MasukMARL'S POV:A sudden, sharp silence fell over the other end of the telephone line, heavy with pure shock. I could easily picture the exact look forming on Alistair's pale face back at his desk, the deep frown pulling at his mouth, his dark eyes narrowing into slits, and the intense irritation swelling up inside his chest because someone had dared to refuse his generous offer. His proud ego was going to be deeply wounded by my rejection, and his sense of total control was rapidly slipping through his fingers.It was glaringly obvious that Alistair was going to feel deeply enraged by my firm refusal, but I simply no longer cared about his personal feelings. The time for caring about his opinion had passed long ago. The time for playing the part of his loyal, passive associate was officially over. For years, I had quietly watched him break his wife's heart, destroy her self-esteem, and tear down every good thing in her life, all while I stood by in the background saying absolutely noth
MARL'S POV:I stood completely still right beside the large glass window of my quiet living room, holding my black mobile phone pressed firmly against my right ear, listening to the monotonous sound of Alistair's confident voice coming through the small speaker. Out past the clear windowpane, the bright lights of the massive city glittered in the dark night air, looking like thousands of tiny yellow stars scattered across the dark sky. My clear reflection stared straight back at me in the glass pane, a weary face with dark shadows under the eyes, sharp facial lines, and the tired expression of a man who had been playing a long, dangerous game for far too many years.The whole apartment around me was completely silent and still, with the only background sound being the the quiet murmur of Alistair's voice on the line. I had been living inside this private city home for several long years now, yet the space had never once felt like a real home to me. It was simply a quiet place where
MARY'S POV:A sharp clicking sound echoed through the cabin as every door locked tight, and the powerful engine roared to life with a deep, loud rumble.He rolled down his side window just two inches, his face looking completely relaxed and unbothered by the giant men surrounding the hood. The freezing wind rushed into the cabin, blowing his dark hair across his forehead. "My deep apologies, gentlemen," he called out in a casual, lazy voice. "This small vehicle of mine only has room for one handsome man at a time, and I happen to be taking that spot tonight. You boys are going to have to find your own ride home."Without waiting for a response, he slammed his foot straight down on the gas pedal.The vehicle shot forward like a bullet, the heavy tires screeching loudly against the smooth asphalt as the engine let out a massive roar. I turned my head around and watched the furious bodyguards chase after our tail lights for a few desperate steps before stopping in frustration, waving
MARY'S POV:The four bodyguards quickly exchanged confused glances with one another. Hesitation flickered across their tough faces. They had just been handed explicit orders by their primary employer to hold me in place, but now those exact orders were being completely overridden by his own recorded voice. They simply did not know which instruction they were supposed to follow, or whose authority carried more weight in this situation.Marl did not waste a single second waiting for them to figure out the puzzle. He walked directly through the small gap between the guards, his large warm hand reaching down to wrap firmly around my wrist, pulling my trembling body forward along the polished floor. His grip felt gentle yet completely solid, his fingers radiating a comfortable warmth against my cold skin."Walk fast," he instructed in a low, quiet voice that only I could hear. "And whatever you do, do not look back."I followed close behind his broad back without asking a single questi
MARY'S POV:"I have the power to do whatever I please," he interrupted coldly, his face devoid of emotion. "And right now, I want you to go home and get some rest."He turned his back on me and began walking away down the bright corridor, his heavy leather shoes making slow, rhythmic sounds against the floor. The sound was calm and unhurried, like the movement of a powerful man who felt absolute certainty that he held every single winning card in his hand. Before I could even make a move to run after him, several tall men wearing dark suits stepped forward from the corner near the waiting area, their expressions hard, cold, and completely blank. They formed a tight physical wall right in front of me, completely blocking my path to the hallway exit."Mrs. Vane," the largest bodyguard said, his voice flat, deep, and professional. "Please step this way and come with us peacefully."I stared up at the four tall figures standing in front of me. They were all built like professional fig
MARY'S POV: He was actually standing there telling me that he was willing to forgive my behavior, acting as if he were the innocent victim who had been wronged throughout this entire ordeal. He was treating me as though I were a disobedient child who needed his generous forgiveness to be allowed back into the house. He was offering me a deal, my complete submission in exchange for his fake kindness. He was telling me that if I just kept quiet, stopped fighting back, and accepted his rules, my life could return to the quiet, comfortable routine of the past. However, the painful truth was that his idea of Vesper "not bothering me" simply meant keeping me completely trapped under his constant control under the convenient excuse of keeping me safe from public attention. He would isolate me inside his large estate, place guards at the gates, monitor every single phone call I made, and lock me inside a golden cage from which I could never hope to escape. He would surround my life with h







