chapter three
1110 Words
The man’s ocean-blue eyes regarded her in silence, sharp and merciless, like waves about to drown her. For a moment he didn’t speak, just advanced, each step deliberate and heavy.
Lana’s heart thudded violently. Instinct made her retreat, her legs trembling as she stumbled back. Her entire body was pulled tight with fear, as if her nerves were strung like violin strings about to snap.
If looks could kill, she'd already be dead.
Panic flared. What in the world had her father gotten them into? What kind of man was this? She didn’t want to be involved, didn’t want any part of debts, threats, or games. She just wanted her life back. her life was quiet, small, ordinary apart fromm the debtors who made her life hell.
Was that too much to ask?
But the way he looked at her… as if she were already his.
His lips curved slowly into a chilling smile that didn’t reach his eyes. When he finally spoke, her breath caught in her throat.
“Lana.”
Her name rolled off his tongue like a claim, low and certain, as though he had been waiting his entire life just to say it.
Lana froze, staring at him wide-eyed. He knew her? But she had never seen him before. Not once. Not ever.
“I finally found you,” he murmured.
Her knees buckled when he stopped right in front of her, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. She tried to step back again, but there was nowhere left to go. Her spine hit the heavy wooden door, and her escape ended there. He had her trapped, caged like a prey.
Her palms dampened with sweat as terror clawed through her veins.
“What do you want from me? Why was I brought here?”
Her voice cracked. She was so tired of begging, but she needed answers. Even if freedom was impossible, she had to know what she was up against.
His smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a darkness in his gaze that made her stomach twist. He leaned closer, his shadow swallowing her up.
“Why were you brought here?” he echoed, almost mocking her words. A cold chuckle rumbled from his chest, low and humorless.
Lana stared at him as though he had lost his mind. What could possibly be funny about this? About kidnapping her? About holding her hostage in some stranger’s mansion?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
She pressed her back harder against the door, her throat dry. “Do you… do you know who my father is? Is this about money?”
Her voice faltered, weak with fear. She hated how small she sounded.
His eyes burned into hers. “Do you even know who I am?”
“No!” Lana shook her head desperately. “I don’t know you! I’ve never seen you before in my life!”
Her breaths came in ragged gasps. Her father’s debts, was this man one of the collectors? or Someone far worse?
“Are you… one of my father’s debtors?” she whispered, almost choking on the words.
For a heartbeat, silence. Then a hollow chuckle slipped past his lips, cold and sharp. His laughter made her skin crawl.
Then, without warning, his expression snapped.
The laughter died. His body stiffened. His blue eyes that was icy and unreadable locked onto her, and before she could move, his hand shot out.
It clamped around her neck.
Lana’s eyes flew wide in horror.
His grip was merciless, crushing, cutting off the very breath from her lungs. She clawed at his hand instinctively, her nails digging into his skin, but his strength was monstrous.
" I can’t breathe… I can’t.."
Blood rushed hot to her face. Her chest burned as she gasped, her body thrashing against the door. Panic roared in her ears. This was it. This was how she would die, at the hands of a stranger she didn’t even know.
Her vision blurred at the edges. Black dots danced before her eyes.
No, please, not like this…
Then just as suddenly as it had started his grip loosened.
Air flooded back into her lungs in a painful rush. She collapsed to the floor in a heap, choking and gasping, her throat burning raw. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as her entire body shook.
Her arms scrambled weakly, pushing her backward across the polished floor until her spine hit the wall. She hugged herself, trembling, staring at him in horror.
But the man didn’t move.
He just stood there, frozen, as if dazed, his expression unreadable, his blue eyes flickering with something that almost looked… haunted.
Lana’s pulse hammered so loudly she could hear nothing else. She didn’t care if he was lost in some trance. All she cared about was one thing, escape.
Her gaze darted around the room. A study. A desk. Shelves lined with leather-bound books. And there at the far end, there was a window.
Her heart leapt.
She looked back at him. Still motionless. Still locked in whatever storm was raging behind his eyes.
This was her chance. If she could just...
His voice thundered suddenly, shaking the air.
“Is anyone out there? Take her away from my sight!”
The command struck like a whip. His face twisted with fury, his words dripping with resentment.
Lana’s body reacted before her mind did. She scrambled to her feet and bolted for the window. Freedom was right there, just a few steps...
But a hand seized her arm.
“No!” she screamed, her voice raw as she fought like a wild thing, thrashing against the grip. “Let me go!”
Her pleas meant nothing. The man's hold was iron. In a heartbeat, she was yanked back, lifted as if she weighed nothing at all.
“Put me down! Damn it, let me go!” she cried, kicking, struggling, her voice echoing through the grand halls.
She twisted in the man’s arms, and her gaze collided with the man’s one last time. Those ocean-blue eyes.
But they weren’t mesmerizing now.
They were lifeless. Cold. Empty.
The eyes of a monster.
Hatred bubbled inside her chest, hot and bitter. Her tears burned as they slid down her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. She glared at him, every ounce of fury she had pouring into her stare.
He wanted her caged. But she would not break.
As the man carried her away, Lana vowed through clenched teeth that she would escape. She would run. She would fight.
No matter what it took.
Because she would never belong to him.
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- Writer
