Chapter 3
1252 Words
ALEX’S POV
A sharp voice jolted me back to reality. “Run, Alexandra!”
The calmness I felt trapped in the memory of Marcel was suddenly replaced by a cold rush of fear. My eyes were wet with liquid– tears I had no idea had formed. They flowed freely, blurring my vision as I sprinted towards the door.
“But you won’t get far.” Kyle’s words sliced through the air with an eerie calmness that hinted at his mischief, but I couldn't dare to look back. My escape was my only focus. Finally, I reached the giant cathedral doors, tugging at the knobs to let myself out, but it remained unyielding.
“No, no, no,” I sobbed, pounding my fists violently against the wood as if that would do the trick. My legs could barely hold my own weight as I found myself slowly falling to the ground, my resolve weakening with each passing second.
Heavy footsteps closed in on me. Two men towered over me before roughly picking me off the floor and dragging me back to the altar. My head was blank, with no idea what to do. I did not bother resisting them at this point.
“Did you really think it would be that easy to get away from me?” Kyle’s mocking eyes stared into mine, hinting at his satisfaction.
“If you do not want Marcel’s head to be served to you on a platter, you would do him the favor of getting this wedding over with.” He tilted his head, a smirk appearing on his lips.
“Whether he lives or dies rests on you. But either way, you’re mine!”
I clenched my fists, my chest heaving with a barely contained fury. “Only a man without shame would claim another man’s woman and go ahead to make such ridiculous threats.” I shot back, glaring at him with an unmistakable defiance.
Kyle’s smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing slightly, reflecting his surprise at my sudden defiance.
“You come here making tall claims,” I continued, my gaze locked on his. “But how can I know that you really have Marcel in your custody when you haven’t given me any reason to believe you?”
The boldness in my voice came as a surprise to me. I had no idea where those words came from, but it only made sense that if I were to agree to this outrageousness, I had to be sure that I was not being fooled.
The room fell awfully quiet for a moment. A flicker of something unreadable flashed through Kyle’s eyes. It was momentary and quickly replaced by an amused grin, masking his initial surprise.
“Well, well,” he mused, squinting his eyes as he studied me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. I just wanted to pluck out those eyes and have him feast on them. “Maybe this will be more fun than I thought.”
I rolled my eyes at him, arms folded and head craned to the side. “Do you have proof or not?”
He let out a low hum, his amused eyes not leaving mine. Without a word, he reached for his pocket and took out his phone. His attention shifted briefly, and I watched keenly as he tapped in some keys, and though I had been expecting it, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw next.
He held the screen up to my face, and behold, it was Marcel tied up in a dimly lit room. He appeared to be unconscious with his head slumped forward. My breath hitched. I strained to make out the details of where he could possibly be, but the room was too poorly lit to make out.
His disheveled form and the red, crimson liquid stain on his clothes revealed how horribly he’d been beaten up. My heart sank.
My whole body trembled at the sight; I had to fight against the pressure to cave into the pain that tugged at my chest, threatening to consume me.
“How could you do this to him?” I muttered, my voice thick with anguish. The lump in my throat made it hard to speak without the excruciating pain that accompanied each word, like shards of glass slicing through me.
Marcel needed me. His pain was much more gruesome than this nightmare I was in. I could barely recognize him due to how battered he was—the cut on his lip, the bruises on his face, all because of me. I could not stand the guilt.
It was impossible to hold back anymore. The tears just flowed relentlessly as I sobbed profusely. “I’m so sorry, Marcel.” I choked on the words. I felt helpless for not just myself, but for him as well. He did not deserve any of that.
Kyle put the phone back in his pocket, and with his index finger, he lifted my chin so that my gaze met his.
“You have your proof. Now, let’s get this over with.” The tone of his voice was infuriating, void of emotion or sympathy. What sane person would be so heartless to do such a thing to an innocent man?
“Why me?” I asked, trying so hard to fight back the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing. “I’m sure you can have any other woman if you so desire. Why me?”
Kyle’s lips curled slowly, a knowing smirk crossing them. “Because pumpkin,” he paused, searching my eyes as he pushed back a loose strand of hair behind my ear. My stomach twisted at his touch.
“From the beginning, you were never just any woman to me.” His finger lingered, tracing invisible lines as it trailed down to my chin, cupping it gently—too gently, betraying the coldness in his eyes.
You. Are. Special.” His tone darkened deliberately as he released me from his hold. I couldn’t tell if his words should be considered a promise or a threat.
He took a step closer to me, and I swallowed hard, holding his gaze while fighting hard against the urge to recoil. The tears had seized, but I couldn’t let him see the magnitude of fear he managed to instill in me.
Slowly, his eyes left mine, his focus was now on my lips. “And soon,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, “you’ll realize just how much.”
My fists clenched tightly at my sides; a cold chill crashed on me. No matter what he thought of me, there was no way I would ever accept him. Every fiber of my being rejected him.
“Try all you want, but you’ll never break me.”
I swallowed hard, forcing out the words that left a sour taste in my mouth. “As long as Marcel stays alive, I’ll do as you wish.” I couldn't believe I was selling myself willingly to this demon who has done nothing to earn it. I wanted to scream, to fight, but I knew the price I’d have to pay if I dared to do so.
A triumphant smile lined Kyle’s lips.
“Marcel’s life depends on this.” The thought echoed relentlessly in my mind.
Soon, the wedding ceremony began, and with each passing moment, I felt my will slowly being taken away from me. My life now belonged to him, Kyle.
- Writer
