na'

lying on the floor, my hand pressed against my face, where his slap had left a burning sting. H

didn't

up roughly, his grip on my arm

up the stairs, the pain from the slap still throbbing on my cheek. No man had ever dared to raise a ha

you asked for this. Don't blame me for what happens next," he said, his voice low but filled with menace. "For

glance, he locked t

evenge. "I will take revenge on you, Ezra. You wait and watch. You killed my love, kidnapped me, and hara

s house. He would find me in an hour, maybe less. I needed to outsmart him, find a way to gat

ed by what had happened and what needed to be done. But no matter how much I

s possible. As I sat down at the dining table, Grace, the maid, served me my

nd sat down without even looking at me. "I allowed you to come out only under one condition," he said, his tone cold

were meant to make me feel small, but I wou

with my silence. "Look, Gi... What's your name?

kept me locked in his house, and he d

" I asked, my voice sha

mportant to know each other's names. I'm Ezra,

r name, Mr. Ezra," I replied, maki

patience wearing thin. "WHAT IS YOUR NAME?" he demanded

ct tough, though inside my heart was r

ords laced with some kind of twisted victory. He stood up, adjusted h

lief. I didn't know why, but his presence made me

I'm giving strict instructions to everyone out here. Do not let her g

f replied in unison, their voi

to my room. After a quick shower, I changed into the same dres

nock on the door brought me back to realit

s to set up this room i

slipped out. "What can I do to ke

down, too exhausted to deal with anything else. Grace enter

in the wardrobe. I rolled my eyes at the pile of clothes and accessor

left, and Grace called someon

between them, and I stood up as they started setting it up. The man connected the wires and worked quic

ny changes or adjustments, please let me

y. When I finished, I plopped down on the bed, turning on the TV. I had no

med like a good way to distract myself for now. I lay dow

on something small and metallic. A key. I picked it up, my curiosity piq

he area was clear. I made my way to his room, heart pounding with anticip

u think you

ending a chill down

y pocket and turned to face him

ed, my voice

hat are you

e up with a lie. "Me? I...

closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. The air

e if you were inside or not..." I t

ded, his gaze s

You scared me," I li

ng to scare you. I just

. "Still, I forgot," I murmured

finally, he stepped back. "Go back to you

Once inside, I locked the door behind me and released a shaky breath. I did

after all. I reluctantly made my way down to the dining room, where Ezra was already seated, engross

voice still distant, as if I

bothering to hide the

arrowing slightly. I could tell he was s

ha

His voice held a dangerous

p with an excuse. "Oh that... Yeah, actually I wanted to thank

sing an eyebrow, clearly

ied again, forcing a smile, though ev

aid, his voice

ed, confused

could hear the smirk in his voice e

. I could barely contain my frustration. "T

and returned to his me

the surface, but I knew better than to lash

going to give up. No matter what Ezra did, no matter how many times he locked me aw

slap, every moment of this hell. I would ha