Episode 3: His World
1176 Words
Lia Knox had never felt so small in her life.
The moment the gates closed behind her, it hit her—
She wasn’t just trapped.
She had been taken into his world.
The mansion loomed before her, massive and intimidating, its dark exterior glowing faintly under the night lights. Guards stood at every corner, their eyes sharp, their presence suffocating.
There was no escape.
Not from here.
Not from him.
“Move.”
Adrian’s voice cut through her thoughts.
Lia stiffened but didn’t move immediately.
“I’m not staying here,” she said, her voice quieter now but still firm.
A mistake.
She felt it instantly.
Adrian stepped closer.
Too close.
His presence wrapped around her like a shadow, heavy and impossible to ignore.
“You don’t get to decide that,” he said calmly.
Lia swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze.
“I’m not yours,” she whispered.
For a second, something flickered in his eyes.
Dark.
Possessive.
Dangerous.
His hand reached out suddenly, gripping her chin and tilting her face up to his.
Lia gasped softly at the contact.
“Say that again,” he murmured.
Her heart pounded wildly.
“I’m… not yours,” she repeated, though her voice trembled this time.
A slow smile spread across his lips.
Not warm.
Not kind.
Something far more dangerous.
“We’ll fix that.”
Before she could react, he released her and turned away.
“Bring her inside,” he ordered.
Viktor stepped forward immediately.
Lia’s stomach twisted as she was guided—no, forced—toward the mansion doors.
The inside was just as overwhelming as the outside.
Dark marble floors.
High ceilings.
Expensive furniture that screamed power and wealth.
Everything about the place felt controlled.
Cold.
Just like him.
“This way,” Viktor said, his tone flat.
Lia followed reluctantly, her eyes scanning every corner, every exit, every possible way out.
But it was useless.
Every hallway looked the same.
Every turn more confusing than the last.
This place was designed to keep people in.
They stopped in front of a large door.
Viktor opened it and gestured inside.
“Your room.”
Room?
Lia frowned slightly.
This wasn’t what she expected.
She stepped inside cautiously.
It was… beautiful.
Soft lighting.
A large bed.
A window overlooking the city.
Everything elegant and perfectly arranged.
Not a prison.
Not a cage.
But somehow…
It felt worse.
“I’m not staying here,” she said again, turning to face Viktor.
He didn’t react.
“Suit yourself,” he replied. “But there’s nowhere else to go.”
The door closed behind her.
Locked.
Lia stood there for a moment, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Then the panic hit.
“No…”
She rushed to the door, pulling at the handle.
Locked.
Of course.
She moved to the window next.
It didn’t open.
Of course.
Her breathing became uneven.
This couldn’t be happening.
This couldn’t be her life now.
“You’re wasting your energy.”
Lia froze.
Her heart skipped as she slowly turned around.
Adrian stood by the door.
Watching her.
“How did you—”
“It’s my house,” he interrupted.
Of course it was.
She clenched her fists.
“I want to leave.”
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
No hesitation.
No emotion.
Just… no.
“You can’t keep me here!” she snapped.
“I already am.”
Her breath caught.
The way he said it—
Like it was already decided.
Like she had no say.
“Why?” she demanded. “Why me?”
He stepped closer slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Because you saw me.”
“That’s not enough,” she said, shaking her head. “You could’ve just—”
“Killed you?”
The word hit hard.
She flinched.
“Yes,” he said simply. “I could have.”
Her heart pounded.
“Then why didn’t you?”
Silence.
Heavy.
Tense.
Then—
He stepped even closer.
Lia’s breath caught as he stopped right in front of her.
Too close.
Too intense.
She could feel the heat from his body, the power in his presence.
“You’re different,” he said quietly.
Her brows furrowed.
“What does that even mean?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, his gaze moved over her face slowly.
Studying.
Analyzing.
Like she was something rare.
Something he didn’t fully understand yet.
“I don’t like loose ends,” he said finally.
Her stomach tightened.
“Then what am I?”
His eyes darkened slightly.
“You’re not leaving.”
That wasn’t an answer.
It was a decision.
“No,” she said, stepping back. “I’m not doing this.”
But he followed.
Closing the distance again.
Always closing the distance.
“You don’t have a choice, Lia.”
Her name on his lips again.
Soft.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
“I’ll find a way out,” she said, her voice stronger now.
“I’d like to see you try.”
The challenge in his tone made her chest tighten.
“I’m not scared of you,” she lied.
He tilted his head slightly, studying her.
“You should be.”
A chill ran down her spine.
“But you’re not,” he added quietly.
That caught her off guard.
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
And he noticed.
Of course he did.
His hand moved again, brushing lightly against her arm this time.
Not forceful.
Not rough.
But intentional.
Lia’s breath hitched at the contact.
“Don’t touch me,” she said quickly.
But her voice lacked the strength it had before.
His lips curved slightly.
“That’s going to be difficult.”
Her heart skipped.
“Why?”
He leaned closer again, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
“Because you’re mine now.”
Lia’s chest rose sharply.
“No,” she whispered.
But the way he looked at her…
The way he stood so close…
The way his presence filled the entire room…
Made it feel like the truth.
She shook her head, stepping back again.
“I’ll never belong to you.”
For a moment, he just watched her.
Silent.
Still.
Then—
A slow, dangerous smile appeared.
“We’ll see.”
He turned and walked toward the door.
Just like that.
Like the conversation was over.
Like he had already won.
The door opened.
Then paused.
“Get some rest,” he said without looking back.
“You’ll need it.”
Her stomach dropped.
“For what?”
He glanced over his shoulder.
Eyes dark.
Voice calm.
“For tomorrow.”
The door closed.
Locked again.
Lia stood there, her heart racing, her mind spinning.
Tomorrow?
What did that mean?
What was he planning?
She turned slowly, looking around the room again.
The beautiful prison.
The locked doors.
The life she didn’t choose.
And for the first time since this began—
She realized something terrifying.
This wasn’t just about escape anymore.
This was about survival.
Because in Adrian Volkov’s world…
You didn’t just leave.
- Writer
