Chapter 4

RYLEIGH was wearing her clothing late at night when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it to find Lucas standing in front of her. The man instructed her to see him in his office as if nothing had happened. She can still feel the pain in her scalp, but she agreed to put up with it if it meant staying at Lucas’s side. If punishing her is the only way he knows how to deal with what she has done to him, she will do it no matter how painful it is... because she will continue to hope that Lucas will comprehend all she has given and sacrificed. She checked herself in the mirror before leaving her room. She was dressed in a black sleeveless top and cotton shorts. Simultaneously, she let her long hair fall to her waist.

It's been a long time since her previous haircut, and she might be able to get another one in a month.

Lucas’s workplace is on the opposite side of the second level from his room. She walks down the dim hallway and comes to a halt beside the black door, where Lucas dragged her before. And she couldn't make out the layout of the room. But then she noticed the silky red sheet on a large black bed. And she couldn't figure out the style. And the stuff inside, it appears he's some killer or something because there were whips and cable ties—things she was only familiar with.

Ryleigh shook her head and continued on her way. She came to a halt in front of a brown door and knocked three times before going inside. Since she saw his name etched, she realized it was Lucas’s workplace. And perhaps the room next to it was his. They were married, but they were staying in a different room. But she had anticipated it. She shut the door and noticed Eli standing in front of the window, staring down at the lights near the beach.

"D-Do you require anything?" Ryleigh asked, almost stammering as she approached his table.

Lucas’s green eyes caught hers as he turned to face her. “Next week, Hannah will be residing here."

“Pardon?”

Ryleigh noticed how his brow furrowed when she asked him to repeat it. She wants to double-check that she heard his words correctly.

"Hannah will stay with me... with us, beginning next—"

Ryleigh sarcastically laughed, trying to be tough which cut Lucas off. "What is the point of having her here?"

"Why?" Lucas questioned mockingly. "Because she is my fiancée and the woman I adore."

           

Ryleigh’s chest tightens as she realizes the truth. "But I'm your wife," she responded, pointing to herself.

Lucas approached her and towered over her. As a result, she must gaze up. "We're only married on paper, Rye. Just in case you forgot. Hannah was the first person I fell in love with. The woman I wish to marry—"

Ryleigh moved her head and cut the hum of Lucas’s words. "I'll do anything—everything," she said, meeting his gaze. "Just... just don't bring Hannah here." She doesn’t know if she’s doing the right drama. But honestly, she wanted to flee. Yet she doesn’t know how. Her father told her that he was watching her, and with one wrong move, she’ll see.

Lucas’s lips formed a wicked grin. “Anything?”

Ryleigh nodded. As she thought she had changed his mind, she was astonished when the man sucked her into her jaw and yanked her closer to him.

"Do you think I'm stupid? I can make you do anything even if you don't volunteer," he grumbled. When she looks into his eyes, wrath is constantly apparent.

A tear streamed from Ryleigh’s left eye.

"There you have it. Cry, Ryleigh. And I don't mind. And keep in mind that whichever decision I make, you're out. I'll bring any woman I want into this house, and it doesn't matter if your father bought it because you both claimed my beautiful life." He let go of her, and she lost her balance due to his push and fell to the floor.

Ryleigh crept closer to him and gripped his left thigh. "Please... don't."

Lucas wiped his brow with the back of his hand. He has no idea what to do with her. He's starting to lose his cool with her. As much as he tried to remember his mother's words, the woman incited him to anger, and all he wanted to do was hurt and punish her. Furthermore, Ryleigh has the ideal body, which he desires to destroy. As he shoved her away from him, he bent down and pulled her hair.

"Let's make an agreement. I'll be kind to you in front of our parents and mutual acquaintances, but you'll only allow me to experience a tinge of happiness with Hannah. She'll be staying here. Don't worry. No one will find out. Not unless... you speak." He moved in closer and matched her expression. "Are we all clear?"

Ryleigh shook her head, unable to understand anything.

"Again, are we clear?"

           

“No. Just do whatever you want, but I will still say no, and I will not allow Hannah to stay in this house!" She had no idea where she acquired the courage to respond to him without stammering.

"I see. Then I'll make you change your mind," he said as he drew her up by her hair. She yelled in agony as she tried to pull his hand away, but Lucas was too strong.

"You will be punished every time you disobey me. Do you understand?"

Ryleigh kicked his leg to break free, but Lucas only winced and stared at her. He let go of her hair after a moment but dragged her in her arm instead. And Ryleigh is aware of their destination. Because of her, Lucas was enraged and thought it was time to start punishing her.

I'm sorry, Mom, he thought if I have to do this.

Lucas inserted the key into the keyhole and then twisted the knob. He hauled her inside and shut the door behind her. Instead of inserting a key, he will change the lock to a more convenient one the next time.

"What exactly are we doing here?" Ryleigh inquired.

Lucas moved in closer, nearly cursing as the delicious aroma of her hair surrounded his nose. "We're going to play," he said softly, tracing his kisses down her earlobes. And smirked when he sensed her shiver. He moved away from her before he lost his mind. He entered the room—his playroom. He had a dream about it, but he couldn't believe he was ready to use all inside him for someone else, who happened to be Ryleigh. But, as this was his first effort, he could do the fundamentals till the woman urged him to go. He had never done anything like this before with Hannah because he loves and treasures her and has always wanted to do the best for her. This was meant to be his collection. He remembered seeing those things for the first time inside a room. On his 21st birthday, his father spoke to him and allowed him to see things in a room inside their house that his father banned him from entering. He could also recall the room where he witnessed his father flogging his mother. That day, his father revealed everything about his father being an unjust, sadistic, and s*x monster. He didn't understand at first, but as he learned more, his fascination grew. His father taught him that when performing the art of domination, a person must have control and always choose how to begin the act. His father explained everything to him not because he had to imitate him but because he was sorry for what he had done to his mother. And make him agree not to do it with anyone else.

However, Ryleigh’s fascination began at that moment, and he couldn't stop collecting stuff. And he wasn't expecting to be able to use everything this time. He begged for opportunities from her, but Ryleigh refused, leaving him with little alternative.

“Strip.”

When Ryleigh heard him, her eyes widened.

"I say, strip.”

"But… but." Ryleigh raised her head.

Lucas balled his fist. "Don't make me repeat it, Rye. You've heard it."

Ryleigh moved her head. "No, Luke. This is not you. I'm willing to compromise if you'll do the same Luke that—"

"Dammit, Rye!" he yelled, causing her to pull back. "Do you expect me to make love to you softly?" he inquired, laughing cynically. "You had to be fooling me."

"We can talk about it—"

"If you don't want this, don't do it. File for divorce the next day. And I'm going to stop."

On the other hand, Ryleigh shook her head and replied, "No."

Lucas smiled. "So, fucking do what I say. Strip!”

Lucas’s playroom is filled with sex furniture like whipping benches, suspension devices, and trade tools like floggers and paddles. But it's just his collection, and he'll never use it on Ryleigh. However, if he is provoked, he has no choice. He would do anything until she begged him to stop and initially gave him what he desired.

"What are you looking forward to? Strip, bitch," he yelled, nearly losing his cool.

The temperature was set to be pleasant for a naked person in the room, which was temperature-controlled.

As Ryleigh began to strip, tears sprang from her eyes. "This is not y-you... Luke," she sobbed as she finally removed her sleeveless top and tossed it to the floor.

Lucas remained silent and observed her.

Ryleigh’s hand flowed out of her brassiere, but Lucas’s eyes were still filled with the same emotion—rage. She kept stripping till she was down to her underwear.

Lucas then moved up to the wooden table on the left side of the bed and pulled open the first drawer. He grabbed the crimson silk blindfold. As he closed the drawer, he said, "On the bed."

Ryleigh stopped complaining and just did what he instructed. She then sat on the chilly silky red sheet next to the bed. Lucas approached her, and she gasped as he placed the blindfold he was wearing over her eyes. She began to move as she could only see blackness and felt the strain build.

Lucas suddenly went for her hair. "File a divorce."

Ryleigh shook her head, causing Lucas to pull her hair harshly, causing her to scream.

"I'll make sure you regret what you prayed for," he said through her ear as he nibbled her earlobe.

"I... I don't regret it, and I will bear anything—" she paused when Lucas tugged her hair until she fell on the bed. She didn't complete what she was saying.

Lucas stood up. "Don't move," he said, and she did as well. He took the cuffs from a drawer near him.

Ryleigh was blindfolded and had no idea what was going on. Her chest heaved up and down as she felt fear. Her will, however, remained unaffected. You've got this, Rye, she told herself. She gasped again when Lucas lifted her and placed something on her left hand before grabbing the other. She tried to spread her fingers, but they were already bound. She began to panic. "What are you, L-Luke?" When the man slapped her hard in the face and fell onto the bed, she shouted. She began to kick her feet... trying to get away from him even though she had no idea where she was going till, she came to a halt when her back contacted something hard.

"Scared?" When she heard his voice, she sobbed even harder.

"You must not do this, Luke."

"Then make a divo—"

"Y-You already know I can't give you that." When she felt a warm hand grab her left foot and tug her, she let out a sharp screaming shriek.

Lucas became upset with Ryleigh and unintentionally smacked her again, knocking her out. As he glanced at the unconscious girl, he wiped his palm.

“Damn it!” he cursed as he removed the blindfold and cuffs. He then took her and brought her out of the room.