Between Silence and storm

Chapter 1

Ariana

In the dead of night, a shadow drifted silently down the dimly lit hallway. Ariana, dressed in formal evening attire, moved unsteadily, her head heavy and foggy.

Heat... So much heat...

It spread through her body like a wildfire, threatening to consume her from the inside out. Something was wrong-terribly wrong.

Flashes of the past hour played in her mind.

After attending her grandfather's grand 70th birthday celebration, her stepmother, Cynthia, had stopped her with a saccharine voice.

"Ariana, there's something I need to discuss with you."

Ariana's response was cold, her eyes filled with disdain. "There's nothing for us to talk about. The moment you drove my mother to her death, we ceased to have anything but hatred between us."

Cynthia's expression stiffened, but she masked her irritation with a pitiful sigh. "Your father is in trouble, and he needs your help."

Ariana scoffed, a sense of dread creeping into her gut. "And what exactly can I do?"

Cynthia's voice softened, almost pleading. "Ariana, your father offended a powerful man. The only way out is for you to ask your grandfather for help. No matter what's happened, you're still a member of the Falter family. He won't refuse you."

Ariana found it laughable.

Ask her grandfather?

The same grandfather who had severed all ties with her father years ago?

Who had watched in disgust as Cynthia seduced her father while her mother was pregnant, forcing her into a humiliating divorce?

Who had never forgiven her father for letting her mother walk out into a storm, only to die in a tragic accident?

And now, Cynthia had the audacity to ask for help?

Ariana's lips curled into a cold smirk. "I wouldn't beg him for anything. My father is nothing but a selfish coward, and whatever happens to him-he deserves it."

With that, she turned to leave.

But just as she did, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Ariana, if you refuse to help, don't blame me for what happens next."

Before Ariana could react, an unusual fragrance filled the air. A sweet, cloying scent.

Instinctively, she held her breath. But it was too late-she had already inhaled too much.

Her limbs grew weak, her vision blurred.

Damn it.

She barely registered the figure grabbing her arm, attempting to drag her away.

Summoning the last of her strength, Ariana kicked her attacker hard in the stomach and broke free.

She stumbled forward, panic flooding her veins as she forced herself to keep moving.

She had always known Cynthia was ruthless, but she had underestimated just how far she would go.

As the world around her began to spin, Ariana pressed herself against the hallway wall, trying to stay upright.

Footsteps. Voices.

"Hurry up and find her! If she escapes, we're finished!"

Cynthia.

Ariana's breath hitched.

Desperation clawed at her as she reached for the nearest door, her fingers trembling.

Creak.

To her surprise, it wasn't locked.

With no other choice, she slipped inside and locked it behind her.

The room was pitch-black.

She had no idea where she was.

Her foot caught on something, and before she could steady herself, she tumbled forward.

"Ah-"

She landed on something soft.

No, someone.

A cool, firm surface met her burning cheek, sending a wave of relief through her feverish body.

It felt so good.

Her hands moved instinctively, touching the solid warmth beneath her.

It was a man.

Her rational mind screamed at her to move away, but the overwhelming heat consuming her body made her crave the cold touch.

Unconsciously, she clung to him, her arms and legs wrapping around him as if he were the only thing anchoring her.

On the bed, Dwayne stirred.

The alcohol in his system had kept him in a deep slumber, but the sudden weight pressing against him made his brows furrow.

A soft, delicate body curled against his, rubbing against him in a way that sent a jolt of awareness through his fogged mind.

His voice was hoarse, laced with irritation. "Get off."

Ariana whimpered, burying her face against his chest, her fingers clutching at him desperately.

Dwayne attempted to push her away, but his intoxicated body lacked its usual strength.

She pressed closer.

Then, a soft, feather-light kiss landed against his throat.

His entire body tensed.

A slow, dangerous fire flickered to life within him.

His eyes snapped open, dark and predatory in the shadows.

In the darkness, he looked like a wolf that had just been provoked, his sharp gaze glowing with an unspoken warning.

With a sudden movement, he flipped them over, pinning the girl beneath him.

His voice was low, dangerous.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Pain...

Ariana's tightly shut eyes trembled as she struggled against an overwhelming, searing heat. Her body felt weak, heavy. A suffocating warmth surrounded her, making it impossible to think.

She fought against it, forcing her lashes apart.

The first thing she saw was a face-sharp, striking, impossibly handsome. A strong, well-defined jawline. The high bridge of his nose. Lips that were perfectly sculpted yet dangerously thin. Two thick brows, angled like sharp blades over deep-set, intense eyes.

For a fleeting moment, Ariana forgot to breathe.

She simply stared, her fogged mind unable to process what she was seeing.

Then, reality came crashing back.

Her muddled brain pieced together the fragments of last night. The setup. Her desperate escape. The room she stumbled into...

And now-this.

A jolt of panic surged through her veins.

This man is... Dwayne!

Her body stiffened. Why was he in bed with her? Or worse... why was she in bed with him?

With trembling fingers, Ariana lifted the quilt just enough to peek underneath. The sight of two disheveled bodies sent a wave of cold dread through her.

She yanked the covers back up, her face draining of all color.

What should I do? What should I do now?

Her heart pounded like a drum against her ribs. No, they weren't related by blood, but Dwayne was still considered her uncle. And now, after... after this-how was she supposed to face him?

Before she could come up with an answer, the man beside her shifted.

A low, sleepy hum escaped his lips.

Ariana's breath hitched in terror. Her first instinct? Run!

But before she could make a move, a strong, tanned arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her back against his body.

Ariana nearly yelped.

His warmth pressed into her back, his chest firm, solid, burning hot against her feverish skin. Her entire body turned crimson, her pulse frantic.

She struggled, attempting to pry his arm away, but it was like trying to move a steel bar.

Damn it, he's too strong!

Beads of sweat rolled down her temples as she waited-praying he would drift back to sleep.

After a long, agonizing pause, his grip loosened ever so slightly. Seizing the chance, Ariana mustered all her strength and wriggled free. She scrambled off the bed, hastily grabbing the clothes scattered on the floor.

Her hands shook as she dressed, her movements clumsy.

When she pulled on her trousers too forcefully, she lost her balance.

Thud!

Her mouth smacked straight into something-something rock hard.

Ow!

Pain shot through her lips. She winced, staggering back-only to realize what she had bumped into.

Dwayne's chest.

A broad, muscular chest.

Heat burned up her neck as she snapped her gaze upward-only to lock eyes with him.

A pair of cold, razor-sharp eyes.

Dark. Piercing. Unreadable.

The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.

Ariana's mind went blank. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor with a dull thud.

"You... you... you got it all wrong!" she blurted, voice trembling.

Dwayne's expression didn't change. He merely stared down at her, unreadable, assessing. Then, his deep, chilling voice broke the silence.

"Put your clothes on."

Ariana nodded frantically, scrambling to her feet. She hurried to finish dressing, her fingers fumbling with every button.

Dwayne lifted the quilt and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

Then he saw it.

The stain on the sheets.

His jaw tightened.

For a moment, he said nothing. Then, he grabbed his shirt off the floor and slipped it on, his movements slow, deliberate.

"Tell me what really happened," he ordered.

Ariana clutched the wrinkled hem of her clothes, her pulse erratic. "I... I was drugged last night. I had no choice but to escape here. I swear, I didn't mean to-"

She hesitated, then stammered out, "Uncle..."

The air around them froze.

Dwayne's face darkened instantly. "Don't call me that."

His voice was cold, clipped-like a blade slicing through her chest.

Ariana's throat tightened.

Her mother had been an adopted daughter of the Rickshaws. Though not related by blood, the Rickshaws had treated her as one of their own. For years, their families had been close.

Until her mother's death.

After the accident, the Rickshaws had cut all ties with her father. They had even tried to take Ariana away, seeking legal custody to keep her from her father.

Back then, she had a choice-side with her grandfather or stay with the man who had betrayed her mother.

She chose her father.

And in doing so, she had been abandoned by the Rickshaws.

Deep down, she had expected them to resent her. But she never thought Dwayne would refuse to even let her call him Uncle.

A sharp pain twisted in her chest. She lowered her gaze, her voice hoarse.

"Mr. Rickshaw, I apologize," she said quietly. "I was drugged. That's how I ended up here."

Her fists clenched at her sides.

"As for what happened last night... just forget it ever happened. Consider it like-like getting bitten by a dog. Don't hold it against me."

She forced a bitter laugh. "I promise, nobody will know. Just you, me, heaven, and earth."

Dwayne remained silent.

Ariana took his silence as acceptance.

She paused briefly, then turned on her heel, ready to leave.

But before she could take a single step-

"Did I," Dwayne's voice cut through the air, low and dangerous, "give you permission to leave.

Ariana's steps faltered. Her eyes, already rimmed with red, flickered with hesitation as she looked back at Dwayne.

"Mr. Rickshaw, is there anything else?"

She had already apologized. Would he still refuse to let this go?

A sudden wave of grievance welled up inside her. She hadn't done this on purpose. If she had known it was him in that room last night, she would never have entered-even if it meant dying outside.

And yet, she had lost something precious.

Dwayne, being older, might not have even lost anything at all. What if... what if last night had been his first time too? No one would ever question him. But her? She was the one left with the consequences.

Ariana bit her lip, frustration flickering in her eyes.

Did he expect her to kneel and beg for forgiveness?

Dwayne's sharp gaze darkened. He wasn't blind-he saw the dissatisfaction written all over her face. His voice, low and unreadable, broke the silence.

"Who set you up?"

The name Cynthia hovered on her tongue, but she swallowed it back down.

The Rickshaws had cut ties with hers years ago. She had no right to drag them into this.

Ariana shook her head. "I don't know."

Dwayne's expression turned ice-cold in an instant.

"You don't even know who plotted against you? You really don't hold a candle to your mother."

Her fists clenched at her sides.

A lump of cotton seemed lodged in her throat, making it impossible to speak.

Dwayne turned away dismissively.

"You can go."

Ariana swallowed hard, then turned on her heel and silently walked toward the door.

Just as she reached for the handle, his voice cut through the air again.

"Remember to take the medicine."

She froze.

A few seconds passed before realization dawned.

He was talking about the contraceptive pill.

Ariana's face flamed red.

"I don't need your reminder," she snapped. "I'll buy it myself."

She was only eighteen. She couldn't afford to get pregnant.

Without waiting for a response, she yanked open the door and left.

Dwayne's gaze lingered on the doorway for a beat before shifting away.

Click.

The door closed behind her.

His jaw tightened. With long strides, he made his way to the bathroom.

The sound of running water filled the space.

He felt it again-the lingering burn on his back.

Dwayne turned slightly, catching his reflection in the mirror. Red, tangled scratches ran down his skin.

A flicker of last night's images flashed through his mind.

Heat crept up his throat.

His expression darkened as he cursed under his breath and turned the faucet to cold.

Hobbling slightly, Ariana finally made it home.

She shut the door, peeled off her clothes, and gasped.

Bruises. Everywhere.

Deep purple and green marks covered her waist, and even-God-there were bite marks.

A shiver ran down her spine.

"Dwayne... haven't you touched a woman in your past life? You beast!" she muttered under her breath.

Her hands trembled as she applied ointment to her skin, wincing at the sting.

When she finished, she washed her hands and reached for the contraceptive pill.

Before she could take it-

Knock, knock.

A sharp, impatient rapping on the door.

"Ariana, come out. I know you're in there!"

Cynthia's voice.

The false kindness was gone, stripped away to reveal her true, venomous nature.

Ariana's fingers tightened around the pill bottle before she silently placed it back in the drawer.

She stood, walked to the door, and pulled it open.

The moment she did, Cynthia stormed in, her expression twisted in fury.

"Where were you last night?" she snapped.

Ariana arched a brow, crossing her arms lazily. "Why? Missed me?"

Cynthia's jaw clenched.

She had spent weeks orchestrating this plan-arranging for Ariana to be drugged and thrown into the bed of a powerful businessman in exchange for saving her husband's failing business.

But somehow, Ariana had escaped.

Not only had she ruined everything, but she had also infuriated the businessman, putting Cynthia in a dangerous position.

Fury burned in her eyes.

If she could, she would rip Ariana's heart out.

Ariana, completely unfazed, tilted her head. "Oh, right. I met my uncle yesterday."

Cynthia stiffened.

"I told him everything you did to me," Ariana continued, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "I wonder... do you think he'll let you off easy for drugging me and trying to sell me off?"

Cynthia's face drained of color.

"You... you went to the Rickshaws?" she hissed. "Impossible! They haven't cared about you in ten years. You're lying!"

Ariana smirked. "Am I?"

She pushed off the doorframe and took a step forward.

"Why don't we go to the Rickshaw house and see for ourselves? Let's see if they'll turn me away."

Her eyes glinted with challenge.

Cynthia faltered.

The last time the Rickshaw family had let Ariana go, they had made one thing clear-if she ever returned, they would settle both old and new scores.

If she stepped foot near the Rickshaws, they wouldn't just ignore her.

They would destroy her.

And yet, she couldn't let Ariana off the hook so easily.

A calculating gleam flickered in her eyes.

"Fine," she said smoothly. "Call your uncle now and invite him to dinner. If he agrees, I'll believe you. If he doesn't... you'll regret it."

Her meaning was clear.

If Dwayne refused, then Ariana's bluff was over.

And this time, Cynthia would make sure she ended up in a stranger's bed-one way or another.

Ariana's grip tightened around her phone.

"Fine."

She pressed the call button.