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Lia's POV

The sound of the dungeon gate creaking open jolted me awake. My eyes snapped toward the iron bars, and I sat up on the cold, damp cot, my heart pounding. The rusted hinges screeched, echoing ominously in the silence of the room. A tall guard stepped in, followed by a maid clutching a tray of food.

“Eat,” the maid said curtly, placing the tray on the ground with a loud thud. Her eyes were cold as they met mine. “You’ll need your strength for today. Lady Alina has plans for you.”

My stomach twisted at her words, but I didn’t show it. I glared at her instead. “What plans?” I asked sharply.

The maid smirked. “You’ll see soon enough,” she said. “After all, killers don’t deserve comfort.”

“I didn’t kill anyone!” I shot back, the chains around my wrists clinking as I stood. My voice echoed in the small cell. “So, you better watch your mouth.”

The maid laughed bitterly, her voice grating on my nerves. “Save your lies for someone who cares,” she said. “Everyone knows what you did. You’re nothing but a murderer. A liar. You deserve no peace, no pity, and no mercy.”

I took a step forward, my hands trembling with rage. “Say that again,” I challenged.

Her eyes narrowed as she raised her hand as if to strike me. I flinched but held my ground, ready to fight back.

“Stop!” Bianca’s voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade.

The maid froze her hand still in the air. Both of us turned to see Bianca standing at the entrance, her expression dark with anger.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Bianca demanded, her voice cold and sharp.

The maid stammered, “I-I was just—”

“Just what?” Bianca interrupted, stepping closer. “Overstepping your bounds? Who gave you the right to touch her?”

The maid lowered her gaze, but Bianca wasn’t finished. “Get out,” she ordered her voice firm.

The maid hesitated, her lips parting as if to protest, but Bianca’s glare silenced her. She grabbed the empty tray and scurried out of the cell, her footsteps fading quickly.

Bianca turned to the guard next. “Leave us,” she commanded.

The guard hesitated, his eyes darting between Bianca and me, but eventually, he nodded and exited the cell, closing the gate behind him.

I stared at Bianca, confusion and suspicion swirling in my mind. “What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice rough.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Trying to stop you from getting killed,” she said bluntly.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “Why? So you can feel better about yourself? Spare me the act, Bianca.”

Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t respond right away. Instead, she moved to the corner of the cell and leaned against the wall. “I’m not here to argue with you,” she said. “I’m here because I know you didn’t kill Finn.”

Her words stunned me into silence. I searched her face for any hint of deceit, but she seemed sincere.

“If you know that, then why am I still here?” I asked bitterly.

“Because proving it isn’t easy,” she admitted. “Dean’s got everyone convinced that you’re guilty. And Alina… she’s not exactly the forgiving type.”

I laughed humorlessly. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Bianca sighed again, her gaze softening. “Look, I’m trying to help you,” she said. “But I can’t do it alone. You need to trust me.”

“Trust you?” I repeated, my voice rising. “How can I trust you when you’re part of the same group that put me here?”

She didn’t flinch at my accusation. Instead, she stepped closer, her eyes locking onto mine. “You don’t have a choice,” she said simply. “Unless you’d rather rot here and let them win.”

I stared at her, my heart pounding. She wasn’t wrong. As much as I hated to admit it, I didn’t have any other options.

“What’s your plan?” I asked reluctantly.

A small smile tugged at her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “First, we need to figure out what Alina’s planning for you. And then…” She trailed off, her expression hardening. “Then we find a way to expose Dean for the snake he is.”

Her words ignited a flicker of hope in my chest, but I quickly squashed it. I couldn’t afford to get my hopes up, not yet.

“I still don’t trust you,” I said, my voice quiet but firm.

Bianca nodded. “Fair enough,” she said. “But trust or not, I’m not leaving you to face this alone.”

Her determination caught me off guard. For the first time since I’d been thrown into this dungeon, I felt a sliver of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t as alone as I thought.

___

Bianca’s POV

The dim light of the dungeon made Lia’s face look even paler than I remembered. I crouched next to her, lowering my voice so no one outside could hear. “Lia,” I began, “I need you to stay strong. We’re working on a plan to get you out of this.”

She looked at me skeptically, her eyes sunken from exhaustion. “What plan? Bianca, do you really think there’s a way out of this? Dean has everyone convinced I killed Finn.”

I leaned closer. “Listen to me. Luca, Jenny, and I had a meeting last night. We’re gathering evidence against Dean. Luca already recorded him confessing to killing Finn. We’re careful, but we’re making progress. It’s only a matter of time before we expose him for the liar and murderer he is.”

Her lips trembled as she absorbed my words. “You’re serious?” she whispered, her voice cracking.

I nodded, gripping her hand tightly. “Dead serious. We’ve already started. Luca sent us recordings, and we’re tracking Dean’s moves. Trust me, Lia. This isn’t over yet.”

For the first time in days, a faint flicker of hope lit her eyes. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely audible. “Thank you for believing in me. I was starting to lose hope.”

My heart ached at her words, but I forced a reassuring smile. “You’re not alone in this. We’re going to get you out of here, no matter what it takes.”

She nodded weakly, and I stood, glancing at the door to ensure the coast was still clear. “Hang in there. I’ll check on you soon,” I said, giving her one last look before leaving the dungeon.

As I made my way to the breakfast room, my mind raced. Dean’s confidence was his weakness. He didn’t realize we were closing in on him, and I planned to use that to my advantage.

When I entered the dining room, I was immediately met with a sight that made my blood boil. Dean was seated at the table with Alina and Jenny, eating as if he owned the place. How dare he?

“Why is Dean eating here?” I asked, my tone sharp as I approached the table.

Alina looked up from her plate, her expression cool and dismissive. “Bianca, mind your business,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “Besides, you’re not really part of this family, so you should know your place.”

Her words stung more than I cared to admit, but I refused to show it. Instead, I squared my shoulders and pulled out a chair, sitting down across from Dean without another word.

Jenny glanced at me, her eyes full of unspoken understanding. We were both walking a tightrope, pretending to tolerate Dean while working behind the scenes to take him down.

As I picked at my food, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Dean. He looked calm, almost smug as if he had nothing to hide. It made my stomach churn. He was a murderer, sitting at this table as if he belonged, while Lia rotted in a dungeon for his crime.

I clenched my fork tightly, resisting the urge to say something that might give us away. Alina’s presence didn’t make things easier. She was firmly in Dean’s corner, blindly loyal to him despite everything. Confronting him now would be useless and dangerous.

Jenny nudged my foot under the table, breaking my train of thought. I glanced at her and caught the subtle raise of her eyebrow, a silent reminder to stay focused. We had a plan, and we needed to stick to it.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax. Dean’s arrogance would be his downfall, and I had no intention of tipping him off before the time was right.

Still, as I sat there, pretending to eat, I couldn’t shake the anger boiling inside me. Dean might think he was untouchable, but he was wrong. Luca, Jenny, and I were closing in, and it was only a matter of time before his lies unraveled.

I glanced at Jenny again, and this time, she gave me a faint nod. It was a small gesture, but it was enough to remind me of what we were fighting for. Lia’s freedom, Finn’s justice, and the truth no matter the cost.

Dean might be sitting there now, acting like he had nothing to fear, but his days were numbered. And when the truth finally came out, he’d have nowhere to hide.