Vows of Deception

The sleek black car cut through the quiet city streets, its interior cloaked in an uncomfortable silence. Elena sat stiffly beside Liam, her hands clenched into fists on her lap. She didn't dare look at him, afraid of what she might see in his cold, calculating eyes.

"You're awfully quiet," Liam finally said, breaking the tension.

"What's there to say?" Elena muttered, staring out the window. "You've made it clear I don't have a choice."

Liam leaned back, his gaze piercing. "I didn't make the rules, Elena. But you'd be wise to follow them. This isn't just about business anymore."

His cryptic words only deepened her unease. The car turned into the driveway of an opulent mansion, its towering gates swinging open as they approached. It wasn't just a house—it was a fortress.

"What is this?" Elena asked, her voice trembling.

"Your new home," Liam replied as the car came to a stop.

Before she could protest, the car door opened, and Liam stepped out. A moment later, he extended a hand toward her, his expression unreadable.

"You're safer here," he said.

"Safer from what?" she demanded, refusing to take his hand.

Liam sighed, his patience clearly thinning. "You don't need to know everything right now. Just trust me."

Trust? The word felt like a cruel joke. But as she stepped out of the car, the mansion's looming presence made her chest tighten.

Inside, the grandeur was overwhelming—marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and an army of staff waiting silently for orders. But beneath the luxury, Elena sensed something darker.

As Liam led her down a hallway, he paused outside a heavy oak door. "This is your room," he said. "Stay inside unless I say otherwise."

"Am I a prisoner now?" she asked, her voice sharp.

"Consider it protection," he replied curtly, pushing the door open.

Elena stepped inside, her eyes scanning the lavish space. It was beautiful, but it felt like a gilded cage.

Before Liam could leave, she turned to him, her frustration boiling over. "If I'm in danger, at least tell me why."

Liam hesitated, his hand on the doorknob. For a moment, his expression softened.

"Because someone doesn't want you alive," he said, his voice low.

Cliffhanger

The door clicked shut, leaving Elena alone with his chilling words. She stared at the empty room, her heart pounding as questions swirled in her mind.

Who wanted her dead—and why?