Eden stared at the gun.
Rowan stepped into the room without permission.
His smile didn't reach his eyes.
"You've been busy," he said.
Her breath hitched. "Put that away."
"Then stop snooping."
He Closed the Door
Locked it behind him.
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"To talk."
"With a gun?"
"It's France. This is polite conversation."
She backed toward the bed, slow.
He followed.
"Cassian's Dangerous, Eden"
"I know that."
"No," Rowan said, voice low. "You think you know. But he's not just dangerous. He's a machine. He doesn't feel. He mimics."
"And you feel everything, is that it?"
"I cared about her. About Tereza. He broke her."
"He said you were the one obsessed."
His grip tightened on the handle.
"Of course he did."
She Kept Her Eyes On the Gun
"You lied to me."
"I protected you."
"You used me."
"Like he's not?"
"I didn't ask for your help, Rowan."
"You didn't have to."
He exhaled slowly.
Then placed the gun on the desk, muzzle down.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
"Then leave."
"I can't. Not yet."
He Stepped Closer
"You know what he does to women like you?"
"I'm not like the others."
"That's what Tereza said."
Eden flinched.
His voice cracked.
"I found her after she ran. Broken. Afraid. She begged me not to tell him where she was."
"So you hid her?"
"Yes."
"And she died anyway."
"She didn't crash, Eden."
She froze.
He looked her dead in the eye.
"She was pushed."
Silence Fell, Thick and Heavy.
"You have proof?" she whispered.
"I have her last message."
"Show me."
"I deleted it."
"Then I can't believe you."
Rowan's jaw clenched.
"I kept you safe."
"From the truth?"
"No. From becoming her."
He Touched Her Hair
She slapped his hand away.
"I trusted you."
"And now?"
"I don't know who to believe."
He leaned in.
"You think Cassian cares for you? He's programmed to manipulate. That collar on your neck? That's not love. That's ownership."
"Maybe I want to be owned."
His face twisted.
"You're smarter than that."
She Moved to the Door
"Let me go."
"No."
"You said you wouldn't hurt me."
"And I won't."
"But you won't let me leave?"
"Not until you understand."
"I understand perfectly."
He grabbed her wrist.
Not hard, but firm.
"Don't go back to him, Eden."
"Why? Afraid I'll survive what she didn't?"
Rowan's eyes flashed, then softened.
"I'm afraid you won't."
She Pulled Away
Opened the door.
Found Cassian in the hallway.
Hands in his pockets, his expression was unreadable.
"Morning," he said. Calm and Controlled.
Rowan tensed.
Cassian's gaze dropped to the gun on the desk.
Then to Eden's wrist, still red from Rowan's grip.
Then back to her eyes.
"Everything alright?"
Eden answered without blinking.
"Yes."
Cassian Walked In
The energy changed instantly.
Predator meets rival.
Rowan stepped between them.
"She's not your property."
"I know."
"She's not your project."
Cassian nodded. "She's neither."
"Then leave her alone."
Cassian tilted his head.
"I could say the same to you."
Eden Spoke Up
"I don't want to be caught between you."
"Then choose," Cassian said.
Rowan snapped, "Don't play this game with her."
"I'm not. But I don't share."
Rowan stepped forward.
"You break women."
Cassian smiled.
"And you bury them."
Eden Cut In
"Stop."
Both men turned to her.
She pointed to the hallway.
"I need air. Alone."
Cassian said nothing.
Rowan hesitated, then nodded.
She walked out without looking back.
Her heart beat like a war drum.
Not from fear but from fury.
She Walked the Grounds
The estate was massive.
Stone paths. Overgrown roses. Fountains with statues missing their heads.
She needed to think.
She needed..
"Eden."
Cassian's voice behind her.
She didn't stop walking.
"You lied," she said.
"No."
"You used me."
"No."
"Then tell me the truth."
He stepped in front of her.
Stopped her with his presence.
"What Did Rowan Say?"
"That Tereza didn't crash. That she was pushed."
Cassian didn't flinch.
"I know."
"You knew?"
He nodded.
"Then why?"
"Because it was never confirmed. The body was real. The injuries matched. But the circumstances… they were staged."
"By who?"
"I don't know."
She stared at him.
"You think Rowan killed her?"
"I think Rowan loved her so much, he couldn't handle being second."
Eden Felt Sick
"So he's been blaming you for years?"
Cassian's eyes were colder now.
"He doesn't want justice. He wants you."
She took a shaky breath.
"Is that why you brought me here? To keep me away from him?"
"No."
"Then why?"
He stepped close.
Took her hand.
"To break you. Then rebuild you."
She Didn't Pull Away
"Why me?"
"Because you want to know who you are without the pain."
"And you think you can show me?"
"No. I think I can strip it from you. Piece by piece."
She looked down.
The collar still shimmered against her skin.
"You said it belonged to her."
"It did."
"And now me."
He nodded.
"Then show me."
They Didn't Go Back Inside
He took her hand.
Led her to a hidden garden.
Fountain running dark with black glass-colored water.
He pushed her against the stone wall.
His mouth claimed hers hard, and possessive.
She gasped as his hand slid beneath her blouse.
"You Want to Feel Something Real?"
"Yes."
He dropped to his knees.
Lifted her leg over his shoulder.
No teasing this time.
Just raw need.
Her head hit the wall.
His tongue made her forget everything, Rowan, the lies, the danger.
She moaned his name.
Fingers tangled in his hair.
And when she came, she collapsed against him
He Held Her. Didn't speak.
Just breathed with her.
Matching rhythm.
She whispered, "You make me feel dangerous."
"You are."
"And wanted."
"You're mine."
Later That Night
Eden searched the estate alone.
Found a locked drawer in Cassian's office.
She cracked it open with a pin.
Inside was a phone.
Burner style.
And a flash drive.
She plugged it into the laptop.
Dozens of files opened.
Video.
Audio.
Names.
And one folder marked "Tereza: Final Night."
She Clicked It
A video played.
Tereza in the same collar Eden wore.
She was crying.
Speaking to someone off camera.
Then she said something that made Eden's blood freeze.
"If Rowan finds this… tell Eden to run."