The car door slammed shut behind her.
The sound echoed like a final verdict.
She flinched.
Her fingers curled tightly against her dress as she sat frozen in the back seat, her breathing uneven, her heart still struggling to catch up with everything that had just happened.
Sold.
The word kept repeating in her head like a curse.
Sold by the only man she trusted.
Her chest tightened painfully, and she turned her face toward the window, refusing to let the man sitting beside her see the tears threatening to fall.
But she could feel him.
Even without looking.
His presence filled the space—cold, heavy, suffocating.
Damien.
She swallowed hard.
The car started moving.
No one spoke.
The silence stretched, thick and unbearable, until she couldn't take it anymore.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, her voice barely steady.
No answer.
Her fingers trembled.
She turned slightly, forcing herself to look at him.
He sat beside her like he owned the world—calm, composed, his gaze fixed ahead as if she wasn't even there.
Anger flared inside her.
"I asked you a question."
This time, his eyes shifted.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
They landed on her.
And just like that, her breath caught.
Those eyes…
Dark.
Piercing.
Dangerous.
They didn't just look at her.
They saw through her.
"To my place," he said finally.
Her stomach dropped.
"No."
The word came out instantly.
Firm.
Reflexive.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
A faint smile touched his lips.
Not warm.
Not kind.
Something darker.
"You already are."
Her heart pounded.
"I didn't agree to this."
"You don't need to."
The calmness in his voice terrified her more than anger ever could.
Her hands clenched.
"I'm not your property."
Silence.
Then—
His hand moved.
Before she could react, his fingers wrapped around her wrist.
Not painfully.
But firmly.
Possessively.
Her breath hitched.
"You're right," he said quietly.
Hope flickered—
Then died.
"You're not property."
His thumb brushed lightly against her skin.
"But you are mine."
Her heart slammed violently against her chest.
"Let go of me," she whispered.
He didn't.
Instead, his grip tightened slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her she couldn't break free.
"Try to run," he said softly, leaning closer, his voice dropping into something dangerous, "and I won't be this gentle next time."
A chill ran down her spine.
This man…
He wasn't threatening her loudly.
He didn't need to.
Everything about him screamed control.
Power.
Dominance.
Her throat tightened, but she refused to look away.
"I hate you."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
For a second—
Something flickered in his eyes.
Something unreadable.
Then it disappeared.
"Good," he said calmly.
Her brows furrowed.
"What?"
"I don't need you to like me."
His grip loosened, but he didn't let go completely.
"I just need you to understand something."
Her heart pounded.
"And what is that?"
His gaze darkened.
"You're not going back."
The words hit harder than anything else.
Her chest tightened.
Her voice broke slightly. "You can't do this."
"I already did."
Tears blurred her vision, but she blinked them away stubbornly.
No.
She wouldn't cry in front of him.
She wouldn't give him that satisfaction.
The car slowed down.
Then stopped.
Her heart sank.
She turned toward the window.
A massive gate stood before them.
Tall.
Imposing.
Like something out of a nightmare.
The gates slowly opened.
And the car drove in.
Her stomach twisted.
This place…
It didn't feel like a home.
It felt like a prison.
The car came to a stop.
The driver stepped out and opened the door.
Cold air rushed in.
"Out," Damien said.
She didn't move.
"I'm not going."
Silence.
Then suddenly—
He stepped out of the car.
Before she could react, his hand reached in—
And grabbed her.
A gasp escaped her lips as he pulled her out effortlessly.
Her feet stumbled against the ground.
"Let me go!" she snapped, trying to pull away.
But it was useless.
He was too strong.
Too firm.
Too in control.
"Stop struggling."
"I said let me go!"
Her voice echoed into the night.
But no one came.
No one helped.
It was like the entire world had abandoned her.
His grip tightened slightly as he leaned down, his face inches from hers.
"Look around," he said quietly.
Her breath trembled.
"This is your world now."
Her heart shattered all over again.
No.
No, it wasn't.
It couldn't be.
"I won't stay," she whispered.
"I'll find a way out."
A dangerous smile curved his lips.
"I'd like to see you try."
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
This man—
He wasn't just confident.
He was certain.
Certain she couldn't escape.
And that scared her more than anything else.
He straightened, releasing her suddenly.
She stumbled back slightly.
"Take her inside," he ordered.
A maid stepped forward immediately.
"Yes, sir."
The woman gently touched her arm.
"Please come with me."
She shook her head.
"No."
Her voice was firm.
"I'm not staying here."
The maid hesitated.
Damien didn't even look back.
"Lock the doors."
Her heart dropped.
"What—"
Before she could finish, the sound echoed—
Click.
The gates behind her closed.
Sealed.
Final.
Her breath caught in her throat.
No escape.
She turned slowly, her eyes widening.
"You—" her voice trembled, anger rising again. "You can't just trap me here!"
He stopped walking.
But didn't turn.
"You'll get used to it."
The calmness in his voice felt like a slap.
"I'd rather die."
Silence.
Then—
He turned.
Slowly.
His eyes locked onto hers.
Cold.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
"Don't say things you're not ready to prove."
A chill ran down her spine.
Something about the way he said it…
It didn't sound like a warning.
It sounded like a challenge.
Her breath trembled.
And for the first time—
Fear truly settled deep in her chest.
Not just of him.
But of what her life had just become.
Because deep down…
She knew.
This wasn't something she could escape easily.
And Damien…
He wasn't someone she could fight alone.