♡ BETRAYAL ♡
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♡ MARIAN ♡
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Yet another woman.
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That made four in total since yesterday, all personally interviewed by Damien. At first, I assumed it had something to do with the chaotic security measures around the house, the kind of dangerous business I was supposed to be kept in the dark about. I was certain I’d eventually find out the truth through my favorite hobby, eavesdropping.
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My eyes trailed the latest visitor. She was tall, undeniably gorgeous, with piercing green eyes and blond hair.
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They were all the same tall, blonde, green-eyed, and perfectly polished.
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For a fleeting second, I wondered if they were proceeding with the marriage that was originally intended for my sister, but there were no wedding preparations, no flowers, no sign of chaos, just these women, coming and going.
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I tried to corner Martini for answers, but he was infuriatingly good at dodging questions.
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"How is this place surrounded by water?" I asked, gesturing toward the perimeter. "The nearest body of water on the map is supposed to be at least six kilometers away."
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Martini shrugged, clearly wondering if I was plotting my next escape attempt. "It is artificial. And if you are thinking about swimming through it..." He gave me a pointed look. "Don’t. Being man-made doesn't mean it won't drown you."
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I shut my eyes in frustration, rubbing a finger against my pressure point, the motion strangely soothing.
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They must really think less of me. I might have tried to escape a few times and I probably will do it again but that doesn't give him the right to judge me.
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I finished my cereal in the kitchen island just so I can catch a glimpse of what was going on,but nothing . Nada. Zip.
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Martini eventually left, leaving me alone in the vast living room. The loneliness was suffocating, like always.
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A reckless, impulsive thought took hold. It was probably the most stupid decision I’d made yet, but I shouldn't be caring about consequences.
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I mean, at this point, the only thing I don't have is a trophy for all the stupid decisions I had made so far.
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The house was uncharacteristically empty. Boris was outside, aimlessly flirting with his girlfriend—how any woman could date that nonsense is just beyond me—but they seem to be happy in their relationship and he kind of treats her well?
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I scanned the hallway that led to the weapon room, it was deserted. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic, uneven rhythm that echoed in my ears.
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I crept toward the stairs, my feet silent against the carpet. I was terrified, every nerve screaming at me to turn back, but the need to find answers was stronger. I moved fast, making my way to the second floor, toward the room I knew was Damien’s office during my not so successful attempts to explore this stupid maze.
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The door looked super reinforced, the soundproofing thick, the only thing I could hear was a deafening ringing. I almost kicked the door in frustration.
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But luckily, before I could make another dumb decision, I found a small gap near the floorboards. I pressed my ear against it, holding my breath.
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"I have never given birth before, and this would be my first time trying surrogacy," a voice murmured from inside.
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My jaw dropped. The hell?
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Surrogates.
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They were surrogates
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The realisation riled me up. Damien was looking for surrogates when I was the one who proposed the idea to him. blinding anger surged through me. I almost pounded on the door just to see the look on his smug face, but my working brain kicked in at the last second before I could make the wrong decision. I scrambled away from the door and practically flew down the stairs, ducking back into the kitchen just as Boris turned his head.
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I sat at the counter, fuming, my blood boiling. Less than ten minutes later, the blonde bombshell sashayed down the stairs, her hips swaying with grace that made me want to scream.
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As she passed, she actually acknowledged me with a polite nod, which somehow made me hate her even more because she made me feel bad that I was hating on her.
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Not even three minutes later, he appeared.
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Damien descended the stairs, hands in his pockets, his features set in that familiar, icy glare. He looked like he’d just walked out of a high-stakes board meeting. And I wanted to punch his ridiculously handsome face but I was actively trying not to die.
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"Why are you so red?" he asked, he actually spoke to me first, he didn't act like I was a pest on the wall as he went about his business. He didn't wait for an answer. "Are you okay?" There was no look of concern whatsoever on his face.
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"I gave you an idea to use with me," I snapped, standing up, my voice trembling with suppressed anger, "and you’re trying to hire someone else?"
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He stopped, tilting his head with a look of genuine confusion. "And how, exactly, do you know about that, Marian?"
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"Anyone with a working brain could put two and two together," I defended like it was the truth
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"And you have a working brain?" He stepped closer, his smirk infuriatingly arrogant. "Then why did the CCTV show you listening at my door?"
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I froze.
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I was just caught red-handed, again. There was no defense against a footage.
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"You used my idea, though." I persisted, ignoring his trap. "The idea I gave you to secure myself."
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"I don't explain myself to you, Marian."
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"Or maybe," I shouted, feeling the tears prick my eyes, "it’s because I don’t have blonde hair, or green eyes. Am I just not tall or gorgeous enough for you? Is that why I’m not an option? Because you think I’m ugly?"
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He stopped in his tracks, tilting his head as he studied me with unmistakable amusement. That somehow made everything worse.
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I wanted to punch him. Shoot him. Push him into the artificial sea and watch him drown.
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Most of all, I wanted him to stop looking at me like that
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"I didn’t choose those girls. My uncle found out I was considering surrogacy and kept sending them to my doorstep. So, no, I don't think you’re ugly. In fact, far from it."
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My breath hitched. I hadn't expected that. I took a half-step back, my heart doing a somersault.
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"Do you think you can handle it?" he asked, his tone shifting, becoming serious.
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I nodded instantly, desperate to cement this before he changed his mind.
"And you’re confident this is the right option for you?"
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"Yes." I replied, my voice steady despite the chaos in my head.
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"Fine." He said.
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I held up a finger "But you remember my condition, right?"
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"You don't have the option of asking for a condition," he retorted.
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"I do," I countered, regaining my courage. "I told you, you let me go to school. I want to, I need to."
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He sighed, shaking his head. "You're trying to secure your life while simultaneously running toward your own death. Pick a struggle, Marian."
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I almost threw the mug at him.
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I seriously almost did.
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"Tomorrow," he said, walking toward the door, "we go to the hospital."
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and then Add to home screen.