The morning is eerily quiet when I wake up, the soft rustling of the wind outside the only sound filling the room. My wrists ache, the skin still raw from last night's incident. Even though the chains are gone, the weight of them lingers. I don't expect anything different today. I don't expect kindness. And I certainly don't expect this. A knock sounds at the door, firm but not aggressive. When I don't answer immediately, it creaks open, revealing a young woman standing in the doorway. She looks polished, poised... her dark hair swept into a bun, her blouse perfectly pressed. She's not one of the maids I've seen before. She offers a small smile, though there's nothing particularly warm about it. "My name is Amelia. Mr. Silver has instructed me to take you shopping today." For a moment, I just stare at her, certain I misheard. Shopping? As in... outside? I sit up warily. "Why?" Amelia doesn't flinch at my bluntness. "You'll be staying here for the foreseeable future. He wants
The helicopter lands after three hours. We arrive at the countryside; at a manor that looked liked it spanned on for miles even from above.For a moment, I forget my uneasiness and take in everything. The sprawling gardens, the forever fields, the main mansion and the smaller buildings about.A real paradise.However, if the people in there are anything like my kidnapper...like Eliana...I'll be done.The helicopter lands on a helipad on top one of the buildings and shuts down.Raymond has been silent the whole ride. Once we stop, he simply removes his seatbelt then leans over to do mine. His hands brush my waist and a bit of my chest. I shift on my seat, uncomfortable."Keep your head down when you come out," he says and then comes down from the other side.I do as he says, even having to hold my hair down as the blades above blow it over.Raymond moves quickly, giving instructions to his men on the roof. I can hardly keep up with him.We take an elevator down to the ground floor an
The Don takes me out of the dining room, through a plethora of hallways and then we come into a private space.An indoor garden of sorts.It's only when we arrive that he actually lets go of my hand."You're going to start the procedure from Monday. You can already see the effects of your stupidity, yes? Don't expect me to fight for you." His jaw is ticking, I can tell he's annoyed."Then why did you bring me out of the dining room?" I ask him, irritated. He turns back to me, grey eyes burning. "Don't ask me stupid questions. I brought here to inform you exactly this. My family will eat you alive if you don't behave."I already know that; and he knows that I know.So bringing me out here is for no reason then. I stare him down and he looks straight into my eyes as well.Slowly, his gaze deviates from my eyes, trailing down my neck and to my chest and lower.Invasive but for some reason, tingles roam over my body. Those grey eyes scorch a path on my skin, making me heave and shift o
I freeze.The hallway feels too long, too empty. My heartbeat thunders in my ears, drowning out all logic.What did I see? Everything. The blood. The chains. The way he killed without hesitation.But if I tell him that, I won't leave this hallway alive.He takes slow steps toward me, the dim light casting eerie shadows on his face. His shirt is pristine, like he hadn't just ordered an execution. Like death was nothing more than a routine.I swallow hard, willing my voice to work. "I... I got lost."Raymond stops. His expression doesn't change. If anything, his jaw tightens, his fingers curling at his sides. "Lost?" He repeats the word like he doesn't believe me.I force a shaky breath. "Yes. This house is a maze. I turned a corner and...""And found yourself in a restricted part of the mansion?" His voice is deadly quiet. "Coincidence?"I nod, not trusting myself to speak.The two men from the torture room appear behind him. One of them looks at me with suspicion, his gun still in his
Three days. Three days locked away in my room that smells too expensive, with gold-plated furniture that mocks my imprisonment. Raymond hasn't visited since our last conversation. No warnings, no threats. Just silence. I've spent every waking moment pacing, thinking, plotting. I know I can't escape through the doors, guards are stationed outside at all times. But tonight, something shifts. The mansion is alive with laughter, with the sound of glasses clinking and music playing. A party. And I know exactly who's hosting it. Eliana. Raymond's and his parents absence has left the house in her hands, and with him gone, I see my opening. She wouldn't expect me to try again not after the last time. Not after he made it clear what would happen if I stepped out of line. But if I stay here, I'll go insane. I press my ear to the door, listening. The guards are talking, their voices casual, distracted. I don't have much time. Slipping into the closet, I dig through the clothes Raymond
I look up from the ground to see Raymond standing at the doorway. His face is stern; annoyed even.Eliana whooshes her way towards him, signalling to someone to turn down the music."Brother, you're back! Why so suddenly, hm? Did your little hunt go well?" She asks, sipping a bit of wine from her glass. She twirls her hair, and stumbles a bit."Eliana, you know what father will do if he sees you like this." Raymond hisses underneath his breath.For the first time, I actually see him show a little bit of concern in his cold eyes."Ha! That's rich. What will father say when he sees your whore? You're refusing to get married but you prefer-""That's enough, Eliana." Raymond says sharply. "Take her to her room."The next moment, his henchmen take Eliana by the arms, pulling her upstairs while she kicks and screams.To the rest of the partygoers, Raymond simply shoots at the grand chandelier above and they all scramble out of the house.I cover my ears and crouches the glass flies everywhe
Immediately, screams ring out. The music has gone off and all I can hear are people crashing into each other in a few to escape this place.I drag my leg from the slimy man's hands and crouch low under the men's table.My heart is racing but I try to keep calm. Another gun shot rings out."Could that be them?" I hear one of them men ask.They're standing now. I can't see anything but I can hear the click of a gun."If they're our people then they certainly went against the plan. I doubt that, though. These ones are a different group.""Stay close." Then they move out, leaving the table. I stay still, listening to the scared whispers and whimpers of the party goers.But I can't stay still for long.I realize now.Throughout my week of working here, Raymond never left me unwatched. Ther was always a guard in the corner, sipping on some non-alcoholic beverage, watching me.I was still his prisoner; still his mistress and still his surrogate.He didn't let me forget that. But today...wi
The world tilts.My head spins, my body swaying despite the solid wall against my back. I feel like I'm floating like none of this is real. But then the pain in my ankle reminds me otherwise, anchoring me back to the nightmare unfolding in front of me.The bald man tightens his grip on my arm, his calloused fingers digging into my skin as he yanks me closer. His breath reeks of cigarettes and something rotten, making my stomach churn. Behind him, the man with the scar on his face smirks, his hands lazily undoing his belt.No.Panic squeezes my chest so tight I can barely breathe.Panic squeezes my chest so tight I can barely breathe, but my body won't move fast enough. My limbs are sluggish, weak, as if fear has wrapped itself around my bones and turned them to stone. My breathing is erratic, my chest rising and falling too fast, yet I still can't get enough air.This can't be happening.I thrash against Bald Man's grip, trying to rip my arm free, but he only laughs at my pathetic str
Evading Raymond is akin to attempting to restrain the ocean's waves. Regardless of my efforts, he always manages to invade my existence, dragging me down before I'm aware that I'm sinking. And the most disappointing aspect? I'm unsure whether I wish to be rescued. Another Unsuccessful Try I rise up resolved. Today, I will not focus on him. I will avoid looking at him. I won't allow my heart to deceive me with its foolish, racing beats whenever he is close. I remain in my room for the majority of the morning, not daring to look out the window in case I spot him. Yet by afternoon, the walls seem to be closing in on me, overwhelming me with thoughts I wish to avoid. I require oxygen. I enter the garden, the cool breeze refreshing my warm skin. The sun shines brightly, the sky is infinite, and for a fleeting instant, I sense freedom. And afterward- "Escaping once more?" I stop moving. Certainly. Certainly, he is here. I inhale slowly before I turn. Raymond is positioned at th
I awaken with a startled breath, my chest heaving up and down swiftly. My heart races within my chest as I rise from bed, clutching the blankets. My body feels heated, my hands sweaty, and for a brief moment, I find it hard to distinguish reality from the dream I just experienced. A vision. No, it seemed too genuine. I shut my eyes tightly, attempting to remember every detail. The gentle light of golden chandeliers, the sound of voices gradually disappearing as I remained in the center of an elegant ballroom. My gown was white, lengthy, and draped softly like silk on my skin. And afterward- Raymond. He stood before me, his tailored suit fitting his form impeccably. His gaze-deep, powerful, fixed solely on me. His face contained an emotion I had never encountered before. Weakness. He then knelt down on one knee. "Gracie," his voice resonated in my thoughts. "I'm unsure how this occurred, but I can't imagine a future without you." "Wed me." The recollection causes my breath to c
As soon as I hear her voice, a chill runs through my entire body. I can tell who it is without needing to face them. That piercing, authoritative voice. That presence that causes the atmosphere in the room to change. Georgia Silver. Raymond's mom. My breath halts in my throat as I turn gradually, my heart racing. And there she stands, in the middle of the living room as if she controls the universe. Her sleek, dark dress clings to her tall figure, and her striking blue eyes-resembling Raymond's-examine the room with a look of hardly masked disdain. Next to her is a man I have encountered only once before-Raymond's father, a silent but similarly imposing figure. However, it's she who frightens me the most. My abdomen contorts in agony. I recognize that expression in her gaze. She doesn't have to vocalize it-I can already perceive it in my mind. What on earth is she still doing here? "Raymond," Georgia says, her tone cutting like a knife. "We arrived to talk business, but instead
I walk back and forth in my room, my heart thumping against my chest. My hands shake, and I'm not sure why. It's merely breakfast. It's merely Raymond facing me, urging me to eat. That shouldn't evoke any feelings in me. Yet it does. I glide my hands along my arms, attempting to dispel the discomfort creeping across my skin. My mind is weighed down by thoughts, and regardless of my efforts to dismiss them, they continually return. "What is the matter with me?" I murmur, gazing at my image in the mirror. The girl gazing at me appears to be unfamiliar. Her hair is untidy, her lips are a bit puffy from yesterday's kiss, and her eyes-oh, her eyes-carry an overwhelming mix of feelings. I tightly shut my eyes, taking a deep breath. This is not love. It isn't possible. How could I be attracted to a killer? Raymond is perilous, merciless. I have witnessed him inflict pain on men without flinching. I have listened to their cries resonating within the mansion, pleading for compassion th
The atmosphere surrounding us is dense, filled with a sensation I can't quite grasp. I remain stuck in position, my back against the wall. Raymond is in front of me, his shirt drenched with the blood of another man. The metallic aroma hangs in the air, potent and overwhelming. His deep-set eyes remain fixed on mine. He is anticipating something. Perhaps he's anticipating that I will flee, shout, or plead. However, I engage in none of those activities. I cannot. I can't figure out what's the matter with me. Raymond raises his hand, the one still smeared with blood, and holds it near my face. I recoil, my breath catching. However, rather than making contact with me, he grins and wipes it on his shirt. "You're not sprinting," he states, his tone subdued, nearly playful. I gulp, my throat parched. "Am I supposed to?" He inclines slightly, his eyes darting to my lips for a brief moment before going back to my gaze. "Indeed." I sense my heart pounding in my chest, urging me to go,
The mansion is quiet at this time, with only the sporadic noise of guards walking outside. I sit with my legs crossed on my bed, gazing at the ceiling, my mind a battlefield of opposing thoughts. I ought to dislike this place. I ought to dislike Raymond Silver. However, I do not. Not completely. I released an exasperated sigh, falling onto my back. I was meant to be a captive, right? A prisoner in her reality, a girl taken from all she understood. Here I stand, clad in silk pajamas, surrounded by a wardrobe of designer gowns and an abundance of opulence beyond my wildest dreams. Raymond purchases items for me. He ensures I eat, that I rest properly, and that I'm never at risk. He never puts his hands on me in rage. It feels as though I am- I suddenly sit up, my heart racing. No. That's absurd. That's crazy. However, my deceitful mind refuses to release it. What if... what if I were his spouse? I snicker, shaking my head in disbelief at my own actions. "You're losing it, G
Raymond undergoes a transformation following that evening. At first, it's understated-small details that I nearly overlook. He begins to place small presents outside my door-items I never request but somehow require. A cozy sweater for those chilly nights. A book I briefly referred to before. A fragile bracelet, the sort I would have adorned when my life was truly my own. I can't comprehend why he does it. I don't inquire. However, every time I awaken to discover another present, my heart constricts with an emotion I hesitate to label. Raymond Silver lacks love. He is indifferent. And still... I notice it in how he observes me when he believes I'm unaware. The manner in which his hands hover when he gives me something. How his expression gently softens, just a little, whenever I talk. He does not utter the words. However, I sense them. The Issue with Love One night, Lorenzo brings a parcel to my room. In contrast to the rest, this one is covered in silver paper and securely
Time goes by, yet a change occurs between Raymond and me. At first, it's subtle-a prolonged gaze, a gentler voice when he addresses me, the manner in which he observes me when he believes I'm not watching. However, I observe. I'm always aware. Initially, I convince myself it's trivial. Perhaps he's simply being more cautious with me, handling me in another way due to what nearly occurred when I attempted to end my life. Perhaps this is his way of ensuring my stability, preventing me from drifting away once more. Yet, at my core, I understand it goes beyond that. I notice it in how his eyes deepen in color when I enter the space. The way his fingers lightly touch mine when he gives me something. The manner in which he remains too near when it isn't necessary. And what frightens me the most? I don't withdraw. One evening, I find myself in the magnificent library, a place I've never had the bravery to explore previously. The shelves rise up, packed with books that likely cost more
Raymond starts to devote more time to me. Initially, I believe it's merely a coincidence-him discovering me in the library, joining me for meals, or walking by when I'm in the garden. However, I quickly understand that it's deliberate. He's trying to be near me, to communicate with me, to ensure I feel like... I fit in here. I'm unsure of the reason. Perhaps he feels remorse for all that has occurred. Perhaps he's simply uninterested. Or perhaps, beneath the surface, he genuinely appreciates having me around. One evening, following dinner, he trails me to the lounge. I settle on the couch, tucking my legs beneath me, while he occupies the chair opposite me. "You never inquire about anything," he suddenly remarks. I look up, bewildered. "What are you trying to say?" "Many individuals are interested in learning about me." He reclines, supporting his arm on the chair's side. "They seek to understand my identity, my origins, and my activities." "Yet you... you never inquire." I rais