Chapter 484

Isabella felt her soul teetering on the edge of escape.

Dominic was merciless—no, beyond merciless. He was monstrous.

Just minutes ago, she had admired his sharp jawline in the dim light, thinking he must be devastatingly handsome beneath that cold exterior.

But his twisted preferences shattered that illusion. He wasn’t just cruel—he was depraved.

Tears spilled from Isabella’s eyes without permission. She hated crying, but her body betrayed her, the hot trails of fear streaking down her cheeks.

Dominic watched the live feed from the surveillance room, his lips curling into a slow, chilling smile.

His voice, smooth as velvet, dripped with mock sympathy. "These are my newest companions. They curl around me at night. So gentle, so devoted. Why do you tremble?"

The richness of his tone should have been alluring. Instead, it sent ice through her veins.

"I—I swear, I shouldn’t have danced with Alexander!"

Isabella was certain this was his revenge. She had crossed an invisible line tonight.

That single reckless moment—flirting with Alexander—must have ignited his fury.

She had humiliated him publicly on his birthday.

It was a thoughtless act.

But Evelyn never imagined Dominic would be this unhinged.

He kept venomous snakes as pets—slept with them coiled around his limbs like living jewelry.

She just wanted to end their engagement. Not sign her own death warrant.

"Y-you have to let me go!" Isabella's voice cracked as she thrashed against the restraints. The snakes' hisses vibrated against her collarbone. "Dominic, please—I take it back! I won't break it off!"

Dominic didn't move from his chair. On the surveillance screen, Isabella's tear-streaked face twisted in primal terror. His laughter was a dark, velvety thing.

"But you made her cry," he murmured, tilting his head as if studying a fascinating insect.

Isabella froze. "W-what? Who's crying?"

Dominic didn't answer. His gaze slid past her, through the floor-to-ceiling windows, where a lone figure stood by the infinity pool below.

Even from this height, Evelyn's silhouette was unmistakable.

A slow smile curved his lips.

The room plunged into silence. Isabella's choked sobs were the only sound.

Dominic's voice was a dangerous purr, laced with arrogance and something far more sinister. The weight of his presence pressed down like a physical force.

"Let you go? Of course," he mused, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. "But the door won’t budge. What’s your brilliant solution, darling?"

Isabella froze. Tears streaked her face, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The snakes coiled around her limbs, their cold scales tightening with every second. She could feel their flickering tongues against her skin—a silent promise of agony.

Then, with a sharp whistle from Dominic, the serpents slithered away, leaving her trembling. Her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the floor in a heap.

For a fleeting moment, she thought mercy had found her.

She was wrong.

His voice cut through the air like a blade. "I’ve changed my mind. Watching someone take a dive sounds far more entertaining."

Isabella’s blood turned to ice.

"Consider this your chance," Dominic continued, his tone devoid of warmth. "Don’t say I didn’t give you an out. You’ve got five seconds to figure it out."

"Five."

The countdown began.

Each number felt like a hammer striking her coffin.

Dive? What did he mean?

Her mind raced, panic clawing at her throat. One wrong move, and this monster would snap. She bit down on her lip hard enough to draw blood.

"Four."

Evelyn's pulse hammered in her throat, her skin leaching of all color.

The air in the dimly lit room grew thick, suffocating.

Around her, the glass terrariums gleamed under the flickering overhead light, their inhabitants stirring with eerie precision.

She hadn’t expected this.

Not here.

Not now.

Her fingers trembled as she pressed them against the cold surface of the nearest enclosure, the serpent inside coiling tighter, its obsidian eyes locking onto hers.

A shiver raced down her spine.

This wasn’t just a collection.

This was a warning.

A threat.

And it was meant for her.

Across the room, the door creaked open, the sound slicing through the silence like a blade.

She didn’t need to turn to know who stood there.

The scent of his cologne—dark, expensive, unmistakable—drifted toward her, wrapping around her like an invisible noose.

"Enjoying the view, Evelyn?"

Alexander’s voice was smooth, deceptively calm.

But she knew better.

Beneath that polished exterior lurked something far more dangerous.

She swallowed hard, forcing steel into her voice. "What is this?"

A low chuckle.

Then, the slow click of his shoes against the marble floor as he approached.

"Consider it… a reminder."

Her breath hitched.

Of what?

Of how easily he could strike?

Of how little control she truly had?

The serpent in the terrarium shifted, its scales whispering against the glass.

A mirror of the tension coiling inside her.

She turned then, meeting his gaze head-on.

His smile was razor-sharp.

And in that moment, she realized—

This wasn’t just about fear.

This was a game.

And he had just made his move.