𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 || 𝟏𝟖+ (Duet #02)

How do you survive when your fairy tale collapses, when you discover that the person you believed to be your prince was, in fact, the devil himself? The man I thought was my savior, the one who would protect me, turned out to be the very monster who destroyed me. My world shattered when I learned the truth about Vivian Singhania-the truth that he wasn't a prince, he wasn't even human. He was a devil, and all I was to him was a pawn, a tool in his ruthless game. Vivian had spun his web of lies so tightly around me that I never saw it coming. Every word, every gesture-it was all to lure me in, to make me trust him, love him. And I did. Jesus, how I loved him. But no matter how deep the lies ran, the truth always finds a way to break through. And now that it has, I wish I could tear him out of my heart, rip every memory of him away from my soul. But I can't. No matter how hard I try, he's there-buried so deep that even my death wouldn't erase him. And now, I stand before him, my heart in ruins, my spirit crushed. All I want are answers. Why? Why did he do this to me? What was I to him? "Why did you do this, Vivian?!" I scream, my voice cracking as my body finally gives out, and I collapse to the ground, my knees hitting the cold, unforgiving floor. I feel my strength drain from me, leaving nothing but a hollow shell. How could he? How could the man I loved do this? Everyone in the room stares, but I don't care. Let them watch my pain. Let them see the cost of loving a devil. Tears flood my eyes, blurring everything as I sob. "You ruined everything... my family, my life. You pretended to love me... just to destroy everything I had," I say, my voice breaking as I lift my tear-streaked face to look at him. There's a bitter smile on my lips, twisted by the pain that's swallowing me whole. "You made me believe in you... you showed me a man who never even existed." Vivian crouches before me, and for a moment, I see something flicker in his eyes, but I can't make sense of it. All I can feel is the ice creeping into my veins. His face looks so calm, so emotionless, like none of this matters to him. My tears fall faster, the salt of them stinging my lips, my face drenched in the endless flood of my grief. Then, without warning, something dark and dangerous flickers across his face, and a chill runs down my spine. His expression shifts, and I know. I know what's coming, and yet, I can't stop the fear from clawing its way through me. A cruel smile tugs at his lips. "So, you've figured it out," he says, standing up and shoving his hands into his pockets, pacing in that casual, almost mocking way of his. "Well, since the game is up, there's no point in pretending anymore, is there? Yes, Aarini. It was all a lie. Every kiss, every word-it was all just a part of my plan. Nothing more." His words slice through me like daggers, each one sharp and brutal. My heart, already in pieces, shatters completely. The last bit of hope, that tiny sliver of love I had buried deep for him, dies. My world, my life-it's all gone now. I've lost everything. I close my eyes, my voice trembling as I whisper, "You're a monster, Vivian... a heartless monster." Behind me, I hear him laugh-a dark, chilling sound that makes my blood run cold. "Exactly. That's what I am baby. Heartless, ruthless, and everything you never saw coming," he says, his voice dripping with that same cruel satisfaction. His laughter echoes in my ears, filling me with dread. My body trembles, every fiber of me screaming to run, to get away. But it's too late. I'm trapped-trapped by the man I once loved, and no matter how much I hate him now, no matter how much I want to forget... I know he'll haunt me forever. ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──