Page 46

“ You’re not eating.”

Like I could.

I push the potatoes and carrots around on my plate before setting down my fork. “I’m not hungry.”

At the far end of the table, Jason eyes me with carefulness. “You know. If you just accept it, you may actually be happy here, wife .” He doesn’t take his eyes off mine as he drinks his wine.

I do love seeing the faint bruise forming on his jaw. “Happy being a prisoner? And stop saying wife like that.” I grind my teeth, straightening my posture. “In fact, stop calling me your wife at all.”

He smiles, which is not how I thought he’d react. “It doesn’t have to be like this. It can go back to the way it was before. You were happy then.”

I choke out a laugh. “You’re kidding, right? You honestly think I was happy?”

He cocks a brow. “There’s a time you were.”

I lean forward. “I was never happy here. I may have put up with you and this place, but never was I happy.”

He aggressively drops his fork to his plate, causing a crash, and I jump. “I gave you everything. And this is how you show me gratitude?”

I sit biting my tongue because there’s so much I want to say.

“You think you’ll be happier in that disgusting town you ran off to?”

“Yes.”

He snorts, picking up his fork before continuing to eat. “Well. You’ll never see that place again. It seems you've forgotten the deal your stepfather made. You’re mine now and you’ll always be mine.”

I eye the butter knife next to my plate. One good toss and maybe it’ll land in his eye, piercing his skull. Fuck my stepfather and all he stood for. He ruined my entire adult life. I could have been married to a man who loved me. Instead, I’m locked in this deal and married to the devil.

“He’s dead. Doesn’t that erase the contract? Erase any debt owed.” I wish I could have seen my stepfather suffer, but I suppose him drinking himself to death was good enough.

“It does not.” He takes a sip from his glass, setting it nicely back down. “Come here.”

My attention snaps to my husband, who is sitting so calmly that it’s scary. I swallow and then, with a deep breath, rise from the expensive Victorian chair. I stop just short of him, my spine straight, my head held high with pride.

“Closer.” His deep demand runs a shiver through me.

Once I move a few more steps, Jason quickly leaps from his chair and grabs a fist of my hair. It happens so fast. One minute I was standing in front of him, then the next, he has me pinned to the wall, my cheek pressing roughly against it.

My scalp screams in pain, but I quickly forget it when he tugs forcefully on my arm, causing me to drop the butter knife. It hit the floor with a clink, and he leans closer to my back, practically crushing the air from my lungs.

“Were you planning on doing something with that knife, darling?”

He tugs my arm back more and I’m unable to stifle my banshee scream.

“A girl can’t be too careful,” I say in a struggle. Yes, my arm hurts way worse than my skull, but both will be in pain for days. Unless he kills me. Wishful thinking.

“You’ve been nothing but a senseless whore—”

“Excuse me, sir. You have a phone call.” Audrey’s voice carries over and relief slams into me.

“Maybe take a message,” Jason spits, anger lacing his tone.

“They said it’s urgent… sir.” Her voice shakes. She’s been working for my husband for years yet, she still trembles like a leaf around him. He did a good job of intimidating his staff.

Jason huffs, finally releasing me. Instant relief floods through my limbs. But I am left with a lingering ache.

I meet Audrey’s eyes, flashing her a small nod of gratitude before she disappears, following Jason. Not sure if she’s truly helping, but I didn’t want her to think it had gone unnoticed. My husband can make her life a living hell if need be.

I rub my arm, trying to recreate life back into it.

The fear of always running scares me, but it’s better than this. The little tease of freedom was enough to spoil me. I haven’t had that independence since I was a teenager.

Jason returns, straightening the sleeve of his dress shirt. “I’m afraid I won’t be home tonight. Business calls,” he addresses me while I still haven’t moved from the safety of the wall.

Solace rushes in. Tonight, I’m able to avoid him, but what about tomorrow or the next? An endless form of torture.

I press myself back, hoping it’ll suck me in as he stalks toward me.

The grip on my chin is violent, and he forces my eyes to meet his. “Kiss me.”

My stomach turns sour.

He doesn’t wait for a response. He jerks my head forward and crashes his mouth into mine. It’s sloppy and dominating. When Logan kisses me, it’s nowhere near the same feeling. The safety—electricity that he brings is pure. Everything about Jason’s kiss is wrong and vile.

“My wife tastes like dirty slut seconds.”

“Better than being touched by your heinous friends.”

He smiles. “I hope you’ll change your attitude about that sooner than later. But I suppose it doesn’t really matter.”

My body stiffens. “What exactly does that mean?”

“I think you know what it means, my dear.” He backs away, straightening his tie. Fixing his suit was always a nervous habit of his. “Sleep tight.” And with that, he’s gone.

The air finds its way back into my lungs as impossible as it seemed.

Audrey avoids my gaze as she clears the plates from the table.

If anyone can help me, it’s her. She’s my only option. I go to her, ready to speak, but I slam my mouth closed. Jason threatened everyone I knew—everyone I loved. If I try to leave again, he will hurt them. But if I stay here, I’ll never be able to say I tried.

“I need your help,” I whisper, and she freezes. “I can get us both out, but I need you to help me.”

That earns her attention, but her posture is still tense. “I’m sorry. But I can’t do that,” she tells me with a slight quiver.

She’s terrified of him.

“We’ll be gone. He won’t be able to touch us.”

I hope.

She slams the plate down and the remaining food spills over onto the table. “We can never be free of him. Stop trying to make him angry.”

I step forward, stopping in front of her trembling body. “I’ll send help.”

“Who? The police. They can’t help us, and you know that,” she sternly whispers, scanning the area.

I did know that, but there must be another way, even if I don’t have a clue what that is.

“Besides, even if I wanted to, he’s had security heightened. They are watching this place closely. There’s no escaping this time, Miss Sora. I’m sorry.” Audrey picks up the plate she slammed down and disappears into the kitchen.

It’s starting to feel impossible now. Like I’ll be stuck here forever. Die here in misery.

I follow the long stretching hallway that wraps around to the back of the mansion where the garden is. My heart races as I reach the door. I’m almost able to touch it, but a large body blocks my path.

I just need some damn air.

“You are to stay inside the mansion. Orders from your husband.” One of Jason’s security men looks down at me, his expression blank, yet his eyes linger a bit too long on me as they trail my body.

Disgusting.

“Fuck my husband. I refuse to be a prisoner in my home.” This isn’t my home.

He steps closer. “I’m following orders. So be a good little wife and return to your room. Unless you want me to help in making sure you make it there safely.”

I scoff, meeting his menacing stance as best I can. “You wouldn’t want my husband finding out you touched me. Would you?”

He shrugs. “It would be my word against yours.” The slimy grin on his face tells me all I need to know.

I spin swiftly, without looking back and hoping he doesn’t follow me. As I turn the corner, allowing a safe distance between us, I stop to catch my breath.

That’s when the tears fall. I want to be strong. I want to be brave. But… it’s all seeming so hopeless.