“You've turned this opportunity down several times before. I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind.”
I forced a weak smile even though he couldn't see it.
“My circumstances have changed.”
He hesitated. “But your health... and your family. Will they allow this?”
Family?
The word almost made me laugh.
Apollo had stopped being my family a long time ago.
The first time I'd talked about studying overseas, he'd patiently talked me out of it.
“Elara.” He'd cupped my face so gently. “Be good. Your body's too weak for long flights. Once you're healthier, I'll take you anywhere in the world myself.”
Back then, I'd believed him.
Later, everything changed.
Whenever I brought it up, his face would darken.
“I promised your father I'd look after you.” His voice would turn cold. “So stop making shit difficult for me and stay where you're supposed to.”
After that, I never mentioned it again.
Not even after my acceptance letter arrived.
“I don't have any family anymore.” My voice came out barely above a whisper. “Mr. Brahms... I just want to build a life that's mine.”
A quiet sigh came through the phone.
“I understand. Orientation begins in a week. You should start preparing.”
“I will.”
As soon as the call ended, the front door downstairs slammed open so violently the whole house seemed to shake.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the mansion.
My heart clenched.
Apollo.
A second later, my bedroom door burst open.
He walked in wearing a black suit, his expression cold enough to freeze the room. Without saying a word, he grabbed my wrist hard.
Pain shot through my hand. The skin was still raw from clawing at that coffin yesterday, trying to escape the rats and maggots.
I flinched.
“Apollo...” I tried pulling away. “You're hurting me.”
He didn't even slow down.
“Where are we going?” I asked desperately.
His grip tightened.
“To the hospital.” His voice was flat. “You're going to apologize to Agatha.”
My steps froze.
“What?”
He finally looked at me. His dark eyes held nothing but anger.
“She twisted her ankle because of your bullshit yesterday.” His jaw clenched. “She cried all fucking night. Her eyes are still swollen. And you're going to apologize.”
For a moment, I honestly thought I'd heard him wrong.
She had only sprained her ankle but Apollo had buried me alive in a coffin crawling with rats and maggots and somehow, I was still the villain?
“Apollo...” Every breath hurt. “I didn't kidnap her. I told you already. I only remembered the location because Agatha posted it herself a few days ago.”
“Keep talking.” His eyes narrowed. “Let's hear what other bullshit you've come up with.”
I stared at him.
“You know...” His voice was dangerously calm. “Your father was one of the kindest men I ever knew.”
He took another step closer.
“So tell me. How the fuck did a man like him end up raising someone as rotten as you? Why can't you be like Agatha?!”
Everything inside me went still.
Dad...
This was the first time Apollo had mentioned him since the funeral. And he used my father to tear me apart.
Something inside my chest cracked.
Apollo suddenly kicked the bookshelf beside me. The massive shelf crashed onto the floor, sending books flying in every direction. The deafening noise made me jump.
He pointed toward the door.
“I don't give a damn whether you admit it. You are going to apologize. You can walk there, or my men can drag your ass there. Your choice.”
Before I could answer, a familiar voice came from the hallway.
“Please...”
Agatha limped into the room. A bandage wrapped around her ankle, and her swollen red eyes filled with tears the moment she saw Apollo.
“Apollo...” she sniffled. “Please don't blame my sister.”
She looked so fragile... so fake innocent like she'd never hurt anyone in her life.
“It wasn't her fault. I left on my own. My sister didn't do anything.” She wiped away another tear. “I made everyone worry. I'm sorry...”
Then, to my shock, Agatha slowly knelt in front of me.
She lowered her head as if she were the one asking for forgiveness.
Apollo's eyes turned bloodshot the second Agatha dropped to her knees.
“Agatha!”
His voice cracked with panic as he shoved me aside so hard I nearly lost my balance. He rushed over and gathered her into his arms as though she were made of glass.
“Apollo... p-please put me down.” Tears streamed down Agatha's face as she struggled weakly against his embrace. “I should be the one apologizing. I only made things worse between you and my sister. If anyone deserves to be punished, it's me. I'd rather be the one who dies.”
“Don't say something so ridiculous.” Apollo's voice softened instantly as he carried her to the sofa and carefully settled her down. “None of this is your fault. As long as I'm here, nobody's going to hurt you.”
Only after making sure she was comfortable did he turn to face me.
The warmth vanished from his face.
Only fury remained.
His stare felt sharp enough to kill.
“Happy now?” His voice was terrifyingly calm. “Is this what you wanted to see? Watching her cry, forcing her to kneel, making her blame herself. Does that finally satisfy you?”
I dug my nails into the blisters covering my palms. The wounds I'd gotten from clawing at that coffin yesterday split open again, sending pain shooting through my hands.
Good.
At least the pain kept me from crying.
Without warning, Apollo strode toward me, grabbed both my shoulders, and slammed me onto the marble floor. The impact knocked the air from my lungs.
“Kneel.” He leaned over me, his eyes burning with anger. “You're unbelievably stubborn. Apologize to Agatha, admit you were wrong, and I'll end this here.”
Slowly, I straightened my back.
Even while kneeling...
I refused to lower my head.
Apollo's expression darkened.
“So that's your answer?” He let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Fine. If you don't want to apologize, you'll spend the next ten days in the punishment room. You'll copy every word of De Sangue's code of loyalty and family rules until your fingers bleed.”
Every ounce of color drained from my face.
The punishment room.
Ever since Agatha entered our lives, Apollo loved locking me in there.
It was a tiny concrete room with no windows, lit by nothing but a single candle. There was no phone, no books, no contact with anyone. Only endless pages of De Sangue's rules waiting to be copied again and again.
Hour after hour. Day after day. The silence alone was enough to drive anyone insane. Every time I walked out, it felt like I'd left part of myself behind.
No! I couldn't go back.
Seven days. I only needed to survive seven more days, then I'd leave.
Forever.
I couldn't ruin everything now.
I looked around the mansion. Dozens of De Sangue soldiers stood silently along the walls, every exit heavily guarded. Even if I wanted to run, there was nowhere to go.
Humiliation crashed over me.
Slowly, I lowered my head and bowed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
My forehead struck the cold marble floor with each bow.
“I... I'm sorry, Agatha.” My voice was barely audible. “I'm sorry for everything. Please... forgive me.”
Agatha hurried over and pretended to help me to my feet.
“Oh, Sister...” Her eyes filled with tears as she gently held my arm. “Please don't do this. I forgave you a long time ago. I never wanted things to end like this between us.”
The moment she pulled me closer, her lips brushed against my ear.
The sweetness disappeared from her voice.
“You lost again,” she whispered with a smile. “I told you Apollo would always choose me. No matter what happens, you'll never win.”
