His Bride,Their Prey

Chapter 5

The journey was silent.

Painfully silent.

I sat as far away from Lucien as the spacious backseat allowed.

My arms remained folded tightly across my chest.

I refused to look at him.

Outside, the city lights blurred past the tinted windows.

No one spoke.

Not the driver.

Not the guards in the convoy.

Not even Lucien.

The only sound was the low hum of the engine.

Finally...

I broke the silence.

"So..."

I stared out the window.

"Do you always kidnap women on weekdays?"

Nothing.

I rolled my eyes.

"Right."

"I forgot."

"You only speak when absolutely necessary."

A few seconds passed.

Then...

"I don't kidnap women."

I turned to him.

"Oh?"

"You don't?"

"No."

His eyes remained fixed ahead.

"I collect responsibilities."

I blinked.

"...That's somehow worse."

He didn't disagree.

Nearly forty minutes later...

The convoy slowed.

The enormous black gates before us slowly creaked open.

My breath caught.

A long stone driveway stretched ahead, lined with perfectly trimmed hedges and towering cypress trees.

At the end stood a mansion so breathtaking it didn't look real.

White marble walls.

Towering glass windows.

Massive balconies overlooking beautifully kept gardens.

Fountains danced beneath soft golden lights.

It looked less like a home...

And more like a palace.

The Rolls-Royce came to a smooth stop beneath the grand entrance.

Before he could reach for the door handle...

A guard had already opened it.

Lucien stepped out first.

I remained seated.

"I'm not getting out."

He looked at me.

"Suit yourself."

He turned and started walking toward the entrance.

I frowned.

"...Wait."

He didn't stop.

"What if I stay here?"

"You'll eventually get hungry."

"...Seriously?"

"You'll eventually get tired."

I scoffed.

"So you're just going to leave me in the car?"

"No."

He looked over his shoulder.

"I'm giving you the illusion of a choice."

I groaned loudly.

"I hate you."

"So you've mentioned."

With an annoyed sigh, I climbed out of the car.

The cool evening breeze brushed against my face.

I looked around.

The mansion was even larger up close.

Dozens of security cameras watched every angle.

Armed guards patrolled the grounds.

There was no escaping this place.

Not easily.

The front doors swung open before we reached them.

A line of servants stood waiting.

Men.

Women.

Young.

Old.

Every single one bowed in perfect unison.

"Welcome home, Mr. Moretti."

The word home felt strange.

A woman in her mid-sixties stepped forward from the line of servants.

She wore a neatly pressed black uniform, her silver-streaked dark hair gathered into a graceful bun at the back of her head.

Time had etched fine lines around her kind eyes, but they only made her gentle smile seem warmer.

Unlike the others, there was a quiet confidence in the way she carried herself—as though she had spent decades serving the Moretti family.

Her gaze settled on me.

Instead of fear...

There was compassion.

She offered me a small, reassuring smile.

"Welcome home, Miss Rossi."

"My name is Sophia."

"I've served the Moretti family for over thirty years."

"If you ever need anything..."

"...don't hesitate to ask."

For the first time since this nightmare began...

Someone had spoken to me with genuine kindness.

Before I could answer—

Lucien spoke.

"Sophia."

She immediately turned toward him.

"Yes, Mr. Moretti?"

"Take her to her room."

I frowned.

"...My room?"

Lucien nodded once.

"Everything has already been prepared."

Prepared?

What did he mean by that?

Sophia gestured politely toward the grand staircase.

"This way, Miss Rossi."

I hesitated before following her.

As we climbed the marble staircase, my curiosity grew stronger.

Finally...

Sophia stopped before a pair of elegant white double doors.

She pushed them open.

I froze.

The room was...

Massive.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the gardens.

A king-sized bed sat in the center beneath a crystal chandelier.

Fresh flowers decorated the bedside tables.

The faint scent of lavender filled the air.

But that wasn't what caught my attention.

Along one wall...

Rows of designer dresses hung neatly inside an enormous walk-in closet.

Shoes.

Handbags.

Jewelry.

Everything arranged with unbelievable precision.

Some of the price tags were still attached.

I slowly turned toward Sophia.

"...What is all this?"

She smiled gently.

"Mr. Moretti instructed us to prepare everything before your arrival."

My stomach tightened.

Before...

My arrival?

That meant...

He had known I was coming.

Long before my father signed those papers.

A cold chill ran down my spine.

This wasn't something decided today.

This had been...

Planned.

I slowly walked toward the closet.

My fingers brushed against one of the dresses.

Silk.

Soft.

Expensive.

Far too expensive.

I looked at the label.

The price alone was more money than I'd earned in an entire year.

"No..."

I whispered.

"This can't be real."

I turned toward Sophia.

"There has to be some mistake."

"There isn't, Miss Rossi."

She answered gently.

"Everything here was chosen specifically for you."

I stared at her.

"...For me?"

She nodded.

"The dresses."

"The shoes."

"The jewelry."

"Even the toiletries in your bathroom."

I frowned.

"But..."

"How does he know my size?"

Sophia hesitated.

Only for a second.

Then she smiled politely.

"Mr. Moretti made sure everything would fit."

A cold shiver crept down my spine.

How?

He had only met me today.

Hadn't he...?

Sophia offered me one last gentle smile before walking toward another door.

"If you'll excuse me for a few minutes, Miss Rossi..."

"I'll prepare a warm bath for you."

I frowned.

"A bath?"

"You've had a very difficult day."

Her voice was soft.

"The hot water should help you relax."

"I don't want to relax."

Sophia nodded knowingly.

"I expected you to say that."

She disappeared into the adjoining bathroom.

A few moments later...

The sound of running water filled the room.

I wandered around aimlessly.

Every corner of the bedroom screamed luxury.

Fresh flowers.

Imported perfumes.

Crystal lamps.

Silk curtains.

It felt less like a bedroom...

And more like a prison dressed in gold.

Sophia returned a few minutes later.

"The bath is ready."

Steam drifted from the bathroom behind her.

"The towels have been laid out."

"And I asked the maids to prepare something light in case you become hungry."

I shook my head.

"I'm not eating."

"You should."

"I'm not."

She didn't argue.

Instead...

She stepped closer.

"My child..."

Her kind eyes searched mine.

"I know today has been cruel."

"But your body can only carry so much."

"Rest tonight."

She gently placed a folded nightgown on the bed.

"Tomorrow..."

"...you may find the strength to face whatever comes next."

I looked away.

"There won't be a tomorrow for me."

Sophia's smile faded.

"There always is."

She walked toward the door.

With her hand resting on the handle, she paused.

"If you need anything..."

"... just call out my name ."

"I'll come."

Without another word...

She quietly closed the door behind her.

The click of the lock echoed through the room.

Silence.

I stood there for what felt like forever.

Then...

I walked into the bathroom.

The warm steam fogged the large mirrors.

The marble bathtub was already full.

Rose petals floated across the surface.

I stared at it.

They expected me...

To simply accept this.

To wash away today.

To sleep peacefully.

Then wake up and become Lucien Moretti's obedient wife.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"They don't know me at all."

2:03 A.M.

The mansion had finally fallen silent.

Not a single footstep echoed through the halls.

The only sound came from the wind brushing against the trees outside.

I slowly opened my eyes.

Sleep had never come.

It never could.

I sat up.

My gaze drifted toward the balcony.

Then...

A smile.

Small.

Determined.

"They think I'm staying."

I slipped quietly out of bed.

Barefoot.

I opened the wardrobe.

Rows of designer shoes stared back at me.

My fingers stopped on a pair of black stilettos.

I picked one up.

Its pointed heel felt heavy in my hand.

"A weapon..."

"...is a weapon."

I left the other shoe behind.

Slowly...

I pushed open the balcony doors.

Cold night air rushed against my face.

I looked down.

The drop was higher than I'd hoped.

My heart hammered.

"If I stay..."

"They'll own me."

"If I jump..."

"I might actually have a chance."

She carefully climbs over the balcony railing.

Looks down.

It's a long drop.

She whispers...

"Please don't let me die..."

Then...

She jumps.

She lands badly.

Her ankle twists.

She bites her lip to stop herself from screaming.

Blood immediately stains the bottom of one foot from the rough stone path.

She forces herself up.

And starts running.

A guard spots movement.

"HEY!"

"STOP!"

He runs after her.

She panics.

The guard grabs her wrist.

She immediately swings the designer heel.

CRACK!

The stiletto connects with his temple.

He stumbles backward.

She yanks her wrist free.

"I'm sorry!"

She doesn't stop running.

Marco hurried into the study without knocking.

"Mr. Moretti."

Lucien didn't look up from the documents spread across his desk.

"What is it?"

Marco caught his breath.

"Miss Rossi..."

"...she escaped."

Silence.

Lucien calmly turned another page.

"...How long ago?"

"Three minutes."

Only then did Lucien close the file.

He leaned back in his chair.

A slow...

Almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I was beginning to wonder when she'd try."

Marco frowned.

"...Sir?"

Lucien rose to his feet and buttoned his suit jacket.

"Seal the front gate."

"Double the guards on the eastern wall."

"And call off the men searching the west gardens."

Marco blinked.

"But... how do you know she's not there?"

Without looking at Marco, he said—

"People don't run toward freedom..."

He walked past him.

"...they run away from fear."

Marco remained silent.

Lucien reached the study door before adding one final sentence—

"She'll choose the darkest path..."

His blue eyes grew colder.

"...because she'll mistake it for the safest one."

He opened the door.

"That's exactly where I'll find her."