Page 152 of Ruthless God

That I wasn’t sleeping beside Claudius.

That I wasn’t falling for the man I thought I knew.

That it was always Gabriel.

I jerk back from her, betrayal burning through my veins.

“You knew,” I hiss. “And you let me— Why didn’t you tell me? Why let me?—”

“There was no way out.” She speaks fast, glancing over my shoulder, scanning the darkened halls. “I had to keep you in the dark, Cecely. If I didn’t—he would have known.”

My stomach drops.

Gabriel.

If she had told me, he would’ve known. He would’ve killed her. Killed me. I swallow hard, my mind spinning.

Agnes inhales sharply, her fingers digging into my arms.

“Now, listen.” She lowers her voice. “Go to my room. Lock the door. Wait for me.”

My pulse spikes.

“What? No! You can’t just?—”

She shakes me. “If you trust me even a little, you will do this.”

I stare at her, my breath coming fast, my mind racing. Do I trust her? She’s lied. She’s kept secrets. But she’s also saved my life. Twice. And right now, I don’t have a better plan.

“Go. Now!”

I hesitate one second too long. And then I hear it. Footsteps. Fast. Getting closer.

Agnes shoves me toward the hallway. “Run.”

And I do. I run because I don’t have a choice. Because if I stop… if I hesitate again…Gabriel will find me. And this time, I won’t be able to fight back.

I run.

Faster than I ever have in my life.

The halls blur, the sound of footsteps behind me fading into white noise. Agnes’ room. I reach the door, throwing myself inside and locking it behind me. My chest heaves.

I’m safe.

For now.

I press my back to the door, trying to catch my breath, and then I realize I’m not alone. A figure sits in the shadows, curledup on a chaise. I go rigid. Millie. She lifts her head slowly, her face pale and drawn. Her eyes lock onto mine, wide and wary.

“Millie,” I whisper. “What are you doing here?”

She swallows, her gaze flicking to the door. “Agnes told me to wait for you.”

Agnes told her to wait for me? Why?

“Millie,” I say carefully. “What do you mean? Why are you here?”

She doesn’t answer right away. She just studies me like she’s deciding whether she can trust me. I don’t move because something about this moment feels too important. Like everything is about to change.

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