CHAPTER 32
**WINTER**
I held my breath, straining to listen for any sign of Zion’s presence. The pounding on the door had stopped, and after a few tense moments, I heard the faint sound of his footsteps receding down the hallway. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited, barely daring to breathe.
When the footsteps finally faded away, I slowly let out a shuddering breath. My legs felt weak as I pushed away from the door and stumbled towards my bed. My hands were trembling, and I could feel the sweat cooling on my skin, turning my clothes into a clingy mess.
I slumped to the edge of the bed, my chest rising and sinking with each erratic breath. Zion had left, but the fear and uncertainty remained. How could I possibly coexist in a home with someone so inconsistent and unpredictable? The prospect of sharing a roof with him filled me with dread.
What could I do? How could I navigate this house without getting caught in his rage? The uncertainty gnawed at me, and I knew I couldn’t stay hidden forever. I had to find a way to manage this situation, to find some semblance of peace, or at least a way to coexist without being constantly on edge.
While lying on the bed, gazing at the ceiling, my thoughts were filled with worries and uncertainties. How would I protect myself from someone with such strong anger? This question lingered in my mind, leaving me searching for a sense of peace in the midst of the upcoming turmoil.
The click of the door opening sent a jolt of panic through me. My eyes shot toward the door, and there he was, Zion, standing in the doorway with a key dangling from his fingers. My heart slammed into my ribcage as I scrambled off the bed and pressed myself against the wall, my breath coming in quick, shallow bursts.
His eyes locked onto mine with a cold, predatory glint.
“You forgot, didn’t you?” he drawled, his voice dripping with malice. “This house is mine. I have spare keys.” He dangled the keys in front of me, a cruel smirk spreading across his face.
“Did you really think you could lock me out? That you could hide from me in my own home? You’re more naive than I thought. This place is my domain, Winter. Every door, every room, every corner belongs to me. And now, so do you.”
He took a step closer, the menace in his eyes sending a shiver down my spine. “You can’t escape me. You can’t run. The more you defy me, the worse it will get. Remember that, Snowflake. You’re trapped here with me, and there’s no one to save you.”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing as I tried to steady my shaking limbs. His presence filled the room, a looming threat that made the space feel suffocating. I felt trapped, cornered, with no way to escape.
He took a deliberate step forward, the key swinging casually from his fingers, as if it were a symbol of his control over me. I pressed my back further into the wall, trying to make myself as small as possible, my eyes wide with fear.
He leaned in so close that I could feel his breath against my lips, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me. The strange desire to bite his lip and make him experience the pain that echoes in my chest flared up. But before I could even process the impulse, his gravelly voice cut through the tension.
“If you were smart, you would have made the most of the chance I gave you to leave, that night at the party. But you didn’t, did you? Now, with both our parents away, you’re entirely at my mercy. You won't find anyone to rescue you from me," he declared, his voice conveying the gravity of a solemn commitment rather than a simple warning.
He stepped closer, his eyes boring into mine with a sinister gleam. “Do you know what that means, Winter? It means I can do anything I want to you. Anything. You’re alone, with no one to hear you scream, no one to run to for help. I can make your life a living hell, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear.
“You’ll pay for your defiance, every word of insolence. I’ll break you down until there’s nothing left but fear and obedience. And when you think it can’t get any worse, I’ll remind you just how wrong you are. This is my house, my rules. And you’re just a guest overstaying your welcome.”
He pulled back slightly, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. “So go ahead, keep pushing me. I dare you. Because every time you do, I’ll push back harder. You have no idea what I’m capable of, but you’ll find out soon enough. You should have left when you had the chance, Snowflake. Now, it’s too late.”
I forced myself to meet his gaze, fighting the growing anxiety.
“I’m not afraid of you, Zion. What do you have to offer that I should fear? Why are you so angry with me? It’s not my fault our parents married and you got stuck with me as a stepsister,” I retorted, trying to mask my unease with defiance. His proximity was overwhelming, making me feel dizzy and vulnerable.
His head tips back, and a bitter laugh fills the space.
“You really think this is just about our parents getting married?” My brows knit together in confusion. What else could it be about? I haven’t done anything to him, haven’t even seen him in five years. He must be conjuring up things in his head. When I don’t respond, he shakes his head in disbelief, his body vibrating with a rage that reaches inside me and sticks to my bones.
“You’re a liar. That’s what you are. A fucking liar. And guess what? You can’t lie your way out of this one. Nothing will save you from me. I’ve seen the truth, heard it firsthand, and I’ll get my revenge on you, Snowflake. I’ll hurt you until you beg me to stop.”
“I…” Words lodge in my throat. “I don’t understand.” I blink rapidly, his frame still towering over mine, making me feel an inch tall.
“You will soon enough. If I were you, I’d watch my back. You never know when someone’s going to lodge a knife in it.”
With one last cold sweep of his eyes, he pushes past me and out the front door. His words leave me feeling cold, and a sliver of fear cuts through me. Whatever happened to the boy with soft eyes that never stopped smiling?
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