Chapter3
1319 Words
He didn’t sit .
That was the first thing she noticed .
Vincent Blackwood remained standing just inside the room , his presence filling the space as completely as the silence had before . The door was closed behind him , the click of the latch still echoing faintly in her ears . He hadn’t locked it—but the distinction felt meaningless .
She sat on the edge of the bed, back straight , hands folded in her lap .
Waiting .
Patiently
The only way she knew how to .
He studied her the way people studied problems they intended to solve . Not with anger . Not with interest . With calculation .
“You’re very quiet” he said at last , his eyes still on her .
“I don’t want to disturb you ,” she replied quickly .
His brow lifted slightly . “You think your existence is a disturbance ?”
Her fingers tightened together . “No, sir . I just—”
“Don’t rush ,” he said calmly . “I’m not in a hurry .”
That , she realized , was the most frightening part .
She swallowed . “I’m used to… not asking for things .”
His gaze sharpened, but his tone remained even . “Why ?”
She hesitated .
The truth sat heavy on her tongue, fragile and exposed . She had learned early in life that explaining herself rarely helped—but silence had always been safer .
“I didn’t think it was appropriate ,” she said finally .
“For a wife ?” he asked .
The word landed like a weight .
“Yes ,” she whispered .
He walked farther into the room then , slow and deliberate . Each step felt measured , intentional , as if he were giving her time to understand how little space she occupied compared to him .
“This marriage ,” he said , “does not function on assumptions .”
He stopped several feet away from her .
“It functions on rules .”
Her chest tightened .
She didn't know if it was a threat or a reassurance .
He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a thin , dark folder . She hadn’t noticed it before . The sight of it made her stomach drop .
He placed it on the dresser and opened it .
“Rule one ,” he said . “You do not disappear .”
She blinked . “I—what?”
“You didn’t eat ,” he continued , ignoring her interruption like she hadn't spoken at all . “You didn’t ask for assistance . You didn’t speak unless spoken to . That is disappearing .”
She stared at him , confused . “I thought… you wanted me out of the way .”
His gaze held hers , unblinking . “I want predictability .”
Silence stretched between them as Mrs Calder's words echoed in her ears , even he was predictable .
“Rule two ,” he said. “You will eat . Regularly . If you do not, the staffs will report it .”
Her breath caught . “Report… to you?”
“Yes and I don't take lightly to my rules being disregarded .”
A tremor ran through her . The idea of being watched that closely made her skin prickle even as his threat sent goosebumps running down her arms .
“Rule three,” he continued . “You will not apologize unless you have done something wrong .”
She opened her mouth out of habit . Closed it again .
He noticed .
“Good,” he said quietly .
“Rule four : you will speak when spoken to—and when something concerns you .”
Her voice came out small . “What if it doesn’t concern you?”
His expression hardened slightly . “Everything that concerns you concerns me .”
That didn’t feel reassuring .
That felt like ownership .
He closed the folder and stared at her like he could read every thought going through her mind .
“These are not restrictions ,” he said . “They are structure . Structure prevents chaos and I hate chaos ."
She nodded because she didn’t know what else to do .
He took a step closer .
Her breath hitched before she could stop it .
His eyes flicked to her reaction , and something unreadable passed through his expression .
“You flinch ,” he observed .
“I’m sorry ,” she said automatically .
His jaw tightened . “You did it again .”
She froze .
“Why?” he asked .
He sounded offended, like he truly cared about how she felt .
Her voice shook . “Because I don’t know what you expect from me .”
For the first time, something like irritation flickered across his face .
“I expect honesty ,” he said. “I expect awareness . I expect you to understand that fear is not the same as respect .”
Her eyes burned .
She had lived on fear her entire life . It had kept her fed , housed , alive .
“I don’t know how to be anything else ,” she admitted softly .
The room went very still .
Vincent looked at her for a long moment , longer than before . Not calculating now . Assessing something deeper . Something that unsettled him .
“You were chosen ,” he said slowly , “because you were compliant .”
Her heart sank .
A tear almost slipped .
“But that doesn’t mean you’re meant to vanish ,” he continued .
She looked up at him then , startled .
“That ,” he added quietly , “creates problems .”
She didn’t understand what he meant—but the seriousness in his tone made her chest tighten .
He straightened . “You will attend breakfast tomorrow .”
“Yes .”
“At eight .”
“Yes .”
“And you will tell Mrs. Calder if you need anything .”
She nodded .
He turned to leave , then paused at the door .
“One more thing ,” he said .
She held her breath .
“This marriage protects you ,” he said . “But protection only works if you exist within it .”
The door closed behind him .
She sat there long after he was gone , heart pounding , his words echoing in her mind .
You do not disappear .
You will eat . Regularly .
You will not apologize unless you have done something wrong .
You will speak when spoken to—and when something concerns you
Just one rule felt unreal to her
You do not disappear
She had been invisible her whole life .
She wasn’t sure she knew how not to .
—----------
She lay awake deep into the night , thinking , brooding , trying to make herself believe she had slipped into a dream without realizing .
Sometime after midnight, she became aware of a sound—soft, rhythmic .
Footsteps .
Outside her door .
They stopped .
A quiet voice spoke from the other side .
“Mrs. Blackwood .”
Her breath caught painfully in her throat .
“Yes?” she whispered .
The handle turned .
And she realized—
she had never been told who was allowed to enter her room .
- Writer
