Chapter 16: Double-Crossed

Emilia

The mansion is eerily quiet as I make my way through the hallways, my footsteps the only sound in the otherwise still house. Everything feels off today—there's a tension in the air that I can't quite shake, a feeling that something is about to happen, something that will change everything.

I'd agreed to meet Lydia later that evening. After our conversation earlier, my mind was swirling with her words, each one gnawing at me. Was I really just another pawn in this game? Could I trust her, or was she playing me as much as everyone else seemed to be?

The truth was, I didn't know anymore. The lines between right and wrong, between loyalty and betrayal, had blurred so much that I wasn't sure where I stood. Damien's family, my father's involvement, the lies and half-truths—it was all a tangled web, and I was stuck right in the middle of it.

As I approach the study, I see a flicker of light seeping through the cracks of the door. Curious, I move closer, pressing my ear to the door. At first, I hear nothing but the usual rustling and the creaking of old wood. But then—voices. Low, muffled voices.

I freeze.

One of them is unmistakably Lydia's.

I can't help myself—I push the door open just a crack, my heart racing. Through the gap, I can just make out two figures standing near the window. Lydia, as expected, but the other voice, the other person in the room, is unfamiliar to me. His voice is deep, smooth, a tone that sends a chill down my spine.

"…You've made the right decision, Lydia," the man says, his voice like silk but laced with something darker. "Damien can be disposed of at any time, and when that happens, everything that belongs to him will be yours."

I barely breathe as I strain to hear more.

Lydia's voice comes next, a tone I've never heard before—a cold, calculating edge to her words. "I don't care about his fortune. I just want revenge. I want to make them all suffer for what they did to me. To us." She pauses, and I can hear her take a deep breath. "Damien doesn't know it, but he's playing right into my hands. I'll destroy him from the inside, ruin everything he's built, and make sure that he never gets to enjoy his power."

The words hit me like a slap in the face. Lydia, the sister I once thought I could trust, was plotting against Damien. And worse—she was plotting against me.

I step back instinctively, my pulse racing. I can barely process what I've just heard. It feels like the ground beneath me has shifted, and now I'm standing on shaky, unstable ground. My sister, the one I'd considered my ally, was working with Damien's enemies. She was going to ruin him—and me.

I swallow hard, a knot forming in my stomach. There's no way I can confront her about this—not yet. I need to be smart, to figure out what her next move is before I do anything. If I make a wrong move now, I might fall right into her trap.

I slowly back away from the door, my mind racing as I think through what to do. I can't let Lydia win, but I also can't afford to make her my enemy—not yet. I need to play along. I need to stay close to her, to learn more about her plans, and only then can I decide what to do.

I slip down the hallway, my heart hammering in my chest as I retreat to my room. Once inside, I lock the door behind me, leaning against it as I try to steady my breath. My hands are trembling, and my mind is spinning with what I've just learned. Lydia—my half-sister—was plotting against Damien's family, and I was nothing more than collateral damage in her game.

I sit on the edge of the bed, my mind working overtime, piecing together the fragments of what I've overheard. I'll destroy him from the inside. Her words echo in my mind, and for a moment, I feel a surge of fear. What does this mean for me? What does this mean for Damien?

I lean forward, hands clasped tightly together, trying to focus. If Lydia can do this, if she can manipulate everyone around her to get what she wants, then I need to play her game. I need to stay close to her, watch her every move, and learn her weaknesses. Because right now, she's not the ally I thought she was—she's a threat.

And I can't let her take everything from me.

The days pass in a blur, each one feeling like a tightrope walk, balancing between trust and betrayal. Every time I see Lydia, I feel the weight of what I know pressing down on me. She acts as though nothing is wrong, flashing me her usual sweet smile, but I see through it. I know her now. I know she's playing a dangerous game, and she's using me as her pawn.

But I can't let her know that I'm onto her. I can't let her see the suspicion in my eyes. I have to pretend to be on her side, to be as much of a part of her plan as she wants me to be.

I meet her in secret, always in places where no one can see us, always under the guise of sisterly concern. I've learned that if I want to get close to her, if I want to find out what she's planning, I have to play along.

She tells me things. About Damien's family, about the enemies they have, about her plan to tear it all down. She tells me things that make my blood run cold—things I never expected to hear from her. She speaks of betrayal and manipulation like they're second nature to her, as if she's been plotting this for years.

But each time I leave her presence, I feel the weight of my decision. Am I making a mistake by playing along with her? What if she really does ruin Damien, and I get caught in the middle of it?

I shake my head, trying to push the doubt from my mind. I've already made my choice. I'll play her game for now. But I'll be ready. If she thinks she can double-cross me and Damien, she's wrong.

Because I'm going to be the one who has the last laugh.

As I stand before the mirror, staring at my reflection, a sharp knock at the door cuts through the silence. My heart jumps into my throat. I freeze, wondering who it could be. I don't have to wait long for the answer.

The door creaks open slowly, and I feel a chill crawl up my spine as I see who stands in the doorway.

It's Lydia.

But she's not alone.

Behind her, stepping out from the shadows, is none other than Damien's uncle—his most trusted advisor, the man who's been involved in so many of Damien's family dealings. The one person I thought I could never trust.

Lydia looks at me, her eyes filled with a cold, unreadable resolve. "I think it's time we take this to the next level," she says, her voice smooth and dangerous. "It's time you make a choice, Emilia."

And suddenly, the walls close in on me, and I realize that this is it. I'm in too deep, and there's no way out.

Not anymore.