LOGIN~Aliyah’s POV~The door opened before I even had time to brace myself. Morning light barely filtered through the curtains, yet Ronald was already inside, calm, polished, and smiling. That smile. The one that always meant something dark was coming.“Good morning, Aliyah,” he said smoothly.My stomach tightened. I sat up slowly, keeping my hands on my lap. “Morning.”He stepped closer, eyes scanning me with that quiet, dangerous calm he reserved for days when he’d already made a decision.“You slept well?” he asked lightly.I nodded. “Yes.”“Good,” he murmured. “Because today, I expect your full cooperation.”My pulse jumped. He didn’t wait for me to respond.“Where is it?”I blinked. “What?”“The document,” he said, smile widening slightly. “The renewed contract. I assume you signed it without being stubborn.”A cold numbness washed over me. Quietly, carefully, I reached for the folder on the nightstand and held it out with both hands.He took it slowly, watching my face the whole time
~Aliyah’s POV~The house was quiet, but it wasn’t peace. It was the calm of predators circling. Every corner, every hallway, every shadow seemed like it belonged to Ronald.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the contract lying on the desk. Signed. Sealed. My obedience is officially bound on paper. The ink had barely dried, but it felt like chains had replaced my bones.My heart skipped when my phone rang, but relief came washing over my face when I saw the caller ID. It was Clara.Her voice came soft, through the phone and I wished she was right here with me. “Aliyah, how are you doing?”I steadied my breath to check if I could hear any sound of footsteps. Ronald must not hear me taking to Clara.“I, I don't know how I feel but.... I don’t want trouble,” I murmured, my voice shaking.“Y
~Aliyah’s POV~The moment Ronald stepped into the room, my stomach twisted. He didn’t speak at first, just stood there, eyes cold, assessing me like I was some fragile object that could shatter with the wrong touch.“Who came in here today?” His voice was low, calm, but every syllable carried an edge that made my chest tighten.“I.....no one came here, Ronald” I murmured, trying to sound steady.His lips curved into a faint, cruel smile. “Don’t lie to me, Aliyah. I know when you lie. And I know when you think you can escape my sight.”I swallowed hard. The pit in my stomach deepened. I.... I wasn’t trying to.....“Trying?” he interrupted sharply. “Every attempt you make to resist only proves that the leash was too loose. You need to be reminded of who you belong to.”&n
~Aliyah’s POV~The soft click of the door made me sit upright instantly. My heart raced, half fear, half relief.“Shh.... it’s me,” Clara whispered, slipping inside like a shadow.I flinched anyway, clutching the thin blanket around me. “Clara, you shouldn’t be here,” I murmured.She ignored the warning, kneeling beside me with a small bag in her hands. “I’ve got food. Something warm. You need it more than I do, right now.”I stared at her, blinking, unsure if I could trust this moment. He... he’ll.....“No one will see me,” she said firmly, tugging out a small container of soup and a piece of bread. “Just eat. You’re too weak, Aliyah. Look at you......shivering.”The tears I’d been holding all day returned, but I allowed them to fall fre
~Aliyah’s POV~The sound of quiet footsteps in the hallway outside my door made my chest seize. My heart raced, instinct telling me to hide, to shrink further into myself, but something about the rhythm was familiar.“Aliyah?” a soft voice whispered through the door.Clara.I froze, my hand gripping the thin blanket wrapped around me. “C-Clara?” I croaked.A soft knock came from the door. My heart jumped violently.Clara’s eyes narrowed, and she whispered, “Relax. It’s me.”I flinched anyway, but she smiled reassuringly. “See? Nothing to worry about.”A quiet chuckle answered. “Yeah. It’s me. Don’t worry.... I’m not here to yell at you.”My throat tightened. I wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it
~Dominic’s POV~The moment I ended the call with Aliyah last night, something inside me sank, heavy, cold, painfully certain.The way her voice shook....the way she whispered instead of spoke, the way she rushed to end the call like someone was watching her.I knew.I knew Ronald had done something.But knowing wasn’t the same as being able to stop it.This morning, I sat in my car outside the office, the engine off, my fingers gripping the steering wheel hard enough to hurt. My phone lay on the passenger seat, the last message from her still open.> “I can’t leave. He locked me in.....The words gnawed at me, sharp and merciless. Every few seconds, my jaw clenched harder. Every breath felt heavier.I had told her we would find another chance.I had







