ing light filtered through the heavy velvet drapes, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. For a moment, sh

amiliar luxury, the grand canopy bed, the scent of expensive cologne

l tr

of this mansion reeked of power, of a man who controlled he

ame felt l

at the door

r tray with breakfast-an assortment of fresh fruit, toast, and a steaming cup of b

g hall in thirty minutes," she murmu

tting across from the man who had stolen her freedom. But what choice did

silky fabric felt foreign against her skin-too soft, too expensive, too mu

ed in luxury was

-

ss the grand room, adorned with fresh flowers and golden cutlery. Ardian sat at the head,

she entered, da

're

schedule," Nayara replied, fo

at his lips.

farthest end of the table. A maid immediately appeared to pour he

tching her with an unsettling calm.

sts beneath the table. "I'll

t's unfortunate. It would mak

"If you want to ruin my famil

n darkened, amusem

If you hate me so much, why

e unreadable. Then he set his coffe

opped beside her chair, h

ow, "destroying you is far more

ed, but she refu

onster," sh

that sent a chill down her spine. "I

y as he had approach

," he ordered. "We hav

ine

m, wary. "What are

didn't think I'd just let you waste away in this house, did you

twisted. "Ea

work for me," h

expect me to willingly work

n corrected, his voice edged with warning.

ched. "And i

ked in this house indefinitely, with noth

nst his control, but deep down, she knew he had the upper hand. He ha

urvive this, she n

ly, forcing the words out. "

d an eyebrow

-

it. Nayara stood stiffly in the center of the room as Ardian

aid. "You'll handle paperwork, schedule my me

o a thin line. "You alrea

reed. "But none

n her spine at t

s another power play, another way f

red her shoulders. "Fine. But I

d. "We'll see

ns were impossibly high, his demands relentless. He worke

a refused

e-the investments, the business deals, the cutthroat negotiations.

, he te

hed

enged

me, she met

ed her the most

was

when he thought she wasn't looking. The way his an

't under

didn't t

-

ly let herself collapse onto her bed. Her body ac

d her eyes, there was

hed. "W

d, and Ardian

art st

come to her

ling the blanket around

He moved toward the window, gazin

nally, h

sk me what I rea

roat w

able. "You fight me at every turn. You refus

wed hard. "I

hen why do I get the feel

fr

eeper than she

h was... he wasn

ust about sur

s shifting b

terrifi