LOGINAlliyah Agustin-AstleyI didn’t know where we were, but the moment I tried to look around, Alexander gently guided me into the back seat of the car.We were surrounded by what appeared to be a dense forest. The moon hung brightly above us, and the sound of crickets filled the cold, silent air.After letting me sit for a moment, his eyes swept over me, scanning my arms and legs as if he were searching for injuries I couldn’t even feel.“Alex… w-what happened at the party? Was it successful?” I asked softly, unsure if that was even the right thing to say.He paused, then looked at me, those sapphire eyes filled with disbelief and a hint of amusement.“You were just saved from a possible kidnapping and murder,” he said, settling into the seat beside me. “And you’re worried about whether the party was successful?”“Should I ask why I was kidnapped… and what happened to those men inside that building?” My voice trembled as I glanced back at the structure looming behind us.An abandoned war
Alliyah Agustin-AstleyWhen we arrived at the door, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. The grand ballroom had several entrances, yet we were using the private one instead of the main doors.My hands were trembling. I was anxious, but I was determined to push through this event—not only because I was helping local porcelain makers, but also because a small percentage of the sales would go to charities.This had been my long-time dream, and after what had happened to my dress earlier, I didn’t know what else to think.I flinched when my hand was suddenly squeezed. I looked up at Alexander, and he was staring at me intently.“I am with you, wife,” he said softly, as if he could hear the chaos in my mind. “You don’t have to worry about anything.”I bit my lower lip. “Thank you, Alex.”He seemed momentarily surprised by the nickname, but he only glanced toward the door afterward.“Let’s go. We don’t want the head of this event to miss the arrival of the guests,” he said before signaling for
Alliyah Agustin-Astley“I want this placed here, and yes, you can put the cards over there,” I instructed the people around me. They nodded quickly and moved at once, following my directions without hesitation.It was finally the day of the contest, and excitement buzzed through my veins. I felt thrilled—almost lightheaded—as I watched everything slowly come together. This event had been my long-time dream, something I had imagined and planned for countless sleepless nights, and now it was finally unfolding right before my eyes.“Mrs. Astley, could you please check this?” someone asked.I walked over to where she was pointing, carefully inspecting the setup before calmly explaining what adjustments needed to be made. She listened attentively, nodding as I spoke, and immediately set to work once I finished.I took a moment to drink some water, trying to steady myself and slow my breathing, when I suddenly caught sight of Alexander standing among the crowd. His eyes were already on me,
Alliyah Agustin-AstleyWe were on our way somewhere.Malix was nowhere in sight when I stepped out of the office, and now Alexander was driving us to a place I didn’t recognize. The city gradually faded behind us, replaced by unfamiliar roads and stretches of land that made my unease grow with every passing minute.When he finally pulled into a wide parking lot, I squinted out the window, trying to figure out where we were. My breath caught when realization dawned.A massive shooting range stood before us.I’d seen places like this on TikTok before—vast open spaces designed like obstacle courses, where targets were hidden among artificial jungles, abandoned structures, and rough terrain. It wasn’t just a shooting range. It was an experience.“What are we doing here?” I asked the moment he stepped out and opened my door.“We’re going to release some steam,” Alexander replied calmly, then added with quiet emphasis, “or rage.”He walked to the trunk and lifted it open, pulling out two d
Alliyah Agustin-AstleyAfter taking a bath, I expected Alexander to be waiting inside my room, but the bedroom was empty. He was nowhere in sight. I dried my hair in peace, the quiet almost unfamiliar, before slipping into something comfortable.When I finally stepped out of my room, I made my way downstairs. The house felt oddly still as I walked toward the dining room—and there he was, already seated on the other side of the table, waiting for me.His eyes lifted to meet mine, but I didn’t say anything. I was about to pull out a chair when he suddenly stood up. I looked at him in confusion as he approached me.“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “You can’t punish me anymore. I’m already here, happy now?”What happened next caught me completely off guard.He grabbed my wrists and gently—but firmly—pulled me toward his chair, guiding me down to sit right beside him.He said nothing.Instead, he began serving food onto my plate first, careful and deliberate, before finally fixing his
Alliyah Agustin-AstleyI didn’t know how long it had been since I last stepped outside my room.Time no longer felt real inside these four walls. Days blurred together, dissolving into one another until morning and night meant nothing more than changes in light filtering through the curtains.Alexander hadn’t forced his way in—not once—and for that, I was grateful. He had given me space, the way he should have, the way I desperately needed. He didn’t knock every hour or demand why wasn’t I going out of my room.He let the silence exist between us, heavy and unspoken. As the days dragged on, I began to realize something I hadn’t wanted to admit at first.What happened that night wasn’t entirely his fault. He attended an event we were invited to. He didn’t orchestrate the betrayal—I simply walked straight into it.He even suggested we leave early when he noticed the sudden change in my mood the moment I saw the hotel.At first, I thought he didn’t care about how I would feel. But the mo







