The Dominants Game

Chapter 87

Months had passed, and the rift between Lucius and Rosetta had only grown wider. Their once vibrant relationship now lay in tatters, the couple barely living as partners anymore. The mansion that once echoed with their laughter and love now felt cold and divided.

Dr. Vale, observing the disintegration from a distance, had grown increasingly concerned. His emails to Rosetta pleading for her to continue therapy had gone unanswered until finally, one day, she agreed to see him.

When she walked into his office, Dr. Vale could immediately tell that something was different. There was a coldness in her demeanor, a chilling detachment that hadn't been there before. 

As she settled into the chair across from him, he carefully studied her face, searching for any trace of the Rosetta he once knew.

"Rosetta," he began gently, "we need to talk about you and Lucius. This situation is clearly taking a toll on both of you."

She dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. "There's nothing to talk about, Dr. Vale."

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Everything is not alright, Rosetta. Your relationship is falling apart, and you can't just ignore it."

Her expression remained impassive; her voice icy. "It will be alright. I am going to fix it, or Astaroth will."

Dr. Vale felt a chill run down his spine at her words. "You can't rely on Astaroth to solve your problems, Rosetta. This is something that requires human connection, communication, and understanding. You and Lucius need to face this together."

She stared at him, her eyes devoid of emotion. "Astaroth has given me the power to achieve our goals. Lucius will understand that in time, or he will be left behind. I am no longer bound by the limitations of ordinary relationships."

Dr. Vale's heart ached for her, for the woman she once was. "Rosetta, power without love and trust is hollow. You can't build a future on fear and domination. You need to find a way to reconnect with Lucius, to remember why you fell in love in the first place."

Rosetta's eyes hardened. "I am no longer the person he fell in love with."

Dr. Vale's worry deepened. He leaned closer, his voice gentle but urgent. "Rosetta, I'm very worried for you. This path you're on... it's dangerous. It's changing you in ways you might not realize."

She turned the tables on him, her gaze sharp and probing. "Why are you so personally interested, Dr. Vale? What do you gain from this?"

For a moment, he hesitated, then he admitted the truth. "I care for you, Rosetta. I want to see you thrive, not destroy yourself."

Her lips curled into a cruel smile. "You care for me? How weak. Caring is a liability. It's a weakness that will be exploited."

Dr. Vale felt a pang of pain at her words, but he held his ground. "If caring is a weakness, then I will gladly bear it. Because it means I am still connected to what makes us human. I refuse to let you lose yourself to this darkness, Rosetta."

She scoffed, rising to her feet with a dismissive wave. "I don't need your pity, Dr. Vale. I have Astaroth. And with his power, I am invincible."

As she walked out of his office, Dr. Vale could only watch her go, feeling a deep sense of foreboding. He knew that the path she was on could lead to her ultimate downfall, and despite his best efforts, he feared that she was slipping further and further into a void from which there might be no return.

Dr. Vale sat at his desk, his mind racing. He had always been bound by his oath of confidentiality, but this was different. Rosetta was spiraling into a darkness that he feared could consume her completely. He couldn't stand by and do nothing. He had to reach out to the one person who might be able to save her: Lucius.