Chapter 4

Lily's POV

I don't know how much time passed before the commotion outside finally quieted.

"Holden..." Serena's voice carried satisfied laziness. "You ran out in the middle of the night to be with me. Didn't Lily make a scene?"

"What would she make a scene about?" Holden lit a cigarette. The lighter made a crisp click. "She can't live without me now. As long as I sweet-talk her a little, she'll obediently do what I say."

"Aren't you afraid she'll discover the truth?" Serena laughed lightly, her tone full of undisguised malice. "What if she finds out that I deliberately put that stuff in her water years ago, and you not only knew all along but helped me destroy the security footage and even used it as an excuse to keep her caged... Do you think she'd go insane?"

In the closet, my eyes flew wide open.

Even my breathing stopped completely in that moment.

What did I just hear?

Holden knew all along? He helped Serena destroy the surveillance footage?!

"Shut up." Holden's voice instantly turned cold, carrying a warning. "Take that to your grave. If she ever finds out, I won't forgive you."

"Oh, I'm just talking." Seeing him angry, Serena quickly pressed herself against him coquettishly. "I just think you're too cruel to her. You knew how much she loved that stage, but you personally broke her wings."

"Cruel?" Holden laughed coldly and exhaled a smoke ring. "She was too proud. If I didn't pull her down from her pedestal, she'd never stay obediently by my side. I gave her the identity of Mrs. Chase and more money than she could spend in a lifetime. What more could she want?"

"Right, right, you love her most." Serena's tone carried a hint of jealousy. "What about me? I did such a huge thing for you. Are you planning to keep me hidden here forever?"

"What's the rush." Holden stubbed out his cigarette. "When the time is right, I'll arrange for you to enter the most famous opera house. The fame and fortune you want, I'll give it all to you."

"Thank you, darling!" Serena cheered and kissed him again.

I leaned against the cold wall, gasping for breath. My tears had run dry. All that remained was desolation and death in my heart.

So that's how it was.

It had all been an elaborate, carefully planned deception.

What I thought was an accident was Serena's deliberate sabotage. What I thought was salvation was a cage Holden built with his own hands.

The love I treasured was, in Holden's eyes, nothing more than a game to satisfy his twisted need for control. He enjoyed my dependence and pain while having his fun with the real culprit.

How terrifying.

This man I'd shared a bed with for five years was a complete monster...

I escaped from that penthouse while they went to shower together.

I wandered the bustling streets of New York like a corpse. The early autumn wind cut into my skin, bone-chillingly cold.

I didn't go back to the villa. Instead, I went to an inconspicuous café and used a public phone to dial an international number.

"Hello, Dr. Bennett? This is Lily Hart."

A delighted voice came through from the renowned British vocal specialist: "Ms. Hart! Your voice has recovered beautifully. As long as you continue with the final medication regimen, you can absolutely return to your peak! Have you decided about auditioning for the Royal Opera House?"

"I've decided." My voice carried the calm that comes after complete despair. "Please arrange an audition for next month. Also, I'm running low on my medication. Could you send me another treatment cycle?"

"No problem! Looking forward to seeing you in England!"

I hung up and watched people come and go outside the window, my eyes gradually turning cold.

I wouldn't make a scene. I wouldn't confront Holden.

Reasoning with a monster would only get me killed more miserably.

I had to escape.

I had to completely leave this nauseating cage and take back everything that belonged to me.

At ten PM, I returned to the villa.

Holden wasn't home yet.

I took a shower, changed into clean pajamas, and sat at my vanity, slowly covering my pale face with makeup.

At 11:30, I heard a car engine downstairs.

Soon after, the bedroom door opened.

Holden walked in holding an exquisite velvet gift box. He saw me sitting on the bed. His eyes softened. He walked over and pulled me into his arms.

"Lily, still awake?"

I suppressed my nausea and didn't push him away, just hummed softly.

"Still angry about last night?" Holden opened the gift box. Inside was a pink diamond necklace worth a fortune. "I specially had someone buy this from England. It's my fifth anniversary gift to you. Do you like it?"

I looked at that dazzling necklace, but what flashed through my mind was the equally expensive diamond around Serena's neck.

"Thank you. It's beautiful." I forced out a stiff smile.

Holden personally fastened the necklace around my neck, his fingertips deliberately or not grazing the shallow scar where my vocal cords were.

"Lily, I'm taking vacation next week. How about I take you to England to relax? You've always wanted to see the scenery there, haven't you?"

I lowered my eyes, hiding the coldness in them.

"Sure," I said softly.

Going to England. Perfect.