The clock kept ticking. Tick..tock.... Every minutes felt like it has been carved out just for me.

3:00am and still no sleep.

I waited for the sun to rise, to tell me that what i overheard wasn't real. That the whispers on the hallways wasn't meant for my ears...

...

My heart tightened:, it felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on my chest. I sat on the edge of the bed staring blankly at the celling, praying, begging that everything was just a dreams.

...

LEILA.

Morning didn't feel like morning.

it felt like laying down underwater,slow, heavy, and suffocating.

" My family is planning to ruin me?. The person I love the most, derrick was part of it".

"Maybe I misheard".

"Maybe it's a misunderstanding".

"Maybe just maybe am fooling myself again".

Thought kept flooding my head so fast I could barely breathe

...

Then...

" Knock knock".

A soft yet irritating bang on the door.

My step mom Walked in, dressed in her favorite red dress and heels. Her sugar coated,venom tipped tongue preceded her as she peeked head inside.

"Breakfasts is ready. Please put on something decent. Everyone is downstairs waiting for you. Don't keep them waiting,

there's important annocement to be made".

"Annocement" I crooked.

"Oh yes annocement.

Just dress up and be downstairs. You will see when you get there".

The door shut even before I could ask more questions. A cold wash over me.

...

" Today". Today is the day they all plan for me.

My stomach clenched".

I dress quickly, with a simple brouse and that one jeans that have been wearing for ages now. My hair tied to the back, everything on body screaming run.

Well I chose to stay anyways. That's how have been surviving my whole life, by staying even when it hurts.

...

Downstairs was buzzing with unusual excitement. Even when I knew their plan still I choose to put on a smile face.

Lydia dress in her usual straight out magazines editorials emeralds slik, diamonds dancing on her skin. Confident dripping from every breath she took. Inside those glamorous appearance, only I knows the serpent beneath those diamonds .

She majestically walk in excuse of caring for me just to scheme.

" Leila you were born with everything I wanted ,but you are too weak to use any of it. Someone like you don't deserved power. You are fits for playing the useless one".

I wasn't surprise at all, because I'm use to those smirked of hers, I just wanted to know what she meant by I don't deserve power.

"Leila sit" my father ordered with a harsh tone. I obey, my heart kept pounding so hard, suddenly a stack of documents was slipped on the table.

" You all know that I visited the company some days ago. I checked into the finance department,and there is a financial decrepancies within the company account". He looked at me in cold and dissatisfied gesture. I remain calm, the he added " Leila we discovered that all those transaction are linked to your account". Sweat drained down my face, I get instant cold feet. "But I don't handle company finance!!".

" Exactly Lydia cut in sweetly, that's why it's confusing; dad/mom blame me, I am the one working at the company. I should be blame not Leila". I can clearly see through her her schemes,but my dad choose not to see them. " Leila non of us understand why your name appears on every suspicious transaction, but please, just admit you did it, mom and dad will forgive you" she sneered. " What" I gasped out loud.

"Leila you are responsible for the missing funds, why let your innocent sister take the blame?. Can't you be like her?, that's why she better than you, beside it was derrick that reported it, will he also lie about it". My step mom added.

" What derrick?. He will never do a thing like that to me, he might cheat on me but he will never accuse me, I think there's a mixup up let me just call him over for clarification".

" Sister why not just admit it, why calling outsiders in family matters? Lydia chimed,her eyes gleaming with triumph.

My dad slammed his hand on the table.

" We cannot keep this ungrateful brat in this house. You'll leave until the investigation clears your name. And don't even think about running away."

"Dad"I cried.

" Do not call me that!. You have disgrace this family. Look at how obedience and promising your sister is! Why can't you be like her?.

" Dad let me just derrick. Please, he'll expla....."

" No need" a cold voice interrupted. Derrick walked in.

My last strand of hope shattered.

"Derrick please," I rushed to him,tears streaming."Tell them it's not true.Tell them...."

He didn't let me finish.

" This time, I choose love over everything",he said calmly. And whoever gets hurt.... deserves it".

My blood ran cold. I never believe he'll do this yet I ran t

"Derrick, what are you saying? Please clear this up".

He met my eyes with the coldest look I'd ever seen.

"Leila did it.She made the transactions. She said since no one values her, she'll bankrupt the company, I tried stopping her but she refuse, sorry I wasn't able to persuade her".

"What?! Derrick,no!" I sobbed. " Why are you doing this?"

Lydia's poisonous smile widened as she leaned close to me.

"Sister"she whispered ,"you were always meant to be the shadow. I'm just making it official".

At this point I knew nobody was coming to save me from them. I could only

cried for help. Yet no one listened to me.

I turned to derrick, voice breaking.

"Did you ever love me ? were all those moments ...all those words...part of your plan?"

He smirked.

"I never loved you, leila.The one I've always loved is Lydia. You were just too easy to deceive, so I used you to get closer to her"...

The room went still. Everyone turn against me, the pain of being betrayed by people I called family.

I could feel the lingered pain in my heart.

"Leila we never meant for each other. All those moments were just part of the plan, and since we have succeeded with it, I don't think I should keep it from you". Derrick smirked.

I could see the triumph smile on Lydia's face. My father didn't even care about me, neither giving it a second thought.All he wanted was me leaving the house.

LEILA

I left the house I was raised since childhood;. Even though it wasn't pleasingly fit for me but because of those beautiful memories I had with my mom, I endure torture for several years only to still be send out.

The city didn't notice when I stopped walking.

Voice's blurred into noises till it turn echoes.

My legs gave out beneath me at a bus stop I didn't recognized. I sat there with my hands folded in my laps .

Memories on how breathing used to feel safe before it becomes this hurt. The more I look into the scarier it becomes.

Ding....ding, a soft sound from my phone buzzed in, I never intend checking. I already know who it will be from. Still I looked.

" Hey Leila, I hope you found somewhere comfortable. Changes can be shocking and traumatizing for people like you".

There it was the promising and adorable daughter of the Jones. Lydia.

I stared at the screen until the words becomes blurred. Until the humiliation seeped into my my bones.

" This is my fault. I should've known. I never saw it turning this way". I sigh weakly. My thump pressed against the cracked edge of my phone until it severe hurt. My chest caved inward.

I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and finally I let myself feel it, not just the betrayal rather the deeper wound beneath it.

"Being unwanted wasn't new.

"But being choosing to be destroyed was".

A voice said calmly while approaching me.

" Miss you don't belong In the floor!!. Pick yourself up, dust it like never before and embrace the life expirences".

The voice was low, not hurried, I dare not to looked up at first.

"I'm fine, I promise it doesn't hurt that much". I said automatically, even though all about me wasn't right.

Silence followed,not the awkward kind. But the kind that waits, that stays no matter the circumstances.

A touch of hope found me, seeing how he never gave up, he choose staying without knowing me.

I gather the courage to look up, first I saw a Polish black glamorous shoe, then a black well iron trouser, follow by a neatly fit black coat that didn't belong to the street.

Then him...no smiling and he wasn't frowing either.

His gazed steady, assessing like he wasn't just seeing my tears, but it looked like he was seeing the exact point where they began.

" I never asked if you were fine. I asked if you're safe". He said calmly staring into my eyes.

I was mesmerised by those straight jawline,his voice melted my heart, I felt safe with a stranger than those I called family.

" I used to think derrick was the most handsome in the world, but looking at him here makes me hate that scumbag the more". I said softly to myself.

Something in my expression could have answer the question he asked earlier but my mouth seems not to corporate.

Behind him, a shining tinted latest car was sitting there like it was design just for him. Too expensive, too deliberate to be a coincidence.

" I don't want anything, I'm safe. Thanks for looking out for me". I reply calmly with a gentle voice.

" Get in the car" he command.

My breath hitched "NO"

" That wasn't an offer, it was a command" he replied angrily.

I shocked my head,panic rising.

" I don't even know you".

" That's why you should listen to me".

He reached into his coat, he pulled out his wallet, not threatening. He opened it just enough to see the edge of a black card. Not flashy but a fact.

"My name is Aiden frost", he said. "And I promise you, those people that hurt you today will regret ever crossing your path.

And Leila that can only happen when you make the right choice of which part to follow". He added.

My heart slammed violently.

" You are wrong!!!".I said angrily. " They already won. I'm just a push over, who can't even stand up for herself. I can't even fight for my identity, doesn't that meant something to you?".

"They might for now Leila. Everything you thought were lost will be replace with things that aligned with you. You just have to stay focus and concentrate on the positive things".

I laughed sarcastically, not the victorious one, but the one of a broken heart.

" You don't even know me, what makes you think I will listen to you?.

His gaze dropped briefly, he clenched my hands, my shoulders curved inward, the exhaustion exched into my posture.

" I know what someone look like when they've been trained to disappear, and I also know potential when I see it". He said victoriously.

I swallowed hard, then with a trembling voice.

"Why me?. People like you don't stopped for people like me". I said why stepping back slightly. My heart trembling in fear.

" Leila Jones, you are standing at the edge of becoming that exact thing you've always wanted".

My name on his lips felt unreal. " How do you even know my name?.

I do wonder how he gets to know me even without me being know as an ever existed Jones's daughter.

I stayed frozen,my heartbeats still, inside me was the two warred voices.

"Don't trust him".while the other kept saying,

"You have nothing left to lose"

For the first time in my life, I have to make choice, I whisper to myself. It's like a dream come true...

LEILA

I realised something was wrong with me the moment the car started moving.

I wasn't afraid as I should have been with a stranger, the night swallowed the city. But my body was relaxed as if I was waiting for a permission to breaking out.

The door sealed with a quite finality. The world outside blurred into a streaks of light.

A buzzed came in on my phone.

Lydia: Leila you will crawled back begging in your knees, and guess what no one ever believes weak girls when they returned.

I fummed in anger, my shoulders folded inward like an apology, my hands in my laps in disappointment, the fact that I'm still that weak girl that can't do anything to people that hurt me in this life time hurts different...

Aiden sat besides me, one arms rested casually on the seat. His presence filling the space even without me touching it.

He hadn't looked away since we drove off.

His not staring but only observing like he was memorizing damages.

" I don't know where we're going" I said softly.

" I do" he replied.

Something in his voice made my spine tightened, not fear but Awareness.

The city light flickered across his face, carving sharp lines into a man who looks is builts from discipline and secrets.

He wasn't handsome in a soft way but the kind of attraction that warned you that something would be taken if gets too close.

"Before we arrived, there are rules". He added.

"Rules?, ofcourse rules, I swallowed big. If this is about money. I_".

He lifted a hand, one gesture, before I could even complete my sentence.

" Rule one" he said " you don't apologize unless you're wrong".

My lips parted instinctively.

He arched a brow, " you were about to apologize".

Heat crept up my neck. " I_"

" Rule two", he cut in smoothly. "You don't explain yourself to people who benefits from misunderstanding you".

My chest tightened, I went numb.Lydia's voice echoes in my head. " You are emotional, careless and weak".

I pressed my nails into my palm, I stay silent not like I refuse talking but because the words refuse me. it's hurtful that I choose to remain silence.

"Rule four" he said, leaning forward just enough for the air between us to changed.

" You don't confuse softness with weakness".

My breath stutter.

" That's all I've ever been", I whispered "soft".

"No, you're not soft, you've only been trianed that way". He corrected calmly.

That sentence landed hard on my face.

" Trained?, like an animal, like a Shadow,like something shape by cruelty, was I born to be trained that way? Or it's just something I inflicted on myself?". Well it all a questions I never get an answer to anyways.

.....

The car slowed, before it stopped completely, he added. " Rule four, if you stay, you don't lie to me, ever".

" If I stay?" I asked.

His mouth curved, not into smile but something Sharp. " You always have a choice, Leila".

The car door opened.

The cold night air rushed in, carrying the deliberate scent of power and a life I never dreamt of, not empty but controlled.

The penthouse was quite Ina way that felt like it was something meant to be owned.

I stood near the entrance, afraid to touch anything.

Aiden loosened his cufflinks, movements precise. " Sit " he said kindly .

I perched on the edge of the sofa, back straight, heart loud.

He watched me for a moment.

Then, " show me your phone" he asked.

My stomach dropped, I hesitated at first but handed it over at last.

He scrolled, his expression changes, his jaw tightens,I could tell how angry he was but he wasn't angry, rather calculating.

" She's enjoying this" he said.

I flinched.

He looked at me one more time, " tell me what she said when you left".

My voice came out small and shaken.

" That I wouldn't survived the media chaos".

He handed the phone back.

" She believes you're still that girl that needs permission to exist".

Tears drip down my side eyes." Maybe she's right".

Silence followed.

Then Aiden stood, walked and stopped in front of me, close enough that I could feel warmt radiating from him.

"Look at me" he said

I did

His gazed locked onto mine, unyielding.

" You're not weak, you're just unclaimed". He said quietly.

My breath caught.

"And people like your sister?" He continue, voice dropping,intimate and lethal, "they mistake patience for stupidity, obedience for loyalty and silence for weakness". He leaned down slightly, not touching me.

" That mistake, is where empires falls" he murmured.

My heart raced faster, my face turned red that I almost freak out.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked barely breathing.

Aiden straightened, " because Lydia believes she's won".

His eyes darkened

" I enjoyed correcting assumptions, you will stay in one of the rooms , we will begin tomorrow".

" Begins what", I asked .

He turned, glass in hand, eyes burning into mine.

" Unlearning everything they taught you".

He moved closer again,too close now, the air charged, my skin hummed in goosebumps, I barely breathe.

" If Lydia contact you again" he said with his gaze dropping briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes, " don't respond".

" Why?".

He smiled dangerous but slow.

" Because I will, and you might have a problem soon" he added retrieving back .

My phone vibrated in my hand.

A new message.

My pulse thundered...