I Married My Kidnapper.

Trapped

The last piece of paper slipped from Vivian's fingers and landed between them.

The shredded contract lay scattered across the polished floor, the neatly printed clauses reduced to meaningless scraps beneath Adrian's shoes. His gaze settled on the torn pages for several seconds before lifting to meet hers.

Vivian refused to look away, she had expected anger.

She had expected him to shout, threaten her, or call the guards back into the room.

Instead, he slowly bent down, picked up one of the torn pieces, and studied it before letting it fall back to the floor.

"I underestimated your temper."

Vivian folded her arms across her chest.

"You underestimated everything."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips before disappearing just as quickly.

"I'll have another copy prepared."

She let out a short laugh.

"You can print a thousand copies if you want. I'll tear every single one."

"I don't doubt that."

"Then stop wasting both our time and let me leave."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"You can't keep me here forever."

"I don't intend to."

"You've already kidnapped me. Holding me here any longer isn't going to make me change my mind."

"It might."

"It won't."

Adrian took a slow step toward her, Instinctively, Vivian took one back,The distance between them remained the same.

"You have three days."

She frowned.

"Three days to make your decision."

"I've already made it."

"No."

His voice remained steady.

"You made it out of anger."

"I made it because I'd rather throw myself off a bridge than marry the man who kidnapped me."

"You'll reconsider."

"I won't."

"You will."

"I don't know what kind of women you're used to controlling, but I'm not one of them."

"I know."

"You know nothing about me."

"I know enough."

Vivian scoffed.

"You've spoken to me for less than an hour."

"I've learned more than enough."

"And what exactly have you learned?"

He held her gaze.

"That you're exactly who I thought you were."

"You still haven't told me why,Why me?"

"How did you even find me?"

Vivian let out a slow breath, pressing her fingertips against her forehead before dropping her hand to her side.

"This is insane."

"It isn't."

"It is to every normal person."

"I'm not asking for your opinion."

"No, you're asking for my life."

Adrian didn't respond immediately.

Instead, he walked toward the window overlooking the estate, slipped one hand into his pocket, and looked out across the gardens.

"You'll remain here for the next three days."

She stared at his back.

"I'll remain here because you're forcing me to."

"I prefer to think of it as giving you time."

"I don't need time."

"You do."

"I need freedom."

"You have it."

Vivian laughed bitterly.

"Freedom?"

"You'll have unrestricted access to the estate."

Her expression didn't change.

"You may walk through the gardens, use the library, dine wherever you like, and occupy any room that isn't restricted."

She narrowed her eyes.

"And the front gate?"

"You won't be leaving."

"I thought you just said I was free."

"You are."

"No, I'm not."

"You'll have security accompanying you at all times."

"So I'm a prisoner."

"I didn't say that."

"You don't have to."

She walked closer until only the coffee table separated them.

"A prisoner in designer clothes is still a prisoner."

His expression remained unreadable.

"I won't have you confined to one room."

"How generous."

"You'll be treated with respect."

"I don't want your respect."

"What do you want?"

"My freedom."

"You'll have it."

"When?"

"When you become my wife."

Vivian looked at him as though he had completely lost his mind.

"You actually believe saying that over and over will make it true."

"I believe you'll understand eventually."

"I won't."

He reached for the small device resting on the table and pressed a button.

A few moments later, the bedroom door opened.

A woman in her late forties entered quietly, dressed in a neatly pressed black-and-white uniform.

She lowered her head respectfully.

"Sir."

"Prepare the east suite."

"Yes, sir."

"Miss Brooks will be staying there."

The maid nodded before looking toward Vivian with a polite smile.

"I'll show you the room whenever you're ready."

"I'm not going anywhere."

The maid immediately lowered her gaze again, clearly uncomfortable.

Adrian looked at Vivian.

"You won't be returning to this room."

"I don't care."

"You'll be more comfortable upstairs."

"I don't care."

"You've made that quite clear."

Vivian glanced between the two of them before looking back at Adrian.

"I'm not playing house with you."

"No one asked you to."

"I'm not sleeping under your roof willingly."

"You already are."

She clenched her jaw.

Every answer he gave seemed carefully chosen to leave her with nowhere to go.

The maid waited quietly beside the door, saying nothing,Adrian adjusted the cuff of his shirt before speaking again.

"Take the rest of today, walk around the estate if you'd like."

"Think about the contract."

She looked him straight in the eye.

"I won't think about it."

"You will."

"I'll spend the next three days looking for a way out."

"I expected nothing less.”

The maid stopped outside a pair of double doors and pushed them open.

"This will be your room, Miss Brooks."

Vivian stepped inside without saying a word.

The room was larger than her entire apartment. A king-sized bed sat in the center, fresh flowers rested on a table beside the window, and a row of shopping bags had already been arranged neatly against the wall.

The maid walked toward them.

"Mr. Blackwood asked that these be prepared for you."

"I don't want them."

"If they don't suit your taste, they'll be replaced."

"I said I don't want them."

The maid offered a polite smile.

"I understand."

She walked toward another door.

"The bathroom is through here. Dinner will be served at seven. If you need anything, ring the bell."

"I need someone to open the gate."

The maid lowered her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Miss Brooks."

She left the room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Vivian stood still until the sound of footsteps disappeared.

She walked over and tried the handle.

"So much for keeping me here."

She stepped into the hallway,the smile disappeared just as quickly, the same two men stood several feet away.

She pretended not to notice and walked toward the staircase.

By the time she reached the entrance hall, she already knew Adrian hadn't lied.

She crossed the polished floor without slowing down.

The guards stationed at the entrance straightened the moment they saw her approaching.

"I'm leaving."

One of them bowed his head slightly.

"I'm sorry, Miss Brooks."

She reached for the door,A guard opened it for her hope flickered across her face and she took a step forward.

"I'm afraid you can't leave the estate."

Vivian looked past him,The gates stood wide open in the distance, cars moved freely beyond them, she could almost hear the traffic outside.

"My car is outside."

"We'll retrieve it if necessary."

"I'll retrieve it myself."

"I'm sorry."

"You keep saying you're sorry."

The guard remained silent she tried moving around him, he shifted with her.

Vivian folded her arms.

"Do you people enjoy this?"

"Our duty is to follow Mr. Blackwood's instructions."

"He kidnapped me."

She looked at each guard standing around the entrance before letting out a quiet laugh.

"So all of you think this is perfectly normal."

The silence irritated her more than any argument could have, she turned sharply and walked back toward the staircase.

"Miss Brooks."

She stopped.

The voice didn't belong to any of the guards.

A man in a charcoal suit was making his way down the staircase, his jacket resting over one shoulder as though he had just returned from work.

He looked to be in his thirties, carrying himself with an ease she hadn't seen from anyone else in the mansion.

When he reached the last step, he smiled.

"You must be Vivian Brooks."

She didn't answer immediately.

He extended a hand.

"Vincent Moreau."

Her eyes dropped to his hand before returning to his face.

"I'm not really in the mood for introductions."

He chuckled softly and withdrew it.

"I figured."

His gaze drifted briefly toward the guards.

"You've certainly made an impression."

"They won't let me leave."

"I noticed."

"Does everyone here work for Adrian?"

"Most of us."

"So you already know who I am."

"The woman who tore up a marriage contract in front of Adrian Blackwood?"

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"I'd say everyone knows who you are by now."

Vivian sighed.

"I suppose the entertainment around here is limited."

"It usually is."

For the first time since waking up in the mansion, she found herself talking to someone who didn't sound like a machine.

Vincent rested one hand in his pocket.

"If it's any consolation, I've never seen anyone stand up to Adrian quite like that."

"It wasn't bravery."

"No?"

"It was common sense."

He laughed.

"I like you already."

Vivian shook her head.

"I don't plan on staying long enough for friendships."

"I wasn't asking for one."

He glanced toward the guards again.

"They're only doing their jobs."

"They're making sure I don't escape."

"They're making sure Adrian doesn't lose you."

She looked at him carefully.

"You make that sound completely reasonable."

"I've worked with Adrian long enough to know arguing with him rarely changes anything."

"So you just do whatever he says."

"I choose my battles."

Vivian looked away.

"Well, this is one battle I don't intend to lose."

Vincent studied her for a moment before smiling again.

"I hope things become easier for you."

"I doubt they will."

"Never say never."

A phone vibrated in his pocket, he glanced at the screen.

"I have to take this."

Vivian gave a small nod.

He walked away, answering the call as he disappeared into a nearby corridor.

The smile left his face.

"I told you this couldn't happen."

"I don't care what it costs."

"No."

"You have no choice."

He stopped outside a closed office door.

"I said take him down."

The voice on the other end spoke again.

Vincent's jaw tightened.

"I can't risk word getting out."