THE BLACKWOOD CURSE

Trapped inside him

I came back to my room, but my heart was still racing.

Because of him.

Nicholas.

I changed into my nightdress and ate the food the maids had left for me.

But even while eating, my mind kept drifting back to his voice, his stare, his touch...

No matter how many bites I took, everything tasted like tension.

Like danger.

Like him.

I paced around the room. Sat. Stood again.

My body was exhausted, but my brain wouldn’t shut up.

At 11:00 PM, I tiptoed downstairs to get some water.

But then I froze.

He was sitting on the living room sofa — relaxed, legs crossed, eyes glowing under the dim light.

Like he was waiting for me.

Like he knew I would come.

I swallowed hard and said,

“Hey! You… man!”

He looked up at me with that same lazy smirk.

“Babygirl, didn’t I already introduce myself?”

I paused, then whispered his name like it burned on my tongue.

“…Nicholas.”

As soon as I said it, he placed his hand on his heart like I’d just shot him and grinned.

“Do you want me to die now, babygirl?” he said, voice soft but dangerous.

“Because hearing my name from your lips… it just killed me.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips…

But I quickly wiped it away.

Then—he stood.

He walked toward me… slowly.

Each step echoing in the silence.

He came so close I could feel his breath brush my skin.

Without warning, he wrapped an arm around my waist and lifted me—placing me gently on the dining table behind me.

I was stunned. Sitting. Looking up at him.

His eyes locked onto mine with a fierce intensity.

Then his voice dropped, deep and calm—

> “Babygirl… I’m a man of pride and rules.

If I didn’t have either, I swear—I could’ve taken your body right now.

Right here. Right on this table.”

He moved a little closer. I could feel the heat from his body pressing into the tension between us.

> “But I’m not like the monsters out there. I’m mafia, yes. But I don’t take. I earn.

I don’t touch what isn’t mine.

And I’ll never touch you without your consent.

If you want it… if you allow it…

Then and only then—can I touch you?”

His words hit harder than any touch ever could.

And suddenly—my body felt hot, but my skin chilled.

I didn’t know why my stupid mouth whispered,

“…Hmm.”

The second I said that—his hand slid around my waist like silk, his face came closer…

Was he going to kiss me?

But then, he froze.

His jaw clenched.

And slowly—he stepped back.

His voice now sharp, proud.

> “No. I won’t.

Because my pride won’t let me touch you until I make you mine.

Fully. Publicly. As my wife.”

Then he walked away.

Leaving me stunned. Breathless. Shaken.

He didn’t break me.

He respected me.

And that scared me more than anything.

---

💬 Later…

I went to his study. My throat felt tight.

I cleared my voice and said softly,

“Nicholas… I want to contact my mom and my brother. It’s been three days. They must be worried.”

His expression changed.

Those playful eyes turned sharp. Cold.

He stared for a long second—then opened a drawer beside him, pulled out a phone, and placed it on the table.

> “Take it,” he said, voice low but firm.

“But don’t you dare say anything more than you should, babygirl.

One wrong word… and you’ll regret it.”

I nodded quickly, grabbed the phone, and walked straight to my room.

Locked the door. My hands were shaking.

I didn’t just feel trapped in this mansion.

I felt trapped inside him.

I dialed Ana’s number. The phone rang.

Then she picked up.

> “NOAH?! OH MY GOD—WHERE ARE YOU?! We’ve been going crazy!”

“Ana… I’m okay,” I whispered. “Please, tell Mom and Ethan I’m safe. I’m with someone... and I’m fine. Don’t worry, okay? Please just tell them.”

There was a pause.

Then her voice softened.

> “Okay, Noah… But come back soon. I love you.”

“I love you too,” I whispered, and hung up.

I collapsed on the bed, exhausted. My body and brain were done.

And soon, I drifted to sleep.

---

••• 3:00 AM •••

A sound woke me.

I sat up, heart pounding.

Slipped my feet into my slippers and quietly opened my door...

What I saw downstairs made my blood freeze.

Five to seven men.

All dressed in black. Heavy boots. Cold faces.

They weren’t ordinary.

They were mafia.

And I was only wearing an oversized white shirt — nothing else.

One of the men turned and looked straight at me and smiled.

His lips moved. Whispering something to the others.

Maybe about me. Definitely about me.

But before I could even react—

Nicholas stood up from the sofa like a storm and rushed toward me.

He came up the stairs and blocked me with his body so none of them could see me.

His voice was sharp. Angry. Protective.

> “Noah,” he growled, “go to your room. Now.”

My knees weakened, but I held my ground for a second longer than I should have.

His tone wasn’t just angry—it was layered. With fear. With something unspoken.

Maybe he hated how I looked.

Maybe he hated how others looked at me.

Or maybe… he hated that it mattered so much.

But still—he protected me like I was already his.

And that terrified me more than their stares.

It was the first time he said my name.

And the way he said it… it wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet.

It was terrifying and beautiful at the same time.

I could see the storm in his eyes.

Without a word, I turned and walked silently back into my room.

And my heart?

It wouldn’t stop beating.

---

••• Later that night… •••

He barged into my room and slammed the door shut, locking it behind him.

I could see it in his eyes—

Fury.

Before I could even speak, he stormed forward, grabbed my wrist, and slammed me back against the wall.

His hands pinned both my wrists above my head.

His voice was low and sharp.

> “Noah, don’t you dare wear that again and walk out of your room. Especially at night.

Do you have any idea what those men could’ve done if I wasn’t there?”

I froze. His face was so close to mine, his breath hitting my cheek.

But instead of fear… I felt something else too.

Still, my pride burned hotter than anything.

I shoved him back and shouted,

> “HEY! LISTEN— I’M NOT YOUR WIFE, AND I’M NOT YOUR MAID!

I’ll wear whatever the hell I want, okay?!”

“So what?” I hissed, even though my hands were shaking.

“So what if they looked? That’s not my fault. That’s not my problem.”

But my voice cracked… and he noticed.

His stare flickered—like he saw through me.

Like he saw the fear behind my anger, and that made him even angrier.

His jaw clenched.

And without warning, he grabbed my throat—firm, but not enough to hurt me—and pinned me again.

His voice dropped, colder than ever.

> “I think you forgot, babygirl…

I warned you once—when I’m good to you, be good to me…

Because you can’t handle the bad me.”

I stared into his eyes, chest rising and falling.

Then I snapped.

> “Huh?! DO WHATEVER THE f**k YOU WANT!

I’M NOT SCARED OF YOU!”

He suddenly grabbed my arm, stormed downstairs, and shouted to his guards—

> “Throw her out!

Until morning, she stays in the garden.

And if she tries to sit—make her stand again and again!”

I froze.

> “ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?! IT’S POURING OUTSIDE!”

But he didn’t even glance at me.

The guards obeyed.

Two of them dragged me out and threw me into the garden.

The rain hit my skin like ice.

I was only wearing a thin white shirt and shorts.

Soaked. Freezing. Shaking.

I tried to catch my breath, but—

The wind.

The cold air.

It stabbed at my chest.

I have asthma.

And I can’t handle this.

I clutched my chest and shouted, “P-Please… I can’t breathe! Let me in! PLEASE!”

One of the guards looked concerned and called Nicholas.

But his voice on the phone?

> “Let her stand till morning. No matter what.”

Cruel.

Cold.

They couldn’t disobey him.

My body started collapsing again and again, but they forced me up—over and over.

My shirt clung to my skin, see-through now.

Thankfully, I had my bra on.

But I couldn’t care anymore.

My chest burned. My hands trembled.

> I couldn’t breathe.

The world blurred.

My chest burned…

My lips couldn’t form words anymore…

And just like that—

Everything went black.....