Lucas:

I saw Leah and Tobias coming down the stairs, and to my surprise, Mia had her hands wrapped around Tobias's hand. At first, I was confused, but I had to save myself first and then try to understand what was going on. "Mia was the one who came up with the plan! She was the one who seduced me! She said that Tobias was cruel, ruthless, and sadistic! She begged me to save her! I just had a lapse in judgment!" I tried to make them listen to me.

But nobody moved, except Mia. She was walking towards me. I smiled internally; heh, this bitch is seriously stupid. Leah, as per plan, tried to stop her, but Mia freed herself from her. What was happening? I then heard Tobias yell her name to stop, and I started being hopeful. Good, if she tried to save me as usual, she would end up as the one in trouble, not me, so I added fuel to the fire, knowing that Mia wouldn't mind what I was about to say. She loved me so much—how stupid.

"Tobias, please listen to me! Hear me out; I had nothing to do with it; Mia made me do it!!" Tobias yelled yet again at her to come back to his side, but she didn’t flinch.

I was waiting for the little naive idiot to yet again take the blame, that it was all her idea, plead to release me, and accept all the punishment as long as they let me go. But instead, to my very surprise, she smiled, and then I felt my cheek burning. She slapped me! I heard everyone gasp. I couldn't believe it. Didn’t she love me?

I very briefly looked at Leah so nobody would notice to see what was happening, but her eyes told me she had no idea. Our plan failed, and I was scared for my life.

"Mia! You, how dare you hit me? I'm the scion of the Gray family!" Mia coldly looked at me, her eyes void of emotions.

"So what if I slapped you?" I heard her say. I wanted to argue back, but she took a whip from a guard who was standing next to me, smiled, and started whipping me.

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At first, I thought she was putting on an act since her whips were not hard, but as the whipping went on, her smile grew wider and wider, pure enjoyment in her eyes. She started whipping harder and harder, so much so that I started screaming in pain. I was confused, I was scared, I was in pain.

"Mia, stop!" I pleaded, but she continued, seemingly lost in a sadistic trance.

The guards watched impassively, showing no intention of intervening. Each lash felt like fire on my skin, and my screams echoed through the room. I couldn't understand what had driven her to this madness. The woman I thought I knew had transformed into a tormentor before my eyes.

"Mia, please!" I begged again, but my words fell on deaf ears. The world started to blur as the pain became unbearable, and I realized with a sinking heart that there was no escape from her cruelty.

Leah:

What's wrong with Mia? Why would she hit Lucas? She loves him so much! I don't understand! I was worried for Lucas. I wanted to jump in to make her stop, but I didn’t dare to be exposed; they would then know that I was on his side.

Then, she dropped the whip on the floor, grabbed him hard by his hair, and said, "Lucas Gray, I am the soon-to-be wife of Tobias, which makes me your aunt; show some respect!" and threw him on the floor. Then she turned her face towards Tobias, smiled, and in a cute voice said, "Right, hubby?"

I looked toward Tobias, his face showing confusion and surprise. "How did you call me?" he asked with a surprised voice.

Mia simply responded, "Hubby," and walked towards him, her hands around his hand. "Don't you like it when I call you hubby?"

I looked at Lucas, who was already beaten up when we came downstairs, now even more so by the whip Mia used on him.

I didn't know what to do, so I was just standing there, looking at my sister, who, to my utter confusion, was lovingly looking at Tobias.

Tobias, still bewildered, hesitated before speaking. "Mia, what's going on? Why are you acting like this?"Mia's smile never wavered. "I've realized that my place is with you, Tobias. Lucas needed to learn his place. He was out of line."

Lucas groaned from the floor, struggling to get up. His eyes were filled with a mix of pain and disbelief. "Mia, why?" he croaked out.Mia ignored him, her focus entirely on Tobias.

"I know it might be hard to believe, but I've come to understand how important you are to me. We can build something powerful together."

Tobias seemed to consider her words, though suspicion lingered in his eyes. "And what about your feelings for Lucas?" he asked cautiously."They were a mistake," Mia said firmly. "My loyalty is to you now."