Chapter 3

• Elena sat by the window, her eyes staring out at the sprawling city below. The sky was starting to darken, and the lights from the city illuminated the horizon, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging in her chest.
• She had been in Alexander’s house for almost a full day now, and it felt like she had been trapped here for a lifetime. The mansion was beautiful, elegant, every room more luxurious than the last, but it felt like a prison. The cold marble floors, the towering ceilings, and the polished furniture only emphasized how small and insignificant she felt.
• A soft knock on the door broke her from her thoughts, and she stiffened. She didn’t want to see anyone—especially not Alexander. She wasn’t sure if she was angry, scared, or a mix of both. What she did know was that her world had been ripped apart, and nothing would ever be the same again.
• “Elena?” A voice called from the other side of the door. “It’s me, Lydia. Can I come in?”
• Lydia. She was one of the few servants in the house, and the only one Elena had seen more than once. She was kind, always offering a gentle smile, but Elena couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something just a little too knowing in Lydia’s eyes.
• Elena didn’t answer at first, but then she sighed and walked over to the door. She needed to talk to someone, even if it was just for a few minutes.
• She opened the door to find Lydia standing there, her hands folded politely in front of her.
• “Are you alright?” Lydia asked, her gaze soft with concern.
• “No,” Elena admitted with a bitter laugh. “How can I be alright? I’m trapped here, Lydia. I can’t leave. I don’t even know what’s going to happen to me.”
• Lydia didn’t answer right away. She simply stepped inside the room, glancing around as if to make sure no one was listening before she closed the door behind her. Then, she turned to Elena, her voice low.
• “Listen,” Lydia said, taking a careful step toward her, “I can’t say much, but I’ve been here for a while. And I’ve seen how Alexander is. He’s… not as bad as he seems. He’s just… cold. He doesn’t let people in.”
• Elena shook her head in disbelief. “Cold? He’s more than cold. He’s a monster.”
• Lydia flinched slightly at Elena’s words but didn’t back away. “I know it’s hard, but trust me when I say this. He doesn’t want to hurt you. He doesn’t even know how to care for people the way most do. He… he’s been through a lot. Don’t judge him too quickly.”
• Elena felt a bitter laugh rise in her throat. “Don’t judge him too quickly? Are you serious?” She took a step back, pacing. “My father sold me to him, Lydia! I’m here because of him. I don’t care what his reasons are. He took me from my life, my family, everything I’ve ever known!”
• “I know,” Lydia said softly, her eyes filled with sympathy. “But maybe, just maybe, there’s more to the story than you realize. Maybe he didn’t want it either. Maybe—”
• “I don’t care!” Elena interrupted, her voice rising with anger. “There is no reason that could ever make this okay. He thinks I’m some prize, some object. And I won’t let him control me.”
• Lydia looked down at the floor, her lips pressed tightly together. Then, after a long pause, she spoke again, her voice quiet and measured. “You’re right. He’s a hard man. But you need to know this—he doesn’t give up. Not easily. If you try to run or resist, it’ll only make it worse for you.”
• Elena felt a chill run down her spine. “What are you saying? That I should just accept it?”
• “No,” Lydia said quickly. “I’m not saying that. But you need to choose your battles. There’s only so much you can do here. Alexander has a way of getting what he wants. But if you give him too much trouble too soon, it’ll only make things worse.”
• Elena felt a wave of nausea hit her. What was she supposed to do? There was no escape. No way out. Alexander had made it clear that he was going to control every aspect of her life now. And the worst part was, he didn’t even seem to care.
• She rubbed her temples, trying to calm the growing anxiety inside her. “I don’t know what to do. I just… I can’t let him win.”
• “I’m not saying you should,” Lydia reassured her. “But you need to think carefully. You’ll need to play the game. And you’ll need to survive.”
• Elena met her gaze. There was something in Lydia’s eyes, a flicker of something that seemed like understanding. But what did she know? What had Lydia gone through in this house that made her so resigned?
• Before Elena could ask, the door suddenly opened without warning. Alexander stood in the doorway, his tall frame casting a shadow over the room.
• Lydia immediately stood straighter, her eyes lowering to the floor in respect. Elena, however, couldn’t hide the flash of anger in her eyes.
• “I’m sorry, Alexander,” Lydia said softly, her tone apologetic. “I was just—”
• “It’s fine,” Alexander interrupted, his voice calm but commanding. “Leave us.”
• Lydia hesitated for a moment before nodding and quickly retreating, leaving the two of them alone in the room once more.
• Alexander closed the door behind him, his expression unreadable. “I trust everything is going well here?” he asked, his voice smooth, almost casual.
• Elena didn’t answer right away. She couldn’t. Her emotions were swirling too fast—anger, fear, frustration. She wanted to scream at him, to make him understand just how much he had taken from her, but she knew it wouldn’t matter. He would just shut her down.
• “I’m fine,” she said stiffly, her gaze meeting his.
• “Good.” He stepped closer, his icy blue eyes never leaving her. “I trust you’ve settled in. I’ve arranged for a few things—food, clothes, whatever you need.”
• “I don’t need anything from you,” Elena snapped, glaring at him.
• He raised an eyebrow, as though her anger amused him. “That’s where you’re wrong. You’ll need everything I provide. Because whether you like it or not, Elena, you’re mine now.”
• Her chest tightened. “I’ll never be yours,” she spat, her words filled with venom.
• Alexander’s smile was slow, deliberate. “We’ll see.”
• With that, he turned and walked toward the door, leaving her alone once more.