Shadows beneath the vows

Chapter 3: Bound But Not Broken

The car ride back was dead quiet. Isla sat stiff in the seat, her wrists still hurts where Adrian had grabbed her. She stared out the window but saw nothing. The only thing she felt was him, sitting beside her, heavy, watching without a word. He didn’t speak the whole drive. He didn’t need to. The silence felt worse than shouting. Every time the car shook, his fingers brushed hers. It wasn’t an accident. Just to remind her she was stuck with him. When the car stopped at the gate of his mansion, Isla’s chest went tight. She had entered this house once as his bride. Tonight she was nothing but a prisoner.'Come out,' Adrain said.She stepped out; her legs were weak. The mansion towered above, dark and waiting, like a beast ready to swallow her whole. Guards bowed as he passed. Nobody dared look at her. She wasn’t anything to them. Just a property. Inside, the place smelt of firewood and leather. He led her upstairs, his hand at her back, light but firm, like chains without metal. Then he opened a door she’d never seen before.That was his private room. It was big with dark walls. Fire burning. A large bed with black sheets. Her stomach turned.“Sit,” Adrain ordered, pointing to a chair by the fire.She hesitated.'Don’t make me repeat myself,' he said. She sat down fast, hands tight on the chair arms. Adrian took off his jacket and poured a drink like nothing happened. His shirt was still stained with blood, but not his. He sipped slowly, then looked at her.“Do you know why you’re here, Isla? 'Because you dragged me,' she whispered. He leaned close. 'No,' he murmured. You’re here because you’re mine. Every breath, every tear. Mine.” She shook her head. “You can own my body, Adrian, but not my soul. He smiled. Even souls bend, Isla. You’ll see. He touched her chin, forcing her to look at him. She turned away quickly, cheeks burning. He laughed low.“There it is,” he said. “You hate me. But you also hunger for me. Don’t lie.”Her body froze. She hated herself for it. Adrian suddenly pulled back. His voice went cold. “You’ll stay here now. In this room. I’ll keep you under my eyes.” What? You can’t. Before she finished, he grabbed her wrist and slammed her back against the wall. Her breath left her.'I can,' he hissed. And I will. Every breath you take in this house is because I allow it. Don’t forget. Tears filled her eyes. “Why me? Why destroy me?” His face hardened. Then softer, raw. He pressed his forehead against hers. “Because you make me weak. And weakness is something I chain.” Then his lips brushed hers – not a kiss, but a mark. A claim. It burnt through her, half poison, half fire. She hated it. She hated herself for not hating it enough.Sleep, Adrian said. “Tomorrow, your chains tighten.”He let go of her, turned away, and started unbuttoning his bloodstained shirt like nothing had happened. Isla staggered to the bed, curling as far from him as possible. Her tears were silent as she stared into the fire. But as her eyes closed, she heard him. His voice.She opened her eyes a little. Adrian stood near the desk, phone at his ear. “Make sure Damian doesn’t interfere again. If he tries, finish him.” Her whole body froze. Damian. Her brother. She forced her eyes shut, breathing slowly, pretending to sleep. Adrian hung up. Stood quiet. Then smirked faintly, eyes flicking to the bed, before turning to the window.Tears slid hot down Isla’s face.She wasn’t just a prisoner.She was bait.And Damian’s life was the cost of her chains. The first thing Isla felt was heat. The fire had burnt all night. The air was heavy, hard to breathe. She turned her face to the pillow, but even that smelt of smoke, cedar and him.Adrian.Her stomach twisted. She hadn’t really slept. His words kept echoing in her head. That one line that refused to leave her.You’re mine.It was stuck inside her chest like a knife. And then, Damian’s name. Spoken like a death sentence. Her eyes opened fast. She wasn’t safe. Not here. Not anywhere. Then she saw him. Adrian sat near the window, shirt off, glass in hand. Watching her. Not moving. “You don’t sleep well,” he said. Calm.Her throat felt dry. “How long have you been there?” Long enough. She gripped the sheet close, and his eyes followed, steady and sharp. 'You stare at me like I’m a thing,' she whispered. “Not a thing,” he said. “Just you.” Her chest started beating too fast. His calm scared her more than yelling. You can’t keep me here. You can’t control me.” He stood then,'I don’t need to control everything,' he said. “I only need to control you.” He pulled the sheet from her hands. She gasped.Adrian. He caught her chin and lifted her face. His eyes didn’t blink. 'I could break you,' he said softly. Until you beg me to fix you. Her chest rose quickly. “Then do it.”He froze like something in his eyes moved, then he let her go and turned away. “I want you to choose it,” he muttered. Choose? Her fists clenched. This wasn’t a choice. He dropped an envelope on the bed. “Get dressed. We’re going out tonight.” Where Isla ask?“Family dinner”Her stomach sank. She’d heard about Cross family dinners. Rich, brutal, full of enemies smiling with champagne in hand. If Vanessa and Evelyn were there, she’d be thrown to the wolves. “You expect me to play fiancée in front of them?” No.His voice was cold. “I expect you to survive.” Before she could answer, a knock came at the door.“Enter,” Adrian said.One of his men walked in, holding a black box. He set it on the desk and left without a word. Adrian opened it; inside was a sapphire earring. Isla’s breath caught. She knew it. She had drawn that design. Long ago, but it was stolen. 'That’s mine,' she said.Adrian looked at her. “Damian sent it.” Her heart jumped. He left it at my door. No note. Just this. A message from Damian. He had found her. Adrian leaned close, voice sharp as a blade. “He’s using you to get to me. Don’t fool yourself. He doesn’t care about you. You’re bait.” Her chest ached. Maybe Adrian was lying. Maybe he wasn’t. But Damian was her brother. He couldn’t have abandoned her. She wanted to argue, but her throat closed. Adrian called his men, his voice very sharp. “Double the guards. No one leaves.” He ended the call, then grabbed her arm. If you try to reach him, I’ll know. And when I know, “He dies for it.” She froze.He let her go, walking towards the door. “Wear black tonight so you can show them you belong to me.” The door closed. Her eyes went to the desk. The earring glinted. She picked it up, hands shaking.Tiny words scratched on the back.I’ll come for you.Her eyes blurred with tears. He was alive. He hadn’t left her.But Adrian was right. This was war.And she was in the middle.