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006: The Forbidden Room
Last Updated:
2024-12-09 17:17:35ANYA
I swallowed hard, tears threatening to spill from my eyes as I stared at Hunter. I felt powerless under his intense gaze, his presence suffocating. For a fleeting moment, I thought about fighting back....maybe kneeing him to escape. But fear gripped me. If I acted recklessly, my family would undoubtedly pay the price. Suddenly, his hand moved from under my dress, and he gently caressed my cheek. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, but it wasn’t from comfort....it was the unsettling control he seemed to have over me. I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to look at him. “Open your eyes when I speak to you,” he commanded, his voice cold but firm. I reluctantly obeyed, opening my eyes to find his face mere inches from mine. His lips almost brushed mine, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine with a chilling intensity. “My beautiful wife,” he whispered, his tone deceptively soft. “There’s something you need to understand. In this house, my word is law. So, when I say, ‘Go take a shower,’ it’s not a request. It’s an order. Do you understand me?” I nodded quickly. “Yes.” “Will you disobey me again?” I shook my head, the tears finally spilling over. A smile spread across his lips, one that sent a wave of unease through me. “Good girl,” he said before stealing a quick kiss. I froze, unable to react as he stood up. “Go,” he said, gesturing toward the bathroom. Not wanting to provoke him further, I scrambled to my feet and rushed to the bathroom, locking the door tightly behind me. My heart pounded as I leaned against the door, wishing I could stay in there forever. But I remembered his warning. I turned on the water and took a quick shower, hoping that following his orders would keep him at bay. When I finally emerged, wrapped in a towel, he was gone. Relief washed over me as I locked the bedroom door from the inside. Collapsing onto the bed, I let the exhaustion of the day take over. My mind replayed the events....Cross, my family, the court, and now Hunter. It felt like a nightmare I couldn’t escape. Somewhere in my thoughts, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke, the room was dimly lit by the evening sun. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day. Hunger gnawed at me, forcing me out of the room. The house was eerily quiet as I wandered through the hallways. I had no idea where to find food or even where the kitchen was. The mansion was massive, and I tried retracing my steps from earlier. That’s when I saw it; the door with the strange drawing. The one Hunter had explicitly forbidden me from entering. “What is he hiding in there?” I wondered, curiosity pulling me closer. “What if it’s something that can help me escape from him?” I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Hunter’s warning echoed in my mind, but the thought of finding something....anything that could give me an advantage pushed me forward. Before I could second-guess myself, I turned the knob. To my surprise, the door wasn’t locked. I slipped inside, my heart racing. The room was dim, lit only by a faint light from the curtains. It seemed like an ordinary bedroom at first glance, simple, yet elegant. “Why would he forbid me from entering here?” I whispered to myself. As I scanned the room, my attention was drawn to a cupboard on the far side. It bore the same strange drawing as the door. Something about it felt significant. I approached the cupboard, my hands trembling as I reached for the handle. “Please don’t be locked,” I muttered under my breath. The door creaked open, and I sighed in relief. But as I looked inside, my breath caught. What I saw wasn’t what I had expected. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively backed away. I couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing, but fear gripped me like a vice. My knees weakened, and the world around me began to spin. Hunger, fear, and exhaustion blurred together, and I felt myself collapsing. Before I hit the ground, strong arms caught me. I opened my eyes, my vision hazy, and found myself face-to-face with Hunter Steele. He was shirtless, his chest muscular and intimidating. His blue eyes burned with anger as he barked, “What the hell are you doing in my room?”
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Will You Marry Me? 186: The Way Love Tastes
Seeing Camila standing there with a gun pointed straight at Hector, Ruby instinctively stepped in front of him. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice sharp and protective. Without hesitation, she moved forward and snatched the gun from Camila, tossing it across the room. Camila’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I should be the one asking you that! Why is this monster in your room?” Hector smirked from behind Ruby. “Camila,” he said calmly, “you know, I never got the chance to say I admire your loyalty. It’s… impressive.” Camila glared at him, then turned to Ruby. “What the hell is going on here? Are you seriously sitting with a ghost?” Hector, unbothered, sat down and crossed his legs, silently watching the drama unfold. Ruby took a breath. “I’ll explain everything. Hector survived, Camila. He’s been alive… and he’s been protecting me. He’s not here to hurt me. He saved me.” “I still don’t get it.” “The bottom line is…” Ruby hesitated, then looked straight at Camila.
