Chapter 197

Grayson’s POV

A triumphant, sharp, self-satisfied smile returned to his face. “Wouldn’t you like to know? Unfortunately for you, that’s a mystery you’ll die never knowing the answer to.”

“Die?” Elaine hiccuped, her voice trembling, tears welling in her eyes. “Liam, you can’t be serious. I understand—you’re trying to prove a point, and Grayson hasn’t been nice to any of us, but this… this isn’t right. You can stop this. Please.” Her voice cracked. She pressed her hands to her stomach instinctively, though there was no child. “You can have my shares. I didn’t even know I had them. Just stop this and let us out. It’s—it’s so hot in here…” Her words dissolved into broken sobs, her body shaking.

I kept my gaze on Liam, unmoving and impassive. “Let Elaine out,” I said flatly. “Your problem is with me. Let her go. You want the company? Fine, take it. Take whatever you think the world has stolen from you and given to me. But let her go.”

Liam scoffed, shaking his head as if I’d spoken utter nonsense. “Even now,” he spat, “you refuse to climb down from your high horse. You’re not giving me anything, Grayson. I’m taking it. Everything I’ve worked for—everything I deserve—I’m finally taking it.”

“Good for you,” I replied dryly. “Now let her out. Want to kill me? Go ahead. I don’t care. But let her out.”

Not that I had much left to live for, anyway. Ava would never forgive me. My wolf was gone. I wasn’t fit to be king, and honestly, I didn’t want to be anymore. The weight of the crown had suffocated me since birth. Whoever wanted the throne could have it. I didn’t care. I just wanted peace. I was so damn tired.

Maybe Liam would be the one to give me that peace.

“Grayson, stop aggravating him,” Elaine pleaded desperately. Turning to Liam, tears streamed down her face. “Please. Stop this. I’m begging you, please stop!”

Liam’s cold, calculating gaze flicked to her; his lips curled into a mocking smirk. “Stop being delusional, Elaine. Crying and begging won’t save you. You’ve spent your life throwing tantrums and expecting the world to cater to you. You’re still that spoiled little girl who thinks tears will fix everything.”

Her sobs intensified, her hands trembling as she clutched her sides. “So everything we had… everything you said, every time you told me you cared… You were pretending? All of it?”

He tilted his head, feigning thought before replying nonchalantly, his tone cutting like a blade. “Of course, I was pretending. You were easy to manipulate, Elaine. I told you what you wanted to hear, gave you just enough affection to keep you under control. It wasn’t hard. Someone like you, starved for attention and love? You practically begged me to use you.” His words were ice-cold, cruelly precise.

Her wailing increased, echoing off the walls. She looked utterly shattered. “You… you lied to me!” she choked out.

Liam sneered. “Oh, grow up, Elaine. You’re not a victim. You’re pathetic.”

He turned back to me, his expression unreadable, his tone sharp. “You’re probably wondering why you can’t move, why your body feels so heavy.”

I stared blankly, my voice dry with disinterest. “I’m not wondering. Whatever grand revelation you’re about to make… save it. You’re wasting your time. I don’t care.”

For a split second, his smug expression faltered, but he quickly recovered, his smile turning almost gleeful. “Well, I’ll tell you anyway. You’re both drugged. That sluggish, heavy feeling? That’s all thanks to me. Of course, Elaine’s dose is laced with wolfsbane. It’ll wear off eventually, but not in time for you to do anything other than accept your fates.”

He paused, clearly waiting for a reaction. I gave him none. I was too tired.

Satisfied, he turned and walked toward the door.

“Liam!” Elaine screamed, her voice raw and broken. She tried to stand, but her body trembled weakly, and she fell back. “Let us out of here! Please, don’t do this!” Her sobs grew more frantic. “Please, Liam! I’ll do whatever you want! Just let us out!”

Liam didn’t stop, didn’t look back. His hand gripped the doorframe as he turned slightly, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. “I would say this has been fun, but…”

He stepped out, closing the vault door behind him, leaving only the sound of her anguished cries filling the suffocating space.

I closed my eyes; my head pounded, each throb echoing like a war drum. Elaine’s sobs filled the suffocating silence, each one twisting a knife deeper into my chest. I didn’t know how long Liam planned to keep us here, nor his ultimate plan. But I knew this was it—our end.

And maybe I would have accepted that, resigned myself to it as punishment for my mistakes, if Elaine weren’t here. Her cries pierced through my guilt, jolting me from my misery.

I needed to think. I needed to get her out. But I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe properly, let alone form a plan. My body felt like it was shutting down.

I turned my head slowly, forcing my eyes open to look at her. “Elaine,” I whispered hoarsely, “Stop crying. He’s not worth it.”

Her head snapped up, her tear-streaked face twisted with rage. “Not worth it?” she spat.

I didn’t answer. What could I say?

“This is all your fault!” she shouted, the words hitting me like a blow. “Do you hear me? All of this is your fault!”

I stayed silent.

“If you hadn’t become this—this terrible person,” she continued, her voice shaking with fury, “none of this would be happening! Do you even realize that? Do you even care?”

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

Her anger spilled over, and I sat there, letting it drown me. “Liam was right,” she said bitterly. “You treat everyone like garbage. You’ve always treated me like garbage! You didn’t care about anyone unless it benefited you. And now look where we are! Look what your selfishness has done!”

My chest tightened, but I didn’t interrupt. I didn’t defend myself.

“You think you’re better than everyone else,” she continued, her voice cracking. “You think the world owes you something, but it doesn’t! We’ve all been through things, Grayson! You’re not special! And instead of being the person you used to be—the person I trusted—you became this… this monster.”

Her words sliced through me. She was right. I knew it.

“You think I don’t see it?” she said, tears flowing freely. “How you push people away? You don’t care who you hurt, as long as you get what you want.”

I lowered my head, unable to meet her gaze.

“Liam said you changed after the fire,” she said, quieter now, but each word sharp. “And you did. You became cruel. You became everything you used to hate. You became exactly like him.”

The last word hit me like a punch. Him. I became exactly like my father.

My father. The man I used to hide from in Elaine’s room, trembling as I climbed through her window at night. She’d fuss about boys in her room, but she always let me stay. Always.

And now? What had I become?

The silence stretched, her words lingering. Then, suddenly, Elaine’s voice rose, breaking the quiet. “Why is it so hot in here? And what is that awful smell?”

Her words jolted me. The smell hit me—thick, cloying, unmistakable.

I lifted my head, scanning the space. It clicked. I understood Liam’s taunt about saving her tears.

I swallowed hard, my voice low but steady. “Gas,” I whispered.

Elaine’s head whipped toward me, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. “What?”

“It’s gas,” I said, louder. “That’s why it’s getting hotter. Liam isn’t just leaving us here to rot.”

I turned to her, meeting her gaze as the situation settled over us like a shroud.

“He’s going to blow this vault up,” I said, each word grim. “With us still inside.”