Chapter 54
Mar 31, 2025
Felicia had lost all sense of time, trapped in the dark, damp chamber. The hours blurred into days, each one a never-ending nightmare. Her body ached with dull pain. Her stomach growled with hunger, and her head spun with dizziness. The silver cuffs bound her wrists and ankles. They drained her strength, leaving her arms and legs weak.
The cold, damp air clung to her skin, making her shiver with every breath. But it was the boys, Danny and Max, who suffered the most. Their small faces were pale and tight. They shivered from the cold. Their eyes looked sunken from hunger. They spoke very little. Their voices were but a whisper. Their movements were slow and labored. Felicia’s heart broke with every glance, her maternal instincts screaming to protect them.
Since Lucien’s betrayal, Felicia had convinced herself it was a mistake. That he wasn’t truly a traitor. That he would come back for them. But with each passing day, her hope dwindled, replaced by a crushing despair. The thought of Lucien’s treachery stung like a fresh wound, festering in her heart.
As she sat against the stone wall, her arms wrapped tightly around her boys to keep them warm, Max’s small voice broke the silence.
“Mommy?” The innocence in his voice shattered her, and tears welled up in her eyes, burning hot and painful.
Then, she burst into tears, deep, painful sobs wracking her body, shaking her to her very core.
As Felicia’s exhaustion returned, a distant scream echoed in the chamber. It was followed by a vicious snarl that chilled her. The walls shook, and pained cries filled the air. Felicia’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding violently.
What was happening?
The heavy chamber doors swung open, shaking the ground. A tall, familiar figure stepped inside – Damien. His eyes were wild with fury, his fists clenched, dripping with blood. His chest heaved, his knuckles bruised, and his sharp green eyes scanned the room until they landed on her. Felicia’s heart lurched, her lips parting in pure shock.
“Damien…” she whispered, barely believing what she was seeing.
He stood before her, his eyes locked on hers, his face etched with concern. Felicia’s body gave out, and she collapsed forward, sobbing against his chest. The dam broke. She wept, clutching him as if he was the only solid thing in the world.
After a few moments, Felicia pulled back, her face still wet with tears, but her voice was steady now.
“How… how did you find us?” she asked, her hands gripping his shirt.
Damien stared at her, something unreadable in his eyes.
Then, he exhaled, his grip on her tightening.
“Lucien.”
The name hung in the air, a poisonous cloud that threatened to choke her.
“Lucien led me here.” Felicia’s stomach twisted painfully, her breath catching.
What did it mean? Why would Lucien, the traitor, lead Damien to her? The questions swirled in her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. Not yet.
