LOGINI woke up in my own bed. The sheets were twisted around my legs. The morning light was gray through the curtains. My body ached in places I didn't want to think about. I stared at the ceiling and remembered everything. His hands. His voice. The way he'd watched me fall apart. I pressed my face into the pillow and stayed there until Dmitri knocked. "Breakfast," he said through the door. I got up. Put on a robe. Opened the door. Dmitri set the tray on the nightstand. Eggs. Toast. Orange juice. Same as every morning. He didn't look at me differently. Didn't mention last night. I was grateful for that. "The lessons start today," he said. "Etiquette. Manners. How to dress. Mr. Volkov wants you believable." I sat on the edge of the bed. Picked up my fork. "What kind of lessons?" "The kind that keep you from using the wrong fork at dinner." I ate my eggs. I didn't argue. --- The tutor arrived at noon. She was an older woman with gray hair and a face that didn't smile
I closed the door.The sound of the latch clicking into place was louder than it should have been. Or maybe my ears were just too sensitive. Everything felt too sensitive. The leather straps cutting into my skin. The cool air on my exposed thighs. The way Adrian was looking at me from the edge of the bed.He hadn't moved, His shirt was off and His chest was bare. The belt was still in his hands, looped once, the ends dangling. His eyes traveled over me again. Slow and Taking his time."Come here."His voice was low, Not a like a command, more like a statement, Like he already knew I would. Not like I had a choiceI walked toward him. The harness creaked with every step, The straps pulled against my ribs, between my legs. I could feel myself getting wet already. I hated that I could feel it.I stopped in front of him. Close enough that his knees touched my thighs. He looked up at me and His face was unreadable."Turn around."I turned, and i heard him stand up, his breath on the back o
The dinner was over. Thank God.Antonia stood up from the table and walked straight to Adrian. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. I watched her hands slide up his chest. I watched her fingers curl into the fabric of his jacket."Call me," she whispered. Loud enough for me to hear.Adrian didn't hug her back. He just stood there with his arms at his sides. "Goodnight, Antonia."She pulled back and smiled. Then she looked at me. That same cold smile. That same dead eyes."Goodnight, Camilla."She walked away. Her hips swayed with every step. Oh how I hated her.Adrian's grandmother came over. She patted Adrian's cheek like he was five years old."When should she move in?" she asked. "The east wing is empty. She can stay there until the wedding, don't you think?"Adrian didn't answer. He just took my hand and pulled me toward the door."Goodnight, Grandma.""We'll talk tomorrow!"The door closed behind us.---The car ride was quiet. The city lights pa
.Antonia's smile stayed on her face, but her eyes went dead cold. She looked at Adrian's hand holding mine, twitched her left eye, then she looked at me. Then back at him."Fiancée," she said. "You never mentioned her.""I'm mentioning her now."Antonia laughed. It was a sharp sound, like glass breaking. She finally let go of his arm and stepped back, but she didn't go far. She stood right next to him, close enough that her shoulder touched his.Adrian's grandmother clapped her hands. "Sit, sit. All of you, Dinner is almost ready."She grabbed Antonia's arm and pulled her toward the table. "You sit next to Adrian. Right here."Antonia smiled, A real smile this time. She sat down and patted the seat next to her. "Adrian. Come."Adrian didn't move, He was still holding my hand, if anything he seemed annoyed. His grandmother looked at us. Her eyes narrowed, and it was obvious our interlocking hands were bothering her."Camilla can sit on the other side. Next to me."Adrian let go of my
The car stopped at a different estate, one that dwarfed the house I had been staying in. Heavy stone walls and wrought iron gates framed the property, while a fountain threw water high into the darkening sky. Adrian stepped out first, smoothing his jacket before moving toward the entrance with the quiet certainty of a man walking through his own domain. He followed the driveway path, and I matched his pace, my heels striking the pavement in an even rhythm. The blue fabric pulled tight across my ribs, a foreign sensation given how rarely I wore anything of this quality, let alone something that demanded I hold my posture. I kept my eyes forward, letting the unfamiliar weight of the dress anchor me to the moment.The heavy oak door swung open before we reached the steps, inside was an older man with pale hair and a composed expression. He stepped aside immediately. "Mr. Volkov. They're waiting for you in the east wing." Adrian gave a single nod and moved past the threshold. I stayed clo
Chapter 9I woke up with my hands bandaged and my ankle still hurt bad from last night. The morning light was gray through the curtains.I didn't cry. I didn't have any tears left. I guess running away was a dumb move.Dmitri brought breakfast. Eggs, Toast and a glass of Orange juice. He set the tray on the nightstand and didn't say anything about last night. I wonder what Adrian must've done to him. he is in charge of me after all . I didn't bother to ask. I just ate because my body needed food even if my mind was somewhere else."Mr. Volkov wants to see you," Dmitri said. "The dining room, I've you're done with your meal."He left. I finished my eggs. I took a shower. I put on my own clothes. I was still refusing to use any of the clothes he got me. I looked at the boxes on the dresser. The expensive clothes I hadn't touched. The harness at the back of the closet. Just looking at it, I wanted to set it on fire.I left them all there.---The dining room was too big. I wonder what on
I climbed onto the windowsill and looked straight ahead.Cool air brushed my face. The oak tree reached out with thick branches dark against the moonlight. I grabbed the strongest one I could reach and pulled myself onto it. The branch creaked under me but it held steady. I climbed down slow with m
I woke up on the floor.My back protested first, then my neck. The carpet had pressed faint lines into my cheek. Morning light spilled through the windows, too bright, too normal, and for a second I just stared at it, disoriented.Then everything settled back into place.The ache between my legs. T
I took a step toward him.Then another. My legs felt like they were moving through water. The red walls seemed to pulse with the beat of my heart. Adrian sat on the edge of the bed, watching me, his hands resting on his thighs. He didn't reach for me. He didn't speak. He just waited.I stopped when







