Chapter 7
1121 Words
Chapter 7 — Seven O’Clock
The door clicked shut behind him.
Bella remained frozen on the bed.
For several seconds, she simply stared at the door.
Then she released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
“Seven tomorrow morning…”
She frowned.
“What kind of punishment is he planning?”
Bella pulled the blanket around herself and sank back against the headboard.
She should have been relieved that the punishment had been postponed.
Instead, an uncomfortable feeling settled in her stomach.
Kraig wasn't a man who made empty threats.
If he said something would happen, it usually did.
And the way he had looked at her before leaving told her that tomorrow wouldn't be pleasant.
She glanced at the clock again.
I still have the whole night to think of something.
A tiny smile appeared on her lips.
Maybe I can escape before seven.
Her smile disappeared almost immediately.
The mansion was surrounded by security.
There were guards at the gates, cameras everywhere, and she had no idea where Kraig kept the keys to the vehicles.
Still…
She had to try something.
Bella slipped out of bed and walked toward the window.
She carefully pulled the curtain aside.
The sight below made her heart sink.
Two guards stood near the entrance, while another walked along the perimeter.
No chance.
She released the curtain.
“Fine,” she whispered. “I'll figure something out in the morning.”
She climbed back into bed, but sleep refused to come easily.
Meanwhile, Kraig stood inside his private office.
The phone call had lasted less than five minutes.
Yet something about it had changed the atmosphere around him.
He placed his phone on the desk and stared through the glass wall overlooking the dark gardens.
“Are you certain?”
The man on the other end had given him one simple answer.
“Yes.”
Kraig's jaw tightened.
“Send me everything.”
“I already did.”
“Then make sure nobody else gets access to it.”
There was a pause.
“Understood.”
The call ended.
Kraig picked up the tablet lying on his desk.
A file was already open.
He scrolled through it slowly.
His expression became colder with every page.
A photograph.
A name.
A location.
A date.
He stopped scrolling.
Something wasn't adding up.
For years, he had believed one particular story.
Now, for the first time, he was beginning to wonder whether everything he knew had been deliberately constructed to deceive him.
His gaze drifted toward the clock.
12:43 a.m.
His mind unexpectedly returned to Bella.
The way she had looked at him.
The way she had argued.
The way she had lied without even realizing he already knew the truth.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“She really has no idea what she's gotten herself into.”
He closed the file.
Tomorrow morning, he would deal with Bella.
But tonight, he had something far more important to uncover.
Morning arrived far too quickly for Bella.
She was still sleeping when—
Knock. Knock.
Her eyes fluttered open.
She pulled the blanket over her head.
Knock. Knock.
“Miss Bella.”
She groaned.
“I'm sleeping.”
“The Master said you must be ready by seven.”
Bella immediately sat up.
She looked at the clock.
6:58 a.m.
Her eyes widened.
“What?!”
She jumped out of bed.
Two minutes.
She rushed into the bathroom, splashed water over her face, brushed her teeth, and hurried back into the room.
By the time she finished changing, the clock showed exactly seven.
Another knock sounded.
Bella stared at the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Kraig stood there.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his expression unreadable.
His eyes moved over her briefly before settling on her face.
“You're late.”
Bella looked at the clock.
“It's exactly seven.”
“Exactly seven means you're already late.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I don't understand your mathematics.”
His eyebrow rose.
Bella immediately looked away.
“Sorry, Master.”
“Better.”
He stepped into the room.
Bella watched him suspiciously.
“So… what's my punishment?”
Kraig didn't answer.
Instead, he turned toward the door.
“Follow me.”
“Where?”
He stopped.
Slowly, he looked over his shoulder.
Bella swallowed.
“Sorry. Master.”
“Good.”
He continued walking.
Bella followed reluctantly.
They passed through the main hallway and entered a part of the mansion she had never seen before.
The farther they went, the quieter the house became.
Finally, Kraig stopped in front of a large door.
He opened it.
Bella stared inside.
It wasn't a punishment room.
It was an enormous library.
Floor-to-ceiling shelves covered almost every wall.
Thousands of books filled the room.
Bella's eyes widened.
“What is this?”
“Your punishment.”
She turned toward him in disbelief.
“This?”
“You like reading.”
“Yes…”
“You will spend the next seven days here.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Seven days?”
“You'll read every book I assign.”
Bella stared at the shelves.
“That could take years!”
“Then you should have thought about that before breaking my rules.”
She folded her arms.
“And what happens if I refuse?”
Kraig stepped closer.
His voice dropped.
“Then I make the punishment harder.”
Bella's lips parted.
She wanted to argue.
But something in his expression told her not to.
Kraig handed her a small stack of books.
“Start with these.”
Bella looked down.
Then back at him.
“You're seriously punishing me with books?”
“I know what you enjoy.”
She frowned.
“That's supposed to be a punishment?”
For the first time that morning, a genuine smile appeared on Kraig's face.
“No.”
Bella blinked.
“Then what is it?”
He leaned slightly closer.
“That's what I'm trying to figure out.”
Before Bella could respond, he turned and walked away.
She stared after him.
“What does that even mean?”
Kraig didn't answer.
He simply disappeared down the hallway.
Bella looked at the books in her arms.
Then she smiled slowly.
“Fine.”
She walked into the library.
“If this is your idea of punishment, Master…”
She dropped into one of the chairs.
“…I might actually survive this place.”
But somewhere deep inside, Bella knew something had changed.
Kraig wasn't simply trying to control her anymore.
He was beginning to investigate something.
And whatever he was searching for…
Bella had a feeling it had something to do with her.
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