The Cruel King

Chapter 3: Cage Wrapped In Roses

Before he started to act like my boyfriend, I had many things, good reputation, everyone's favorite, at least nobody used to get scared of me, or get afraid. they even compliment me when I won something or to the days when someone thinks that I look pretty, now nothing. It was like him confessing and proposing me was like he was giving me chance to say yes not to decide as he was already determined that I'm his even if I want to or not.

It was as if his confession wasn't a question, but a declaration. Like he had already decided that I was his, regardless of what I wanted.

I got good marks even in the subjects i hadn't done well.

Then one day I decided that I had enough, it was when we were graduating and he wanted to meet me. I arrived at the most beautiful, most expensive café in the city-empty, like he had reserved the entire place. He handed me a large bouquet of red roses and pulled me into a hug. I forced a smile as I took them.

"You look pretty in this dress," he said, his gaze lingering too long, too intense.

It was the dress Lisa had gifted me on my last birthday. At first, I had refused to accept it-it was a limited edition Louis Vuitton, something that must've cost a fortune. But she had insisted, saying this might be the last birthday we celebrated together before she left for Japan. but as long as i remember lisa never had anything luxuriously branded for even herself.

"Ahm, thanks," I murmured, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. He was too tall, too broad for a twenty-year-old, and those deep green eyes of his-they were beautiful but perilous.

"I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING." We both spoke at the same time. He smiled.

"You go first, baby," he said, his voice smooth, casual, as if he already knew whatever I was about to say wouldn't change anything.

"Ahm, as I've always told you... and still do... that I'm not your gir-"

"Do you like the weather today?" he interrupted, taking a sip of his coffee.

I blinked. My fingers clenched around the bouquet as I turned to my left to look outside the massive glass window. "Ahm, yeah... it's nice. The sky's pretty blue today."

My skin was burning again. It always happened when I was around him. His presence was suffocating, like the air became heavier when he was near. I would always come home feeling sick, even when I wasn't.

"Hmm, let's go for a ride then" I looked at him shocked "I have brought my bike today" he said standing up and leaving some cash, which was too much for a mere two cups of coffee. He held my hand.

"Hayden!"

"No not today, today I'm not going to listen to you, it's my last day here anyway" he said casually holding my hand and putting it in his jackets pocket with his right one intertwined with my left.

"What do you mean, last day?" I asked out of curiosity.

"I'm going to New York. Studying in the U.S.," he said simply.

He was in the medical department, top of every class. Everyone, even the professors, used to say he'd be a great surgeon one day.

I didn't doubt it.

But was he a great human? No. Not after everything he did. Not after everything he continued to do.

Back then, though, I was naive. I actually believed that with him leaving, all of this would stop. That he would disappear from my life completely.

So I smiled. I climbed onto his Harley Davidson, thinking it was all finally coming to an end.

We rode around for about an hour before he stopped at an ice cream parlor. He didn't even let me get off the bike before coming back with my favorite flavor. I smiled, thanked him, and ate in silence.

That evening, when he dropped me home, I turned to him. "It was a great day," I said, relieved. "I wish you luck for your upcoming life, hope you do well, and top every class like you used to do here"

"Wait a second." His head tilted slightly. "Why does that sound like a farewell?"

"Because it is? You're going to the U.S. for good."

His lips curved. "But I never said I was leaving you here forever."

Before I could respond, he tugged me toward him, and I stumbled and bumped to the side of his chest. The warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart-I hated how it surrounded me, suffocated me.

"You're always mine," he murmured, tilting my chin up.

And then, before I could push him away, his lips crashed against mine.

I fought against him, but he was too strong, too unmovable. When I exhaled in an attempt to breathe, he took advantage of the moment, deepening the kiss, claiming every inch of my mouth like he was starving.

By the time he pulled away, I could barely stand. My lips throbbed, swollen, bruised.

I looked at him stepping back, making some distance, then he left my waist and smirked, and left.

Even when he was in the U.S., he managed to reach me-bouquets, gifts, constant reminders that I belonged to him. I never met his family, didn't even know who they were. I only knew he was rich. Ms. Lily once mentioned that Hayden would ask her which gifts and flowers I would like the most before sending them.

The expensive gifts stayed forgotten in the corner of my closet. I wondered why my parents never questioned them. Why they never acknowledged the flowers or the jewelry. Why they acted as if they weren't there at all.

The morning, I was going to escape, I woke up in his shirt, he says that he likes to see me in his clothes, thats why he always makes me wear them, I sat up in bed, watching him as he got ready for the day-securing his watch, spritzing cologne, adjusting the sleeves of his crisp shirt. When he turned and smiled at me, my stomach twisted.

"You're awake, darling."

I stared at him for a moment, then dropped my gaze, biting my lip.

"Shh... If your lips are bothering you, just lemme give them a lesson," he whispered, walking over. His hands found my neck, tilting my head back as he straddled my lap, but not putting his all the weight on me, he knows im not even half of his size, without leaving the touch, he kissed me senselessly. I immediately scrunched my eyebrows due to his biting and sucking. his body heat pressing against me, overwhelming me.

I winced as he bit and sucked, bruising me, marking me, ensuring I wouldn't forget who I belonged to. My hands didn't move-they just lay limp beside me, useless, because they had learned by now that resistance only made things worse.

I knew better than to push him away. I had tried once, when he kissed me, I tried to push him, but it only triggered the beast inside him, he laid me down and pressed his body on to me without breaking the kiss, pinning my hands over my head, kissing me harder, rougher, punishing me for trying to defy him.

So now, I let him. Let him take. Let him ruin me.

By the time he pulled away, my lips throbbed with pain.

"I'll be late today, okay?" he said caressing my swollen lips. I nodded, looking anywhere but at him. "Call me if you miss me."

I said nothing.

"Use your pretty mouth to answer, baby."

"Ye... yes."

He kissed my forehead and left. A few minutes later, I heard the sound of his car's tires against the pavement.

I heard his car's, tyre's sound and went to start my big day. the day when I'm going to get my freedom.