The air shifted.

Startled by the occasional crackle of the burning logs, the woman trembled, her eyes darting around like those of helpless prey caught in a predator’s grip.

She was searching for a way out.

To survive, she had clung to a desperate and almost absurd hope, staking everything on it.

There was no wind in the room, yet a biting cold seeped into her skin and hollowed her out from within.

Andrew’s gaze dropped to her lips as she struggled to steady her breathing, unable to hide her tension.

Those soft lips, which had once reduced him to something utterly wretched, now moved like a serpent’s tongue, disturbing the still surface of his composure.

His hand, gripping Rive’s chin, shifted towards her mouth without conscious thought.

His thumb brushed slowly over her scabbed lower lip, as if trying to smooth down the emotions he could no longer contain.

‘Should I just crush her throat?’

As if rejecting his touch, Rive turned her head with force, the pale line of her neck standing out sharply.

That was when a low laugh slipped from Andrew’s lips.

“It seems you’ve acquired another husband in the meantime.”

His mind was calmer than ever—cold, rational.

And yet, something unpleasant churned from deep within, tightening at the back of his neck.

“I told you—I…”

“Rive Blackwood.”

Each syllable of her name, spoken in his dry voice, made her long lashes tremble.

“Prove that you’re not Rive Blackwood. If you can, I’ll pretend to believe that pathetic act of yours.”

His emotionless voice wrapped around her like frigid midwinter air.

Realizing that her forced deception was no longer working, Rive’s thoughts began to turn.

Andrew took a step back.

He watched her standing there, staring at the burning logs with despair, as if he were observing something unravelling.

“Go on.”

“……”

“I’ll give you a chance. Hurry.”

His pale blue eyes, full of ease, held her in place.

The ordinary act of clasping her trembling hands to her chest only served to irritate him further.

Her entire body shook in violent rejection of him.

Tilting his head slightly, he watched her slowly fall apart under his languid gaze.

“I gave you what you wanted.”

Her faint voice cracked through the silence that seemed endless.

Though her trembling had not ceased, Rive lifted her head once more.

But in her pale green eyes, there was no longer fear.

No terror.

Her small lips moved on their own.

“I even signed the divorce papers—just as you wanted.”

“……”

“And I walked away on my own.”

“From that h*ll.”

‘That h*ll.’

She struggled to swallow, her breath catching painfully.

With reddened eyes, Rive met his crushing gaze head-on.

“I’m no longer a Blackwood.”

“Then why are you doing this to me now?”

“Because I was your ex-wife?”

“But we’re nothing to each other anymore.”

“……”

“I have to go back.”

“There’s somewhere I belong now.”

“So please… let me go.”

Her pale green eyes wavered helplessly.

After hearing her words filled with revulsion, Andrew let out a quiet, uncontrollable laugh.

Ah.

He had never truly understood this woman.

Back then, the Grandly family had been on the brink of ruin, and her reckless brother had only wanted to exploit Blackwood for money.

At the time, Andrew simply needed a woman to act as duchess — nothing more than a figurehead.

So he had married her.

It had been a clear-cut arrangement — they were using each other for their own ends.

This is why her desperate longing for love seemed laughable to him.

Seeing her expect more from a union with such a clear purpose made him see her as nothing more than another pitiful Grandly, driven by hollow ambition.

And—

Since both sides had taken what they wanted, the contract remained in place.

This woman—

— was his.

“How can you claim you’re no longer a Blackwood… when the divorce was never finalized?”

“What… are you talking about?”

Rive’s brows drew together, her eyes faltering as if she had just realized the danger closing in on her.

“I mean exactly what I said.”

“You’re saying… you never submitted the divorce papers?”

Her lips parted in disbelief, unaware that even that small reaction was enough to provoke him.

“Your Grace.”

“There’s somewhere I need to return to.”

Those words, slipping from her smooth tongue, strangely soothed Andrew’s chaotic mood.

“Your Grace!”

Then all he had to do was take that place away.

If she no longer had anywhere to return to—what would become of her?

“I burned them.”

His gaze shifted toward the fireplace adorning one side of the room. The orange flames flickered, filling Rive’s vision.

Staring blankly at the sparks dancing upward, Rive slowly raised both hands to cover her mouth.

A faint smile curved Andrew’s lips.

“Unfortunately.”

Her hollow eyes lifted to meet his. The cruel devil looked down at her, his expression unreadable, and she shivered.

Andrew loosened his suffocating tie with a smooth motion.

Rive glared at him with open contempt, seeing through his calm exterior to the predator within as he toyed with his prey.

“If you don’t let me go, I’ll scream.”

“Then scream as much as you like.”

He turned as if to leave—but Rive rushed forward, grabbing the edge of his coat.

“You wanted me to leave! So why are you doing this now?!”

He stopped and turned around.

His gaze fell calmly — almost indifferently — on the hand clutching his clothes.

Sensing the change in him, Rive faltered. Her lips trembled as she took a step back, instinctively retreating from him.

The closer he came, the more she withdrew, desperate to escape.

Something brushed against her heel.

Before she could react, her knees gave way and she collapsed onto the sofa.

His arms came down on either side of her, bracing against the backrest and trapping her completely.

Her head fell back, her eyes meeting those of the man looming over her.

Without hesitation, his hand closed around her slender throat.

Slowly, the pressure tightened.

His knee slid between her legs, pinning her in place.

Although there was no overt violence in his movements, fear seeped deep into her, clouding her pale green eyes.

Even when her nails broke the skin on the back of his hand, he did not flinch.

He did not flinch.

“I never gave you permission to leave.”

“……”

“So I never wished for it either.”

The hand that had gripped her throat slowly withdrew.

A faint breath escaped between them as their scents mingled.

The damp scent of lilies filled his lungs.

Every nerve in his body prickled as blood rushed towards his core.

‘What is this thirst?’

His gaze fixed on her pale, delicate skin.

‘D*mn it.’

He rose abruptly, turned on a sixpence and left the room.

Long after he had gone, Rive remained lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Eventually, she covered her face with her hands and wept silently.

The hem of her skirt, which had ridden up her thighs, slowly fell back into place.

The inescapable humiliation pushed her deeper into despair.

The nightmare from five years ago spread uncontrollably, clouding her mind.

***

“At midnight, withdraw.”

“Pardon? Then… we no longer need to keep watch over the person inside?”

“If word of today’s incident gets out, every manager at the Versailles Hotel will be held responsible.”

“…Understood.”

As the Duke of Blackwood walked down the corridor, the two members of hotel staff stationed outside the door let out quiet sighs of relief.

He was a man without blood or tears.

They didn’t know who the woman inside was, but he was cold enough to elicit a newfound sense of pity.

What kind of exchange had taken place?

They thought they had heard a scream, but they had no authority to intervene.

Leaving them behind, Andrew walked towards the lobby.

His dark brows slowly drew together.

“There’s somewhere I need to return to.”

Why did those words irritate him so much?

If she wanted it that badly, perhaps he should give her what she wanted and break her completely.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he lost control of his emotions.