Chapter 35 Mia

• In the depths of my mind, Nathan’s voice echoed, husky and possessive, branding itself upon my very soul. “You are mine, Mia. I won’t let you escape—you’ll never escape my grasp, understand?” His intense stare felt like it was peeling away the layers of my defenses, exposing everything I’d fought so hard to keep hidden. Secrets I hadn't spoken aloud, feelings I was barely even aware of myself—he seemed to know them all, as if he’d stolen the key to the darkest corners of my mind. My heart thundered, betraying the conflict raging within me.
• “Answer me, Mia. Say it—you belong to me now.” His words were insistent, the demand underlying them slipping through the cracks of my resistance. I knew I should pull away, fight this hold he had over me. I’d dedicated my entire life to revenge; he would only mess with that plan, distracting me from the single purpose that had driven me for so long. But even as the logical part of me protested, I found myself slipping deeper under his spell. Part of me yearned to surrender, to be his, bound and owned by him.
• “Mia…” His voice softened, turning seductive, wrapping around me like velvet. My breath hitched, and I felt the last fragments of my resolve crumble. “I… belong to you,” I whispered, barely able to force the words past the tightness in my throat.