His Heart in Ragged Breaths

Back in my room, I sank into the bathtub.

I was so tired. I have my needs, sure, but who the hell could endure this, night after night, for three solid years?

If this kept up, that insatiable man would have me in an early grave.

Just then, my phone, resting on the vanity, lit up.

It was a text from my sister, Scarlett Callahan. I froze.

My hands trembled as I opened the message.

It read: "Ava, I'm furious! That bastard actually picked a fight with me over some other woman! I’m coming home to give him the silent treatment for a while. My flight lands tomorrow. Don't tell Mom and Dad; I want you to pick me up."

In a single moment, all my exhaustion, pain, and frustration vanished.

I shot up in the tub, splashing water everywhere.

Scarlett was coming back? As in, Julian’s actual, official fiancée?

Everyone knew their engagement was a strategic alliance between the Salvatore family and our Callahan family.

Three years ago, just before the engagement was formalized, Scarlett had eloped with her boyfriend, Blake Anderson. That was why Julian had taken me as "collateral" to ensure the alliance held.

But if they fulfilled the contract now, it would cement the alliance between the two families!

Did that mean…

"I'm free?"

I leaped out of the water.

Suddenly, my back didn't ache, my legs weren't trembling. The bone-deep exhaustion was swept away by a pure shot of adrenaline.

I grabbed my phone and kissed the screen, wishing I could reach through and give Scarlett the biggest hug of her life.

"Hahaha! I can finally retire!"

The sorrow of a jilted lover? Nonexistent!

For a glorified sex toy who hadn't had a decent night's sleep in three years, there was nothing more exhilarating than the thought of "resigning."

Of course, Scarlett was only coming back to spite Blake, but once she was within Julian's sphere of influence, the marriage contract would be back on the table.

When that happened, I, the "former collateral," would gracefully pack my bags and make my exit!

But… Julian was stubborn, with an unnervingly strong sense of ownership.

What if, after marrying Scarlett, he still forced me to stay on as his secret mistress for the sake of "family honor"?

Then I would have to keep performing my "duties."

No! I would never let that happen!

I had to sever any hold he thought he had on me. I had to make him utterly disgusted with me, right now, at this critical moment.

Only when he believed I was "unclean," tainted by another man, would he kick me to the curb without a second thought and go fulfill his marriage contract.

A brilliant, terrible idea flashed in my mind.

I rushed out of the bathroom and searched online for the emblem of the Salvatore family's sworn enemy.

A coiled serpent.

Just like that, I had my "new master."

Tomorrow, when Julian leaves to meet Scarlett… while he’s on edge…

I clutched my phone, staring at the serpent on the screen. A provocation? Hell yes.

But it was also my ticket to freedom. A victory cry for my glorious return to singlehood!

I flopped onto the bed, kicking my feet in the air and humming a tune of pure, unadulterated joy.

It was the kind of euphoria you only feel after being freed from a long, dark prison.

In this moment, I was the mastermind of a grand escape, the prisoner about to be pardoned.

I whispered to the serpent on the screen, "My dear ‘new master,’ you’d better not fail me tomorrow."