*Chapter 4: Trust or Not?*
It was morning. The sun streamed gently through the velvet curtains as Riven leaned over and kissed my forehead to wake me.
"Aria," he said softly, "why were you acting all weird last night? Did something happen?"
I forced a smile and replied, "No, I'm fine."
But my voice betrayed me, and the smile didn't reach my eyes. Riven stared at me for a moment, clearly unconvinced. His expression darkened as suspicion crept into his voice.
"Were you at the meeting hall last night?" he asked sharply, his eyes narrowing.
"M-my Lord... I— I'm..." I stuttered, completely caught off guard.
"Save your breath," he snapped, his tone suddenly ice cold. His eyes had that deadly glint I had only seen once before, and my heart dropped.
Fear gripped me, and my body trembled. *What if he kills me right now?* I thought as tears welled up in my eyes.
"If my brothers had found out you were there, you'd already be dead," Riven said, his voice low but full of warning. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"
I couldn't hold it in any longer.
"There's no need to pretend anymore," I burst out, tears slipping down my cheeks. "You already said I'll be the one used for the ritual!"
Riven's hand lifted in a sudden motion—so fast I barely saw it. My breath caught, my life flashed before my eyes.
But he stopped.
He lowered his hand slowly and sighed, his tone softening. "Aria, dear… you've got it all wrong, okay? We are not using you for the ritual."
"Lies!" I shouted, sobbing harder now.
He stepped closer and held me, trying to kiss me deeply. But even as his lips touched mine, I cried. My heart was shattered, my trust cracked. I pushed him away.
Riven's eyes darkened. He turned as if to walk away, and something inside me snapped.
"You and your brothers can use me for the ritual for all I care!" I screamed, still crying. "Just get it over with!"
He stopped in his tracks. Slowly, he turned to face me, a small smirk curling at the corner of his lips.
"We're using my 70th wife for the ritual, not you," he said calmly. "I don't want to repeat myself again."
I froze. My tears stopped, but my mind didn't. The weight of his words pressed against my heart.
*He's telling the truth… or is he?*
*Why didn't he tell me sooner?*
*Why did they even mention me?*
I looked at Riven, who now stood quietly, watching me closely—as if waiting for me to decide whether to believe him.
*Could I trust him?*
Or was this just another devil's lie dressed in soft words?
I didn't know.
I just stood there, caught between fear and fragile hope, wondering if I had just made a terrible mistake… or if love had truly spared me from hell.
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