CH.3

EVANGELINE

"Welcome to your new home," Cordelia exclaimed, linking her arm with mine and pulling me inside as soon as we arrived.

The house I'd once visited as a guest had now become my permanent residence.

The thought should have been exciting, instead it felt like entering a beautiful prison - one with no hope of escape.

The mansion was even more imposing at night, its Gothic architecture casting long shadows in the moonlight. Windows glowed like eyes watching my every move, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being observed, judged, and found wanting.

I followed Gael with my eyes as he crossed past me with wide strides, climbing the stairs to the upper floor.

He made no effort to hide his anger at the situation, his shoulders rigid with barely contained hostility.

"Don't mind him," Cordelia whispered to me. "He's always moody after social events. He'll settle down."

I wished I could believe her optimism, but I knew better. This wasn't about social anxiety - this was about a man who had finally gotten what he wanted. He’d gotten complete control over someone he intended to destroy.

I exhaled deeply when Mrs. Dettling approached me with a warm, motherly smile.

"Oh, my dear Evangeline," she said, taking my hands in hers with genuine affection. "You look absolutely exhausted. This has been such a long day for you both."

Her eyes sparkled with joy as she continued, "You should go rest now, sweetheart. Tomorrow you can start settling into your new life properly, but tonight... well, tonight is special."

She winked at me in a way that made my stomach churn, completely oblivious to the terror coursing through my veins.

"Thank you, Mrs. Dettling," I managed to say.

"Please, call me Mom now," she corrected gently, squeezing my hands. "You're family now, dear. My son is so lucky to have found someone as wonderful as you."

If only she knew what kind of man her son really was.

Cordelia’s face glowed with excitement. "Oh, Evangeline! You were such a beautiful bride today. I'm so happy to finally have a sister!"

She pulled me into an enthusiastic hug that I barely had the strength to return.

"Get some rest," she whispered in my ear. "Tomorrow we can have breakfast together and you can tell me all about how romantic my brother was tonight."

The thought made bile rise in my throat, yet I forced a smile.

"Goodnight, everyone.” My voice trembled slightly.

"Goodnight, dear!" Mrs. Dettling called out. "Sleep well!"

"Don't stay up too late, you lovebirds!" Cordelia added with a giggle.

Soon, all I could hear was the thundering of my own heartbeat and the echo of my footsteps on the marble stairs. Each step took me further from the warmth and safety of the family below, and closer to whatever nightmare awaited me in the darkness above.

Should I knock?

The door was open.

Why would I need to knock?

How should I interact with him now?

Oh God, why did I feel so terrified?

These questions swirled inside my head while my body remained frozen in front of the bedroom door.

This was supposed to be our wedding night, the beginning of our life together as husband and wife. Instead, it felt like I was about to enter the lion's den.

I gathered what little courage I had left and took my first steps inside, darting my gaze around to inspect what would now be my prison.

A spacious room dominated by black decor, with a large bed in the center that looked more like an altar for sacrifice than a place of rest. A balcony on the far side overlooked the estate grounds, and I could see the iron bars that decorated the railing.

The room also included three separate doors.

I speculated that one led to the bathroom, another to a dressing room, but I couldn't determine what lay behind the third door. Something about that unknown space filled me with dread.

The room was undeniably masculine. It felt cold, unwelcoming, like the man who inhabited it.

The air itself seemed heavy with menace, as if the very walls had absorbed years of dark thoughts and darker intentions.

"What are you doing here?" Gael’s voice appearing out of nowhere startled me completely, and I spun around to find him coming out from what I now realized was a walk-in closet.

He'd changed out of his wedding suit into dark jeans and a black shirt.

"You scared me!"

"I asked what you're doing here." His voice was getting more dangerous.

I swallowed hard, confused by his increasingly heated tone as he blocked my path with his imposing frame.

In the dim lighting of the bedroom, he looked less like a man and more like a predator.

"Where else would I go?" The question came out smaller than I'd intended, revealing just how lost and frightened I felt.

I bit my lip in fear when he took a step toward me.

"Don't dream of staying in the same room with me!" His voice was a low growl that raised every hair on my body.

I looked at his hand pointing toward the door, then at the sparks flying in his eyes. This wasn't just anger - this was hatred so deep it seemed to have its own gravitational pull.

"This is my room too now. We're married. It's done."

I tilted my head away when he suddenly moved his face closer to mine, my feigned boldness evaporating instantly under his intense glare.

His proximity was overwhelming, suffocating, like being trapped in a cage with a wild animal.

“Is that so?” The way he said it made my blood run cold.

There was promise in his voice, anticipation, as if he'd been planning this moment for a long time.

I looked into his eyes, trying to understand the meaning behind his cryptic words, but as usual, he remained vague and unpredictable.

I flinched when his hand suddenly snaked around my waist, grabbing it and pulling me toward him until my chest collided with his.

The contact sent shockwaves through my system… not of desire, but of pure terror.

I tried to escape. However, he gripped my waist tightly, making any attempt futile.

His strength was overwhelming, reminding me just how helpless I truly was.

"What are you doing?"

His sudden movements and contradiction with his earlier words terrified me.

Gael leaned closer until his breath was hot on my skin. "In that case, I'll be happy to do things you won't enjoy. Things that will make you wish you'd never been born!"