Page 65 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

“Who?” I finally ask, my voice barely above a whisper. “Who do you want me to marry?”

“Someone worthy,” he replies, straightening his cuffs. “A man with power, influence. A man who understands the value of keeping bloodlines... pure.”

I feel sick.

“And when am I supposed to meet this ‘man’?” I ask bitterly.

Vittorio glances at his watch, an unnecessary flourish. “In two hours or so. You’ll present yourself properly. The maids will be in shortly to prepare you.”

“Prepare me?” I scoff. “What am I, a sacrificial lamb?”

He chuckles, the sound devoid of warmth. “Exactly.”

“I won’t do it,” I say again, though my resolve feels thinner by the second.

“You will,” he says firmly, heading for the door. “Or Elias pays the price.”

The door opens, and two maids step in, their gazes lowered as they curtsy. Vittorio pauses in the doorway, turning back to me with a chilling smile. “Make yourself beautiful, sweetheart. First impressions matter.”

The door clicks shut behind him, and the maids move hesitantly toward me. I glare at them, my anger threatening to boil over, but they’re just pawns in this sick game.

“Don’t touch me,” I snap, backing away.

“Please, Miss,” one of them whispers. “We have to. He’ll—”

“I said, don’t touch me!” I yell, and they shrink back, their faces pale with fear.

I slump onto the edge of the bed, my head in my hands. My mind races, trying to find a way out of this nightmare. But no matter how I turn it over, the answer is the same: I’m trapped.

My fingers itch for my phone, the one my father confiscated, but it’s gone. My lifeline to Bane, to Elias, to everyone who could help me—it’s gone.

What should I do?

The maids exchange nervous glances, and one finally speaks up. “Miss, we can start with your hair—”

“I said no!” I snap, and they fall silent again.

I glance at the window, the only other way out of this room. But the guards outside are watching, their patrols too tight for me to slip past unnoticed.

Time ticks by, and the maids eventually begin their work in silence, brushing and styling my hair while I sit motionless, my mind elsewhere.

An hour. I have an hour to figure something out. An hour before I’m paraded in front of some man who thinks he can claim me and my son as possessions.

My fingers dig into the fabric of my dress as anger and despair battle within me.

I sit on the edge of the bed, the maids still fussing with my hair, my shoulders slumping as all the fight drains out of me. I’ve been pacing for hours, hoping that Lila had seen my garbled message, hoping that somehow help would come. But there’s nothing. No signal, no sign, just silence.

And Bane? He’s always abandoned me. I was a fool to think he'll help.

He’s always done this—let me down when I needed him. Why did I expect this time to be any different?

“Miss?” One of the maids murmurs hesitantly.

“Just... finish,” I mutter, staring blankly at the ornate wallpaper. They resume their work in silence, the comb tugging at my scalp.

My mind spirals as I sit there, helpless. Thoughts creep in, unbidden and cruel. Elias will die because of you. Bane will forget you. No one is coming to save you. This is your fault.

A knock sounds at the door, sharp and authoritative. I don’t even bother looking up. I already know who it is.

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