Chapter Five | Obsession And Possession

Chapter Five | Obsession And Possession

Marianne

Alessandro didn’t give me time to argue anymore. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the door. I tried to dig my heels into the floor but he was too strong. “Wait! My clothes! My things!” I cried out.

“You won’t need them,” he said calmly. “Everything you need will be provided at my mansion.”

The air hit me hard when we stepped outside. I was still in my nightdress and his jacket was the only thing keeping me warm. A black luxury car was waiting, the engine running like it had been ready for this moment. His driver opened the door without a word and Alessandro guided me inside like I was already his prisoner.

I sat pressed against the far door, my body shaking. Tears kept falling down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop thinking about my father’s signature on that paper. Nineteen years ago. He had given me away like I was something he could pass on.

The car started moving with Alessandro sitting beside me, calmly without saying a word. His long sleek black hair fell over his shoulders and everytime I felt his eyes on me, my skin tingled in a way that made me angry.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I finally whispered, my voice breaking. “I’m your niece. My father trusted you as a brother and not like this.”

He turned to look at me, his dark eyes intense and full of wild hunger. “Your father knew exactly what I was. He signed the paper because he understood I could give you what he couldn’t. Power, protection and control. He wanted you safe from the weakness that destroyed him.”

I shook my head, fresh tears coming. “You’re twisting it. You are making it sound like he sold me. I hate you for this.”

Alessandro smiled slowly, that dangerous smile that made my stomach twist. “Hate me then. It doesn’t change anything. You are mine now, Marianne and I will enjoy teaching you what that means.”

The drive felt endless, the city lights fading as we drove into a quieter and richer area. When the car finally stopped, I looked out the window. The mansion was huge and dark, sitting on a hill like something from an old ghost story. Tall iron gates closed behind us with a loud clang, the wind blowing hard and making the trees shake wildly.

Alessandro helped me out of the car and when I tried to pull my hand away, he held it tightly. “Welcome home,” he said softly.

Inside, the mansion was even more overwhelming with its halls that were made of dark wood, expensive lights, and servants who moved around almost unnoticed. No one looked at me directly and it felt like I had just entered another world. A cold, beautiful world where Alessandro was king.

He led me up a grand staircase and down a long hallway, my bare feet feeling cold on the marble floors. He stopped at a door and opened it and I could help but marvel at how big the room was. It has a large bed, fancy furniture and beautiful paintings. It was beautiful but it felt like a golden cage.

“This is your room now” he said, closing the door behind us and locking it. “You’re going to stay here andfollow my rules. From tonight, I will control everything about you.”

I turned to face him, my heart pounding. “You can’t do this. You can’t lock me up like an animal. I have a life. I have my piano practice and my job at the store.”

Alessandro walked closer in slow steps, his eyes never leaving mine. He looked like a man who had waited so many years for this. Obsessed, possessive and ready to ruin me completely. “Your old life is finished. You have to forget about your piano, your job, your mother because now all of it is in the past. Here, you will learn to obey, to need me and to want only what I allow you to want.”

My back hit the bed as I stepped away from him. “I will fight you every single day. I will never let you touch me. Never.”

He stopped right in front of me, so close I could feel his breath on my skin. His hand came up and cupped my chin, tilting my face up. “I don't care what you do but I'm going to enjoy every moment of breaking you. I’ll control when you eat, when you sleep, what you wear, and when you feel pleasure. I will ruin you for any other man. You will scream my name and beg for me.”

My face burned, shame and unwanted heat mixed together in my belly. I hated how my body reacted to his words. “You are sick. Have you forgotten you're my uncle? This is madness.”

Alessandro leaned in closer, his lips almost brushing my ear. “Madness? Maybe. But it is my madness and you're going to learn to love it.. You're my Catherine, Marianne and I'm your Heathcliff. I will possess you completely.”

He let go of my chin and stepped back. The loss of his touch felt strange and I hated myself for noticing it.

“Sleep tight,” he said, walking toward the door. “I have a lot of things to teach you when the day breaks.”

He opened the door but paused, turning to look at me. “Don’t even think of trying to run, the gates are locked and my men would be there watching. You're home now.”

He finally left and I was left alone in this beautiful room that felt like a prison.

I sank onto the bed, pulling my knees to my chest. My father had given me away and my mother was back at house, devastated and broken. Now, I was trapped here with a man who wanted to own every part of me.

I cried until my eyes hurt, grief, anger and fear, with that small dark heat I was scared to name clouding over my soul. Alessandro had brought me to his mansion. And here, his full control over me was just beginning.

I didn’t know how long I could fight him. I didn’t even know if part of me wanted to.

The wind kept howling outside and it sounded like it was laughing at my situation.