixed on the dancing flames, a silent testament to the turmoil within her.

The sadness etched into the very fabric of her being, Vice pulled away, his eyes searching her face.

"Something on you're mind?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate with the crackling fire.

Ivy swallowed hard, the heat of his breath against her skin sending shivers down her spine.

She didn't want to give him any more ammunition, but she also knew that keeping her feelings hidden was a battle she was destined to lose.

"It's just...I miss Alice," she began, her voice wavering. "And James..."

Vice's kisses grew rougher as if trying to silence her words with his touch. "Why do you still care for him?" he demanded, his grip on her tightening.

Ivy took a deep, shuddering breath. "Because I love him," she whispered, her eyes never leaving the flickering fire.

Vice's face contorted into a snarl. "Love?" he spat. "You don't love him. What you love is the idea of who you thought he was. You love a lie, a lie he fed you to keep you in his grasp. He used you, degraded you, and you dare to call it love?"

Ivy's eyes filled with tears, the pain of his words cutting deeper than any physical blow anyone had ever dealt. James had hurt her in ways she had never allowed herself to fully acknowledge.

You still hold on to the idea that he ever loved you?” he said, his voice low and menacing. “It’s sad, pathetic, really. Like a moth drawn to a flame that’s already burnt out.”

Ivy felt a surge of anger and defensiveness at his words, but she bit back her retort. Instead, she looked up at him, her eyes flashing with a mixture of pain and frustration. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

Her hands pressed against his chest as if she could physically push away the words that cut her to the bone. The shadows cast by the dim lighting seemed to cling to his sharp features, accentuating the sneer that played on his lips.

"How can you say that?" Ivy's voice trembled, her words barely above a whisper, but her eyes burned with a fierce intensity. "He loved me, Vice. We had something real. Something that went beyond just physical attraction."

Vice's head shook, a gesture laced with condescension that made Ivy's skin crawl.

"What you had was an illusion, Ivy," he said, his voice dripping with disdain.

"A meticulously crafted fantasy you desperately wanted to believe.

He cheated on you, Ivy. What does that say about his love?

He was ready to leave you, pack up you're dreams and toss them aside like yesterday's newspaper, all for his side piece. .. until she rejected him."

Ivy's face contorted in a mix of pain and anger, tears beginning to well in her eyes. "That was a mistake!" she spat, her voice rising. "A moment of weakness. He made a choice to come back to me! He realized what he almost lost."

Vice's face twisted into a mocking grin.

"A choice out of desperation, not love," he said, his grip on her chin tightening.

"He chose you because he didn't want to be alone. Facing the void of his own making. You were his backup plan, Ivy. The safe harbor he ran to when his ship hit the rocks. Besides Ivy, you can only make one mistake after that it’s a choice.”

Ivy's eyes filled with sadness, her vision blurring as tears streamed down her face, as her bottom lip quivered "You don't know anything about us!" she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. "You weren't there! We shared dreams, plans... a future. There was passion! A connection that was deep."

Vice's eyes seemed to gleam with a malevolent light as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, menacing whisper.

"Passion? That was merely selfish desire, Ivy.

A fleeting, hormonal surge. He saw you as a trophy, someone to fill an emptiness in his own life.

A pretty picture to hang on the wall. But love?

He wouldn't know love if it bit him, tore him limb from limb. "

Ivy's face twisted into a snarl, her chin lifting in defiance. "I refuse to believe that!" she spat, her voice rising. "He had his reasons for leaving... circumstances I understood."

Vice's face twisted into a cruel smile. "Reasons?

Or excuses? Conveniently crafted lies to ease his conscience?

" he said, his voice dripping with disdain.

"He left you hanging, Ivy, dangling by a thread, willing to toss you aside for anyone who would have him.

But when she said no, when he realized he was facing his own insignificance, suddenly you were his only option. The ever reliable, forgiving Ivy."

Ivy's eyes seemed to glaze over, her face crumpling into a sob as the words cut deep. Ivy knew he was right.

Vice's eyes seemed to gleam with a malevolent light as he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her cheek in a soft, possessive kiss. The touch sent shivers down Ivy's spine, a mix of pain and desire that left her breathless and trembling with emotion.

Ivy's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed into the fireplace, the flames dancing across her face like a macabre reflection of her own inner turmoil. She felt a chill run down her spine as Vice's warm breath caressed her ear, his words like a whispered poison that seeped into her very being.

"You really think staying with James was the right choice, huh, Ivy? You call it love, but I call it weakness," he whispered, his lips brushing against her cheek in a gesture both tender and repulsive.

Ivy's gaze snapped back to Vice's face, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and desperation. "It wasn't like that! I thought he loved me," she spat, her voice trembling with emotion.

Vice's eyes narrowed, his expression a mask of condescension. "Thought? You mean you willingly ignored the signs? The way he belittled you, the control he exerted. You chose to stay with an abusive man, thinking he would change."

Ivy's face contorted in a mix of pain and shame, her eyes welling up with tears once more. "I did it because I wanted our family to stay together!"

Vice's gaze lingered on hers, his expression a mixture of disdain and pity. "Family? Or just another excuse to mask you're fear and desperation? What kind of example were you setting for Alice? Teaching her that love means accepting abuse?"

The words cut deep, and Ivy's face crumpled, her body shaking with sobs. Vice's eyes never left hers, his expression unyielding, as if daring her to deny the truth.

Ivy's voice was barely audible, her words hanging in the air like a challenge. "I didn't want her to grow up without a father!"

Vice's lips brushed against hers, his kiss soft and possessive. "And what did that choice teach her? That a man's love is conditional, that suffering is a norm?" Ivy's eyes snapped back to his, her gaze burning with a fierce intensity. "I thought things could get better! I wanted to believe him."

Vice's gaze lingered on hers, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "Believing in someone who doesn’t value you is the definition of weakness, Ivy. You thought love was enough, but it never is when the love you receive is laced with pain and control."

Ivy tried to look away from Vice, her body shaking, as her tears flowed steadily down her face. Vice’s grip on her chin tightened, his fingers digging deep into her skin.

"You stayed because it was easier than facing the truth. But now, Alice will learn that standing up and walking away from toxicity is a sign of strength, not weakness," he whispered, his voice dripping with malice.

As Vice's words hung in the air, Ivy felt a sense of despair wash over her, a realization that she had been living in a fantasy world, one that was built on lies and deceit. The flames in the fireplace seemed to flicker in sync with her heartbeat, a reminder that some wounds ran too deep to heal.

Vice's grip on her chin relaxed, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers. This time, there was no softness, no gentleness. Only a harsh, unforgiving kiss that left Ivy gasping for air.

Vice pulled back and stared at her, his expression unreadable. "You're a fool," he said, his voice harsh. "But perhaps that's what makes you so... appealing." He leaned back, his hand stroking her cheek with a gentleness that was almost tender.