It's been days now since the marriage and her moving to this room

e, but none of it felt familiar anymore. The past few days had reshaped her life in a way she

ling. The estate grounds stretched out below her. Neatly cut grass, stone pathways, rows of trimmed hedges. Every corner was guarded as armed men moved with st

near the gates, and spotlights mounted at intervals. A

very object had been placed deliberately. The drawers were stocked, but empty of anything

he had no control over when she could leave. Only Anna or the

tion was

d inside with a tray of food. She didn't

a asked, sitting at

replied. "You won't see h

be allowed to

resh air. If you mean beyond the courtyard, that dep

a pris

ife of a man with many enemies a

give tha

es

aze. "Leave the tr

le and left the room, loc

t jacket over her top. The clothes fit perfectly, everything had been tailored withou

lled, and repeated every five minutes. She timed it with the movement of the shadow cast by

eight from the balcony made everything seem more dangerous. The only time she left

r gaps. She checked the corners of the room, the wall

no messaging apps or internet access. Only a list of approved numbers, none of whi

assed

by another staff member an

the east side of the house. Leon was there, standing at the window, speak

d gestured toward the chair across fr

sking about movement outs

I'll be treated like

prisoner." Leon sa

r." Aria replied in

re is a risk because if someone gets to you, t

of your business.

now." L

nding, he didn't

er. "So why am I

ent," Leon said calmly. "A

at tighten. "That

It's

as sharp and it

e your name holds value. And until you understand the bala

me in the basement?

I'm not

o control someone. You just h

ward. "Then wha

eed

at but you

rrected. "It

ssion. "And yet, you

ands. "You made sure the

ed forward

a hand, st

morrow," Leon said, turning back to Aria. "You'l

d. "Why th

now you're looking for

t asking

so I gave it to you. You'll take it, or

d. "I'll

small nod. "

without waiting

is time, she didn't sit down right away. She walked to the balcony and stared o

she would walk into the one place they