The New Rule

As soon as we arrived back at Alexander’s estate, the air between us remained thick with tension. The ride had been silent, his presence annoying and his cold demeanor unwavering. Now, standing in the grand entryway of his home, I felt like an intruder in my own life, like I didn’t belong anywhere.

I barely had time to process before Alexander’s voice cut through the silence.

"Go clean yourself up," he ordered, shrugging off his coat. "You look like shit"

I flinched at his words but didn't argue. I was too exhausted to fight, too drained to let my anger take over again. Instead, I turned and made my way up the winding staircase to the room I’d been forced to call mine.

Once inside, I locked the door and exhaled shakily, leaning against the wood for support. The walls felt like they were closing in on me. My chest felt tight and my breath shallow. I needed to calm down, I needed to feel like myself again.

I dragged myself to the bathroom and turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on my face. My reflection stared back at me, hollow eyes, pale skin, dark curls disheveled from stress. I barely recognized myself.

Why can’t I just be normal?

My fingers curled around the edge of the sink as I swallowed down the lump in my throat. I hated this. I hated what my life had become.

'I was told to take care of you'

Alexander's words echoed in my head, making me grip the porcelain tighter. It was all my mother's fault.

A knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts.

"Get dressed and come downstairs," Alexander's voice carried through the door, firm and impatient. "We have things to discuss."

I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to stay silent. The last thing I wanted was to see him again so soon. But refusing wouldn’t do me any favors. With a slow inhale, I wiped my face, changed into something more presentable, and made my way downstairs.

The dining room was grand, the long mahogany table set perfectly with an untouched plate of food waiting at my seat. Alexander sat at the head of the table, a glass of wine in hand, his piercing gaze lifting to meet mine as I hesitantly walked in.

"Sit." He ordered.

I did, though every fiber of my being wanted to turn around and leave. I didn't touch the food, my appetite nonexistent despite the exhaustion weighing me down.

Alexander watched me for a moment before speaking. "Tomorrow, my driver will take you to school but there are rules you have to follow",

I stiffened. "New rule?", I asked.

He took a slow sip of his wine. "Yes you always going to be taken early in the morning and be picked up immediately your last lecture ends", He spoke and my hands curled into fists under the table. "You can’t just expect me to accept this overnight." I snapped.

His lips tilted in something that wasn’t quite a smirk, but held just enough cruelty to send a shiver down my spine. "I don’t expect you to accept it, Emma. I expect you to obey."

My stomach twisted, as his words settled over me like a heavy chain. There was no point in arguing, not tonight, not when I was already so damn tired. So I stayed silent, staring down at my untouched food, my thoughts screaming in the silence.

I remained silent for a pretty good time but finally, I found it unbearable. I couldn’t just sit here and pretend that this was what I wanted. I needed to say something. I needed to remind him of who I was of what I wanted for myself.

“Alexander…” I finally spoke, my voice tentative, but firm. He didn’t turn to face me immediately, but I knew he was listening, waiting for me to finish whatever I was about to say.

“I know you were told to take care of me but I want to always have some time with my friends. I won’t run away from you, I just want something for myself again, something other than this life you’ve decided for me.”

Alexander’s body stiffened, and slowly, he turned to face me, his eyes narrowing. His lips barely parted as he took in my words, but I could see the spark of something in his gaze. It wasn’t anger, not exactly. It was more like calculation, like he was trying to understand if I truly meant what I said.

“Some time with your friends?” His tone was low, almost amused, as if my request were beneath him.

"Yes", I retorted confidently. "Okay , after earning it", His reply made me confused. For a moment, I just stared at him, wordless.

"Earn it?", I asked with my brows furrowed.

"Yes earn it," he said again, slower this time, like he was testing the weight of the words.

What the hell was he even meaning?.

Earn it how? My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I tried to process his words.

Alexander’s gaze didn’t falter. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes cold, assessing me like a predator sizing up its prey. I could feel his control tightening around me, but I refused to let it suffocate me. Not this time.

“Don’t play dumb, Emma”, he said, his voice sharp, cutting off my confusion. “If you want to go back to your friends, you will have to prove that you're worthy of it. Nothing in this house comes without a price. If you think I’ll let you slip back into your comfortable little life without showing me you can actually follow through, you’re wrong.”

"But it's my right", I retorted.

"Your right?" He repeated, his voice laced with cold amusement. "You think this is some sort of democracy where you get to make demands? No, Emma. Nothing is a right in this house unless I say it is."

“I’m not a prisoner here,” I said, more to remind myself than him. “I may be under your roof, but I still have my own life to live, my own aspirations. You can't take everything from me, Alexander.”

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. His fingers absently twirled the stem of his wine glass, an unsettling calm in his demeanor that only made me feel more exposed.

“I can take whatever I want, Emma,” he said, his voice dangerously soft. "And if you want to go back to your studies, prove you can play by my rules. Until then, you’ll remain under my thumb, doing what I tell you."

"Fuck you", I showed him a middle finger immediately.