Chapter 5: No Escape
843 Words
Elena paced the length of the lavish bedroom, her heart pounding in her chest.
Damian had locked her in.
The moment he left her alone, she had run to the door, twisting the handle frantically. It didn’t budge.
She was a prisoner.
Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had known Damian would be furious when he found her, but she hadn’t expected this—being dragged back to his estate, trapped like an object he refused to let go of.
She had to get out.
Moving to the large windows, she peered outside. The estate was surrounded by acres of land, with high walls and security patrolling the premises. Even if she somehow managed to get past them, where would she go? Damian had resources, power. He would find her again.
A shiver ran down her spine.
She couldn’t let that happen.
She had barely survived the past year. She couldn’t do this again.
A knock at the door startled her.
She spun around just as it swung open, revealing a middle-aged woman dressed in a crisp uniform.
“Ma’am,” the woman said politely. “Mr. Blackwood has asked me to bring you dinner.”
Elena stiffened.
“I’m not hungry.”
The woman hesitated, then stepped inside, placing the tray on the small table near the window. “He said you’d say that.”
Elena’s lips pressed into a thin line. Of course he did.
She crossed her arms. “And what else did he say?”
“That you should eat. You’ll need your strength.”
Her pulse quickened.
For what?
Before she could ask, the woman turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Elena stared at the tray, appetite nonexistent.
She had spent the past year looking over her shoulder, terrified of the enemy lurking in the shadows. And now, just when she thought she had escaped, she had landed right back in the lion’s den.
The only difference was that this time, the lion had a name.
Damian Blackwood.
⸻
Hours passed.
Elena sat curled up on the edge of the bed, staring at the moonlit window.
The silence was unbearable.
Then, the door creaked open.
She turned sharply, her breath catching in her throat.
Damian.
He stepped inside, his gaze dark and unreadable. He had changed into a more casual black dress shirt, the top buttons undone, revealing a hint of his strong chest. Even now, after everything, he was devastatingly handsome.
And just as dangerous.
“You haven’t eaten,” he observed, his eyes flickering to the untouched tray.
Elena lifted her chin. “I told you, I’m not hungry.”
A tense silence stretched between them.
Then, in a slow, deliberate motion, Damian shut the door behind him.
Her stomach twisted.
“I won’t play this game with you, Elena,” he said, stepping closer. “You’re here. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for you.”
Her hands curled into fists. “You can’t just force me back into your life.”
His jaw tightened. “I can. And I have.”
Her breath came faster. “Why? So you can punish me?”
Something flashed in his eyes—something dark, dangerous. “Do you think you don’t deserve it?”
Elena’s heart ached. “You don’t know the whole story.”
“Then tell me.”
She bit her lip.
She wanted to. She wanted to scream the truth—that she had left because someone had threatened his life, that she had been trying to protect him.
But if she told him, it would only put him in more danger.
And she couldn’t risk that.
So she said nothing.
Damian exhaled sharply. “I waited for you, Elena.” His voice was quieter now, but no less intense. “For months, I searched. I wondered if you were dead, if something had happened to you.” His jaw clenched. “But you were alive. You were just hiding.”
Guilt twisted inside her.
She had hurt him.
But she had also saved him.
At least, that’s what she had told herself.
Now, standing in front of him, seeing the anger, the betrayal in his eyes, she wasn’t so sure.
Damian took another step toward her.
“Elena.” His voice was softer now, almost… pleading. “Tell me why you left.”
Her throat tightened.
She wanted to.
But she couldn’t.
So she did the only thing she could.
She turned away.
The silence stretched.
When she finally gathered the courage to look at him again, his expression had hardened once more.
“Fine,” he said coldly. “If you won’t tell me the truth, then I’ll find out myself.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
What did that mean?
Before she could ask, Damian turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
This time, she heard the lock click into place.
Tears burned her eyes.
She was trapped.
And Damian wasn’t going to let her go.
- Writer
