154 Silas imprisoned Esme?

Silas's eyes turned icy, his jaw working furiously as he struggled to contain his anger. Esme's chest heaved with exertion, her breath coming in short gasps. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the only sound was the soft hum of the engine and the muffled sound of traffic outside.

Finally, Silas broke the silence. "I never meant to hurt you, Esme. I swear it."

Esme snorted. She had tried. She had tried not to fall for the rumors, wanting to give him a chance to explain, to clear the air. But he had pushed her to the point that she couldn't help but doubt him. 

Esme's eyes fluttered closed, her lips pressed together in a thin line. "I want to believe you," she said with a sigh. "But how can I? How can I ever trust you again?"

"Whether you believe me or not makes no difference," Silas declared, his voice flat, devoid of the warmth it once held. "You are mine now, and you can't get away from me."