Chapter 2 - Bound by Desire and Deception
1172 Words
Maya Brooks has taken many rash decisions in her life, but none were like the one she took tonight.
She had signed the marriage contract.
And now she was sat in the backseat of Alexander Knight's sleek black Bentley, her fingers clenching into her lap as she fought the strong temptation to tell the driver to move the car around.
Alexander sat next to her, incredibly motionless, stifling the space between them. The dark city lights flashed over his face, exposing sharp cheekbones and a look that revealed nothing.
Maya swallowed hard, breaking the silence first.
“I need to understand something.” Her voice was steady, but her hands weren’t.
Alexander didn’t glance her way. “Go on.”
Her nails dug into her palm. “Why did you push this marriage on me?”
His lips barely moved. “Because I needed to.”
Maya scoffed. "That's not an acceptable response."
He remained silent for quite some time. Finally, he turned toward her. His gray eyes burned through her, steady and unreadable.
“You were in danger, Maya. Whether you knew it or not.”
Her stomach twisted. “From who?”
Silence.
She inhaled hard, frustration rising in her veins. "You cannot simply force me into a marriage and choose not to tell me why."
“I didn’t force you.”
Her head snapped toward him, her body heating with fury. “Are you joking? You backed me into a corner, Alexander. You made sure I had no choice.”
His fingers tapped against his knee, the only indication that her words had affected him. “You had a choice. You made it.”
Maya gritted her teeth. “Oh, you mean the choice between losing everything or signing my life away to you? Some choice.”
Alexander’s lips twitched, not quite a smirk. “You’re my wife now.”
Maya felt her breath hitch at the way he said it. Like it was final. Unbreakable. Like he owned her.
She straightened, trying to suppress the irrational heat curling in her chest. “Let’s be clear—I don’t belong to you.”
Alexander’s hand moved before she could react, fingertips brushing along her jaw. His touch was light, teasing, but enough to make her pulse skitter.
“Are you sure about that?” His voice was a low, dangerous whisper.
Her skin prickled. “Don’t.”
He didn’t move away. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t touch me like that.”
His thumb traced the edge of her jaw. “Like what?”
Maya’s breath shook. “Like you have a right to.”
Alexander leaned in slightly, just enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from him. “I have every right, Mrs. Knight.”
Her entire body stiffened at the name.
She pulled away, her heart hammering. This was dangerous. He was dangerous.
Before she could respond, the car came to a stop in front of the Knight mansion.
Maya's stomach turned. She'd seen the large house from afar before, but being in front of it seemed strange.
Like she was stepping into a trap.
Alexander exited first, walking around to her side of the car. He opened the door, extending a hand.
Maya stared at it.
“I can walk,” she muttered, stepping out without his help.
Alexander smirked but said nothing.
Maya sensed the grandeur of the home push against her the instant they walked inside. The sheer grandeur of it—the high ceilings, polished marble floors, and chandeliers—was breathtaking. She was concerned by something other than the luxury.
It was the silence.
The way the staff avoided looking at her.
The way the walls seemed to whisper secrets.
A soft clink of heels made Maya’s heart lurch.
She turned just in time to see Victoria Knight descending the grand staircase, her icy blue gaze fixated on her.
"Well," Victoria muttered, walking onto the marble floor. "I suppose congratulations are in order."
Maya forced herself to stand tall. “Thank you.”
Victoria’s smile was razor-sharp. “Don’t thank me yet.”
Maya stiffened.
Alexander’s voice cut through the tension. “Mother.”
Victoria arched a brow. “Oh, don’t look so tense, darling. I’m just welcoming your wife home.”
Alexander didn’t respond.
Maya swallowed hard. Everything in her screamed that Victoria wasn’t a woman to underestimate.
Victoria’s gaze flickered back to her. “I do hope you last longer than the last one.”
Maya froze.
“The last one?” Her voice came out steady, but her fingers curled against her dress.
Victoria’s lips curved. “Oh, did he not tell you? My son has a habit of collecting things he doesn’t know how to keep.”
Maya’s pulse pounded.
She turned to Alexander, but his expression was unreadable.
Her stomach tightened.
Something was wrong.
But before she could demand answers, Victoria reached out, trailing a manicured finger along Maya’s shoulder.
A light touch. But it felt like a warning.
“Be careful, my dear,” Victoria whispered. “You might not like what you find.”
Maya’s skin crawled.
Victoria stepped back, smiling. "Now, if you'll indulge me, I have business obligations to attend to."
She went away, her shoes ringing through the quiet.
Maya exhaled shakily. “What the hell was that?”
Alexander’s jaw was tight. “Ignore her.”
Maya let out a harsh laugh. “Yeah, sure. Because that’s easy.”
He groaned and ran a hand over his hair. "I'll elaborate later."
“No,” she snapped. “You’ll explain now.”
Alexander’s eyes darkened. “Not here.”
Maya’s heart thundered.
There was too much secrecy. Too many things she didn’t understand.
And she hated feeling helpless.
Alexander took a step forward. “Trust me.”
She laughed again, bitter and sharp. “Trust you?”
He caught her wrist. His grip was firm but not forceful.
Maya froze.
His gaze softened—just slightly. Just enough to make her chest ache.
“I know you hate me right now,” he murmured. “But I meant what I said.”
Her throat tightened. “Which part?”
His fingers brushed against her skin. “That I’ll protect you.”
Maya wanted to pull away. Wanted to fight him.
But then—
A loud knock shattered the moment.
One of Alexander’s security men entered, his face grim.
“Sir.” He hesitated. “It’s urgent.”
Alexander tensed. “What is it?”
The man’s gaze flickered to Maya before returning to Alexander.
Maya’s stomach dropped.
Then, in a voice that sent ice down her spine—
“They found something.”
Alexander’s entire body went rigid.
Maya barely had time to react before he turned to her, his grip tightening slightly.
His next words came out low. Dangerous.
“You need to stay close to me.”
And just like that—
Maya knew this wasn’t just about a marriage anymore.
This was about something far more dangerous.
- Writer
