The Blackmail contract Bride - Chapter 47: Chapter 47

Lena's POV:
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As soon as the gate swung open, it felt like I was diving back into a nightmare I thought I’d left behind, and this time, I was doing it of my own accord.
The mansion was just as big and intimidating as I remembered. But something was off. It wasn’t just the chilly air brushing against me or the nervous feeling creeping up my back, it was the emptiness of the place, like a ghost of its former self. No warmth, no vibe. Just cold surfaces and silence.
Two guards were already hanging out by the door as I stepped in. They didn’t say anything, just nodded and opened the door for me like I was coming back from a vacation, not entering a fancy prison.
Inside, everything looked the same. The shiny white floors, the sparkling chandelier above, and that same cold scent of cologne and polish lingering in the air. But it felt even chillier this time. It was almost as if the walls understood what I had sacrificed to return.
I didn’t spot Dominic right away.
But I could feel him.
His presence was thick, like smoke filling my lungs, heavy and impossible to ignore.
Then I turned to the sound of slow, purposeful footsteps.
There he was.
Standing atop the stairs in his neatly pressed dark suit, looking flawless. His black shirt was buttoned to the top, and not a strand of hair was out of place. His eyes, dark and sharp like obsidian, held mine with a satisfaction that made my stomach turn.
“You came back,” he said, calm almost to a fault. “I knew you would.”
I didn’t respond. I just didn’t have it in me.
He strolled down the stairs, never breaking eye contact. “You look exhausted. But still gorgeous.”
I looked away, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the dark circles under my eyes and the heaviness I was carrying.
When he reached me, he lifted my chin with his fingers. “I missed you, Lena.”
It sounded sweet, but the pressure of his fingers made it feel more like a warning.
“I didn’t come back because I missed you,” I replied flatly. “I came back because you threatened my sister.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Is that really what you’re telling yourself to get some sleep?”
“You blackmailed me!” I shot back. “As soon as you found me, you started using Emma’s life like it was a game piece. You didn't care what happened to me—I was kidnapped, Dominic!”
He chuckled, stepping back. “Kidnapped? Really? That’s your take? You were kissing the guy like he was your boyfriend.”
My cheeks were on fire. “You don’t know anything about what went down.”
“Oh, I saw enough,” he sneered. “You hanging on to him, crawling into his bed. Did he comfort you, Lena? Whisper sweet nothings about freedom and love?”
“Because he treated me like a human!” I shot back. “Unlike you, who sees me as your property. He never locked me up or threatened my family to keep me around.”
Dominic's smirk faded a bit.
“I gave you everything,” he said, his voice low. “Everything, Lena. And you still ran.”
“I was never free!” I yelled. “You handed me a mansion and security, but I had no freedom. I couldn’t even visit my sister without someone watching me. I felt suffocated!”
He moved closer again, his gaze intense. “And what do you think will happen now? You think you'll find freedom here? You came back because you realized I’m the only one who'll keep you safe. Cane would have let you die just to protect his pride.”
“No,” I replied, shaking a bit. “I came back because I had no other option.”
Dominic tilted his head. “You always have options, Lena. You finally made the right choice.”
A maid came up next to me. “Please, Miss Lena. Let me take your bag.”
I handed it over without saying anything, my heart still racing from our argument.
Dominic smiled. “Your room is ready. Same one as before. Nothing’s different.”
Except everything had changed.
He led me upstairs like he was showing off a trophy he was really proud of.
As we got to the door of my old room, he paused and faced me.
“I know things were... tough before. But that’s in the past now,” he said, leaning in and lowering his voice. “What matters is that you’re here.”
“I’m not here because of you,” I replied softly. “I’m here because of Emma.”
“Call it whatever you want,” he shrugged. “But the main thing is you’re here. That’s what counts.”
I stepped into the room and shut the door behind me.
Everything looked just as I remembered.
The bed, the curtains, the same few novels still sitting on the bookshelf. My old robe was still hanging on the hook behind the door. It felt like time had frozen here, just waiting for me to return and hit play.
But the silence felt different now—much heavier.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my hand resting over my belly.
The baby wasn’t moving.
And for some reason, that terrified me more than anything else.
—
Dinner felt like a performance.
The table was set for two, candles flickering in the middle. The meal served on fancy plates barely registered in my taste buds; what once seemed beautiful now felt like props in some bizarre drama.
Dominic poured himself wine and me water.
He observed me closely while I ate, each bite feeling like a test I wasn’t sure I was passing.
“We’re going to have a great life, Lena,” he suddenly broke the silence. “A real family. You, me, and the baby. Just how I always envisioned it.”
I kept my eyes down.
“I’ve been thinking about names,” he continued, casually cutting his steak. “Something strong and meaningful. For a boy, maybe Elijah. For a girl... Isadora. What do you think?”
I pushed myself to respond. “We should wait until it’s born.”
He nodded slowly, but his expression tightened. “You’re still so cautious with your words.”
“I don’t want to argue,” I said softly.
“You won’t have to,” he leaned in, his tone firm but calm. “As long as you stay where you’re supposed to be.”
I met his eyes, trying to hide the dread building in my chest.
“Don’t push me, Lena,” he warned, his voice low and smooth but edged with steel. “You left once, and I showed mercy. Do it again, and that won’t be on the table.”
I clenched my jaw and focused on my plate.
“Eat,” he said gently. “You’re eating for two now.”
I took another bite of the bland food.
He smiled.
—
That night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the chandelier gently swayed, casting flickering shadows in the room. The silence wrapped around me, making it hard to breathe.
I curled up, hands over my belly.
I wanted Cane.
I missed his voice, his warmth, the way he looked at me like I mattered.
I closed my eyes and imagined him, laughing, holding me, whispering that he would protect me, even when I doubted it.
Tears slid down my cheeks before I realized it.
I wasn’t sure what I had done, if I had made the right choice, or if there was even such a thing as a right choice.
Maybe all that was left was just survival.
But what did that even mean now?
—
I must’ve dozed off because the next thing I felt was warmth.
A hand.
Resting lightly, possessively, over my belly.
I opened my eyes and turned my head.
Dominic was perched at the edge of the bed, watching me, his hand on my stomach. His eyes were soft, but it was an obsession disguised as love.
“You were crying in your sleep,” he said quietly.
I didn’t reply.
“You don’t need to cry anymore,” he whispered, lightly tracing the bump. “Everything you need is here.”
I wanted to shove his hand away. I wanted to scream, to tell him I wasn’t his, that I never was. But I didn’t. I couldn’t.
He leaned down and kissed my stomach.
“You’re home now,” he murmured softly, but the words felt dangerous. “And you’re never leaving again.”
And suddenly, I was struck with the realization that I might never leave alive.