Free Web NovelChapter 171: Chapter 171
Riley’s POV
I turned to leave.
I meant it this time. I wasn’t bluffing, I wasn’t waiting for anyone to stop me, and I definitely wasn’t staying back to argue again. I had said what I needed to say, and I was done standing there letting people talk over me like I didn’t matter.
I took a step forward.
Then suddenly—
His hand grabbed my arm.
Before I could react, he pulled me back hard and slammed me against the wall.
The impact shocked me, not because it hurt, but because I didn’t expect it from him.
Caden stepped in close immediately, too close. Our faces were barely inches apart, and I could feel his grip tighten just enough to keep me from pushing past him. freewebnσvel.cøm
"What the hell are you doing?" I snapped, trying to pull my arm free.
He didn’t let go.
Instead, he leaned in slightly, his voice low but serious.
"Do you remember when we first met you?" he asked.
The question threw me off.
"What?" I said, frowning.
"Back at that club," he continued, his eyes locked on mine. "You were a mess. You were wrecked. Ethan had just gotten to you to the peak."
I blinked, confused.
Why was he bringing that up now?
"That was a long time ago," I said, trying to pull away again. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"We had a deal with you, Riley," he said firmly. "You don’t just get to walk away from that."
I stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"A deal?" I repeated.
"Yes," he said.
That was it.
I pushed him off me hard, forcing space between us.
"Are you serious right now?" I snapped.
He didn’t step back much, but he let me go.
I didn’t wait.
I went off in anger.
"Ever since I got here, it’s been one problem after another," I said, my voice rising without me trying to hold it back. "One mess after another. One situation after another where my life is somehow involved."
He opened his mouth, but I didn’t let him speak.
"No, don’t interrupt me," I said sharply. "I’m not done."
He stayed quiet.
"From one attack to another, from one stupid ritual to another, from people trying to kill me to people trying to use me," I continued. "Do you know how many times my life has been at risk since I stepped into this place?"
I stepped closer to him.
"Because I do," I said. "I can count every single one of them."
He clenched his jaw slightly.
"And let’s not even start with how many times I’ve been crossed by people who are supposed to be my mates," I added.
That hit.
"Perhaps you’re not so different from Ethan after all," I finished.
That was the moment his expression snapped.
"We are nothing like him," Caden said sharply.
I could hear the anger in his voice now.
"Ethan is a psycho," he continued. "He killed your child. Do I need to remind you of that? He used you. He never cared about you."
The words landed, but I didn’t step back.
"And you do?" I shot back immediately.
That stopped him.
"Tell me, Caden," I continued, stepping closer again. "Are you and your brothers not using me right now?"
He didn’t answer.
"Do you love me?" I asked.
The question came out before I could stop it.
And the moment it did, everything went quiet.
He froze.
I saw it clearly. He wasn’t expecting that. Not from me and definitely not like this.
But I didn’t look away.
I already knew the answer.
Still... I wanted to hear it.
He took a small step back. Then another.
Finally, he spoke.
"We don’t do love, Riley," he said simply.
That was it. I let out a short laugh. Not because it was funny.
Because it confirmed everything.
"Of course you don’t," I said.
I shook my head.
"Then I really have no reason to stay here," I continued.
He didn’t stop me this time.
"As for the marriage contract, I don’t care anymore," I added. "You can go ahead with it, cancel it, do whatever you want. I’m done."
I turned around.
And this time, I walked away for real.
I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back. I just kept moving.
And as I walked, the thoughts started hitting me harder.
Oh Riley, you’re so stupid.
You stayed this long thinking something would change.
You let yourself believe there was something real here.
You let yourself think they cared.
I shook my head slightly as I walked, trying to ignore how that realization sat in my mind.
This place was big, but I had been around enough to remember parts of it. I didn’t waste time wandering around, I went straight toward the room I had been using.
When I reached it, I pushed the door open.
I stepped inside and looked around.
I didn’t even bring anything with me when I came here.
I moved quickly.
I grabbed a small bag and started throwing in whatever I could find. A few dresses, some clothes, nothing organized, nothing careful. I didn’t care. I just wanted to leave.
I opened a drawer and grabbed a few more things, then turned toward the bed.
That was when I saw my phone.
I paused for a second. I had completely forgotten about it.
It was just lying there on the bed like it had been waiting for me to notice it.
I walked over and picked it up.
It still had battery.
I stared at it for a second, thinking about how long it had been since I even touched it.
Then I shook it off and slipped it into my bag.
I was about to leave.
I had everything I needed.
Or at least, everything I cared to take.
I walked toward the door but then—
My phone rang.
I stopped.
For a second, I considered ignoring it.
But something made me pull it out.
I looked at the screen.
Anna.
I froze for a second.
"Oh damn," I muttered under my breath.
It had been so long. The company and everything I left behind.
I didn’t even know how things were running now, but the brothers had said they put someone in charge while I was gone.
I answered the call.
"Hi Anna, how’s—"
"Miss Riley!"
Her voice came through immediately, loud and excited.
I paused slightly. She sounded... relieved yet scared.
"Yeah, Anna," I said. "How are—"
"Are you in Obsidian Veil?" she cut in.
