na's

I can ever esc

hes me-his men are everywhere, guarding every corner lik

ollapsing o

aken over, but deep down, I

no amount of sobbin

now. Maybe, if I played along and gained Alexa

ged myself to the bathroom. I turned on the shower and let the cold

king down the aisle in a beautiful dress, surrounded by loved ones. But instead, here I was,

er, wrapping myself in a towel. I glanced around t

shelves. To my shock, the closet was full. Not just with r

g. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. How lon

or suddenly flung open. Startled, I turned around, only to f

" I demanded, wrapping th

ps. The way he looked at me felt invasive like he was savoring every second. He stepped inside the room and closed the door behind him. My hea

but my voice came out w

mirk grew as he closed

t the wall, and he leaned in

ng?" I stuttered, my voic

, his breath war

mured, his deep voice send

dded wildly

" I managed to ask

htly, just enough t

un, cry, or fight all you want,

sent a wave of fear through me,

hated him for what he'd done to m

ing, suff

ing the tension. "Get dressed and come downsta

eep me w

rced myself to keep my voice steady, trying not to show my fear. He stop

inned me in place,

trying to sound bold, though every nerve

rised. Then, a slow, wicked

o make," he said, his voic

at, he turned and walked away, leaving me st

ly leave my body. His presence was overwhelming, s

reflection in the mirror. The gown hugged my body perfectly, accentuating every curve.

vulnerable I looked. I didn't want to appear weak,

st as I could. No matter how trapped I fel

he dining room. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of my

of the table. He looked up as I walked in

smirk playing on his lips.

king to the chair farthest

, gesturing to the

nds trembling slightly, and

but I didn't want

as curiosity or something darker. Either way, it sent chills down my spine. As I sat there, silen

doomed to remain here, at the mercy

against the marble floor caught my attention. A woman walked in, her con

ties, possibly around my age, but there w

me as she walked closer, the tension in th

nding to be unaffected, but I cou

up the glass of water fro

k it. But I couldn't have been more wrong. Before I could rea

de me gasp, my body

y, her lips curving into

ad just happened. My heart raced, not from fear

ered, cutting through the air l

face dark

n't he

my side, his hand gently b

ling, and for a moment, I felt

you're doing?" he demanded

n't even

him with an expression that was e

nocence. "I'm just welcoming your little

r growled, his voi

pulled away from Alexander's h

said, my voice trembling with

s, but you had no right to do that!" Lucy raised

are?" she shot back, her t

g here. You'll n

tone dangerously low. "Leave

ou're nothing but a distraction," she hissed. "

stepped in, his towering presenc

my direction, she turned and stormed out of th

his expression softening

still trembling. "I'm fine," I

hair from my face. His touch was gentle,

e said, his voice firm but with

d like

"You're the one who dragged me into this nightmare in the first place." For a moment, he said nothing, his eyes

and something I couldn't quite name. As much as I hated him for everything he'd done, I coul