Caged by Him

Chapter Six

Ivory's POV

I sank into the car seat, my heart racing and nerves tingling. The man beside me? Cold and distant, each expression sends shivers down my spine. He drove silently, his face like stone. I had no idea where we were headed. Asking him felt too risky ; his frightening presence kept me silent.

Inside, thoughts raced through my mind. Part of me felt a flicker of relief. I wouldn’t have to return to that terrifying room. But the other part quivered in fear at the thought of this heartless man next to me. What would life be like with this heartless man?

I knew it wouldn’t be easy, it would be pure misery. Why was this my fate? Was I just meant to suffer? Why does life seem to be a series of punishments to me? Why did it seem like my existence was just filled with pain?

First, it was my father, and now I am trapped in a marriage to a man who seemed ready to punish me for reasons I didn't understand. The weight of my situation pressed heavily on my chest. Why was suffering my only companion in this world?

I lost track of everything in my head. Until we reached this massive mansion. The sight of it stunned me. Just as I was about to take it all in, a loud bang from the door jolted me back to reality. Fear bubbled up as I stepped out of the car, trailing behind that heartless and commanding man named Tristan.

Inside the house, maids bustled about, but when they spotted him, the atmosphere shifted and their faces turned pale. I wasn’t the only one who sensed his intimidating presence. They greeted him with a mixture of respect and trepidation, but he offered no acknowledgment. He ignored them, issuing orders instead. "Set the table now." "I’ll be downstairs shortly," he said. They scrambled to obey, while I quietly continued to follow him.

We reached a large door, and he swung it open. The room inside took my breath away. It was enormous and elegant, dwarfing my own time-space at home. I stepped inside, rooted to the spot. Too anxious to ask questions, I didn’t dare ask him anything.

As I stared, he began to change clothes. I quickly lowered my gaze. When he noticed my reaction, a sly grin formed on his lips as he vanished deeper into the room.

Moments later, he returned, dressed casually. His tone turned sharp. “If you're tired of just standing and staring, there is a closet over there. Change into something comfortable and meet me downstairs.”

As he turned to leave, I found my voice and mustered the courage to speak. “Tristan,” I said, my heart racing. He paused, looking uninterested. “Where will I be sleeping?” "And I need to grab something important from my house”. He didn’t respond, he simply walked out, leaving me in the vast room, questions swirling in my mind.

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Tristan's POV

This so-called ivory girl is really crossing a line, and clearly doesn’t know her place. I shouldn’t have offered her choices. She should have faced struggles, just like the others who were taken, like her. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought her here. I shouldn’t have taken her away from that room. Maybe I should have just ended her life instead.

But f*****g no, here we are now. To hell with this f*****g strange feeling, to hell with everything.

After bringing her to the house, she had the nerve to ask where she'd sleep. Seriously? I can’t stand girls who act all innocent. They pretend they don’t know what’s going on, as if they’ve never seen a man before, let alone slept beside one. It grates my nerves, it is really infuriating.

An hour later, she finally came downstairs. I lean back, smirking. She walks into the dining area and instead of sitting, she stands there, head down. That just annoys me further.

“Are you really this dumb, or are you just pretending not to know what to do next ?” I snap at her.

Finally, she sits down. I dig into my food, ignoring whether she eats or not.

She finally finished her meal, after what felt like forever. I called the maids to come clear the plates. Once the maids had all retrieved their quarters, I turned to Ivory.

“My family's coming back soon," I said. And when they return, I’ll introduce you as my girlfriend.”

I paused for a moment, gauging her response. “But listen, I won’t tolerate this silly behavior. Got it?”

She nodded, her head shaking slightly. I figured that was good enough.

“Good. "I’ll be in my room upstairs,” I said as I walked away.

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Ivory's POV

Tristan walked away, leaving me alone in that spot. I glanced around the dining area. It was supposed to be beautiful, but I felt like a prisoner. The stunning decorations and spacious layout didn't matter. All I felt was suffocation. Tears streamed down my face, echoing my despair. I cried, knowing that no one was coming to help me. This world felt cruel, like a stage for my suffering. Eventually, fatigue took over, and I fell asleep.

In my dream, my father's angry face appeared. He marched toward me, rage etched into his features. “I will kill you, you curse child! Leave this earth!” The words dug deep, sending me back, begging, “Dad, please! I’m sorry!” But he kept coming, relentless. I screamed for help, but, as always, no one came. Just as he reached me, someone jolted me awake.

Still disoriented, I cried out, “Don’t hurt me! "Please don’t kill me!” I noticed Tristan’s face. I didn’t have the energy to speak; I buried my head in his shoulder, tears falling anew. He carried me inside and gently laid me on the bed.

I just sat there, staring blankly. Words felt heavy. Finally, I managed to say, Tristan, please… I need my pills. Can I go home to get them? I whispered.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you a new one tomorrow,” he replied calmly, with no hint of anger in his voice.

But I wasn’t absorbed by his words. I just sat there, numb, lost in thoughts of my painful existence, grappling with the pain and misery of my life.