Bound. 

Bound. 

People always think danger announces itself.

It doesn’t.

It comes quietly—in the form of strangers asking for directions, in harmless smiles, in moments that feel like nothing.

And by the time you realize it…

It's already too late.

Uzair knew that all too well.

It was no coincidence.

To someone like him, it was nothing more than a pawn on the board—a man who had dared to step into his territory.

And he couldn’t let it slide. How could he? 

And yet…he wasn’t careless enough to overlook a threat if he chose to see it that was right before his eyes. 

But that wasn’t the problem.

She was.

Her naivety.

What if she did something like this again?

She had been lucky this time.

But next time?

Who knew.

He wouldn’t allow something like this to happen again.

Not ever.

Luckily…he exhaled. He would make sure of that.

Not that extending his stay here had anything to do with it.

“Leave me!” Her struggle turned desperate.

“No.” His voice was calm.

Too calm.

“Why would I do that?” His breath deepened. “You go where I go.”

A pause.

“You don’t leave my side. Not even for a second.”

She clenched her jaw at his audacity.

If only—just once—she could hit him. She had the sudden urge to do just—that.

“I’d rather die than live like this with you!”

She wasn’t wrong. What kind of life was this, to be stripped of freedom?

He didn’t even flinch at her statement. He knew her all too well. 

“Your life belongs to me.” His voice dropped. “And without my permission…”

His gaze locked onto hers.

“You don’t get to die.”

A shiver ran through her as her struggle weakened.

“You scare me,” she whispered.

“Good.”

He preferred it that way.

Fear kept her alert.

Hate kept her close.

Anything was better than indifference. Her indifference. 

His jaw tightened as his gaze lingered on her trembling form. 

Her chest rose and fell unevenly as she tried to steady her breathing.

He terrified her.

Not just his words—but the way he said them.

Like he meant every single one.

A pause.

“I don’t like you.” 

It was obvious and he knew it too. He couldn't deny the fact that how much it hurt to hear it. Yet, it was alright.

“If that’s what keeps you alive… then I’ll accept it.”

Her eyes shone with unshed tears.

This wasn’t normal.

None of this was normal.

The way he held her.

The way he spoke.

Her heart pounded painfully against her chest as his words echoed in her mind.

Your life belongs to me.

No.

It didn’t.

It couldn’t.

And yet—why did it feel like he believed it?

A shiver ran down her spine.

He took a sharp breath. She could hate him all she wanted.

It didn’t change the fact that she was his responsibility now.

She had no idea.

No idea how close she had come.

One wrong step.

One more second.

The thought alone sent something dark twisting inside him.

She thought he was cruel.

Controlling.

Ruthless.

Maybe he was. He wouldn't deny that he wasn't. 

But if that was what it took to keep her alive—he would become far worse. If needed to be. 

His gaze hardened.

She could hate him.

She could fear him.

But she would stay alive.

And that—was not a choice he was giving her.

That was fine.

Her hatred—he could endure.

As long as she was alive to feel it.

He didn’t care about anything else. As long as she stayed by his side—breathing.

Her lips trembled.

“I’m not something you get to keep,” gulping, she continued, “If this is what staying alive means… I’d rather not.”

His stare turned into a cold, malignant glare.

“Don’t test my patience. I’ve been very calm with you.”

The thought itself sent a sharp pang through his throbbing heart.

How could she say that—after everything he was doing just to keep her alive?

“I don’t want anything from you. Leave me!” 

Tears stung the corners of her eyes as she endured the pain he was inflicting on her.

“Nothing! I want nothing from you!”

“It’s not up to you anymore, is it?”

“It is!”

“Then you know nothing.” He eyed her coldly. “Let me remind you of something.”

A pause.

“I can’t let you leave just because you don’t want to stay here.” His voice hardened. “I made a promise to keep you—and your brother—safe.”

His gaze locked onto hers.

“And I will.”

She recoiled.

“Even if you end up hating me for it.” His tone was vicious. “I might scare you,” he continued, his gaze roaming over her trembling form, “but they are far worse—formidable, vicious… and willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want.”

He gestured toward her.

“Including you.”

“Never.” She shook her head, her voice trembling but firm.

“I’m not scared of your words. You’re just trying to scare me so I’ll listen to you!”

“Oh?”

He leaned forward, his voice rising dangerously close to her face.

“I’m not trying to scare you.”

A pause.

“I’m telling you the truth—one you’re foolish enough to ignore.”

She shook her head violently, her thoughts pushing away any sense of logic in her state.

She refused to listen to anything he had to say—even when, somewhere deep down, she knew he was right.

Just because he thought he could force her into obedience—did that mean she would submit?

No.

She was stronger than he thought she was.

“I can’t allow you to throw away something that belongs to me.”

“I don’t belong to anyone. You don’t get to—”

“You belong to me.” It was more of a command than a statement. 

“I do not!” She hissed, venom lacing her voice.

“Nor am I scared of your words. I am not!”

“Oh?”

His voice turned quiet—dangerously so.

“But you have nowhere to go. Do you?”

He held her gaze as he continued, “That’s exactly how you belong to me.”

A pause.

“I have full rights over you.” His words landed cold. “Legally.”

She swallowed, knowing he was right.

“Through the documents your uncle signed.”

She looked away.

“Does that mean…” Her voice faltered. “He signed away my freedom to you?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

And that silence—told her everything.

“It means you are under my protection.”

His voice was firm.

“Under no circumstances are you to refuse anything I ask of you—especially when it concerns your health and safety.”

She didn’t reply.

She couldn’t.

Because she had no choice.

How right he was.

“You are bound to listen to me.”

A lone tear slipped down her cheek.

His cold, unyielding eyes followed its path—watching as it left a faint trail against her flushed skin.

Something inside him shifted.

He was melting. It would be a lie if he said it didn't hurt him too. 

How could he not—when even a single tear of hers felt like it was tearing him apart from within?

He wanted to reach out. To wipe it away with his thumb.

To console her.

But he stopped himself. He clenched his jaws together. 

He had to.

He needed to be strict with her. Because it was her life at stake. And for that—he wouldn’t allow himself to make mistakes.

Not even unconsciously.

He had to make her understand. Even if it meant forcing her to listen.

He had no qualms about it.

Because losing her…was never an option.

He was adamant about it. 

Blinking away the dampness, she shook her head, trying to clear her wandering thoughts.

Taking it as defiance, his jaw locked at her audacity—treating the threat to her life so lightly.

She was willing to ignore every logical fact he had laid before her.

Catching his rib-chilling gaze from the corner of her eye, she forced herself not to be afraid.

Or rather—not to look afraid in front of him.

She could feel his eyes boring into the side of her face—something she had already begun to loathe in just the past few minutes.

And she refused to let him see how much it affected her.

He flashed her a demonic smirk as he turned her face back toward him.

“Then tell me…”

His jaw tightened as he stared down at her.

“Who are you more scared of?”

“I beg you… leave me.” She struggled against his iron grip—but to no avail.

“I am scared.”

Her movements grew more frantic.

“You’re scared?”

She nodded, almost desperately.

Because she was.

Hurt.

Angry.

Embarrassed.

Afraid.

Helpless.

“Of whom?”

“Y-you…”

It was obvious that she was. No amount of bravado could deny that. She could pretend all she wanted, but her trembling hands betrayed her. A part of her knew he was right.

But the rest of her just refused to accept it.

~•~•~•~•~