Lily didn't sleep.
Not really.
Every time her eyes closed, she saw him—his gaze, his calm certainty, the way he spoke like her life had already been decided.
By morning, the sunlight spilling through the tall glass windows felt unreal. Too peaceful. Too normal.
Too wrong.
She sat up slowly, her body stiff, her mind still racing. For a moment, she almost convinced herself it had all been a nightmare.
Until she looked around.
The room.
The balcony.
The silence.
This wasn't her home.
This was his world.
And she was inside it.
A soft knock echoed at the door.
Lily froze.
"Come in," she said cautiously, her voice barely steady.
The door opened, but it wasn't him.
A woman stepped inside—calm, composed, dressed neatly. "Good morning, miss," she said politely. "I've been asked to assist you."
Lily frowned. "Assist me?"
"With anything you need. Clothes, food… anything."
Anything.
The word felt strange here.
"Who sent you?" Lily asked, though she already knew the answer.
"The master of the house."
Her stomach tightened.
Of course.
Within minutes, Lily realized something unsettling.
Everything had been prepared for her.
Clothes in her size.
Shoes perfectly arranged.
Even small details—things no one should have known.
It felt wrong.
"How do you have all this?" she asked quietly.
The woman hesitated for a fraction of a second. "He makes sure everything is… ready."
Lily's chest tightened.
Ready for what?
After the woman left, Lily didn't waste time.
She moved quickly to the door.
Locked.
Of course it was.
She turned to the balcony next. Her pulse quickened as she stepped outside, gripping the railing tightly.
The drop below wasn't impossible—but it wasn't safe either. Guards were visible in the distance, walking the grounds with quiet precision.
Watching.
Always watching.
Her breath grew uneven.
There has to be a way out.
"Planning something?"
The voice came from behind her.
Lily spun around instantly.
He stood there, leaning slightly against the doorway, as if he had been there for a while. Watching.
Always watching.
Her heart slammed against her ribs. "You can't just walk in like that!"
A faint smile touched his lips. "This is my house."
"That doesn't mean you get to—"
"It does," he cut in smoothly.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Controlled.
He stepped closer, slow and deliberate, like he always did. Never rushed. Never uncertain.
"I was wondering how long it would take," he said.
"For what?"
"For you to look for an escape."
Her breath caught.
"I'm not staying here," she said firmly, even though her voice shook slightly. "You can't keep me like this."
He stopped just in front of her. Close—but not touching.
"I'm not keeping you," he said quietly.
She let out a bitter laugh. "Really? Because locked doors and guards say otherwise."
His gaze didn't waver.
"They're not there to keep you in," he said.
"They're there to keep everything else out."
Lily stared at him, disbelief written all over her face. "You expect me to believe that?"
"No," he said calmly. "I expect you to feel it."
He moved past her, stepping onto the balcony beside her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The wind was soft. The estate stretched endlessly ahead.
"You don't understand what kind of world you've stepped into," he said finally.
"Then explain it," she shot back.
His eyes shifted to her.
And for a second—just a second—something darker flickered beneath his calm exterior.
"This world," he said slowly, "doesn't forgive weakness. It doesn't hesitate. It doesn't ask for permission."
Lily swallowed.
"And you?" she asked quietly.
His gaze held hers.
"I take what's mine."
Her heart skipped.
"I'm not yours," she said again, softer this time.
But it didn't sound as convincing.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
"You keep saying that," he murmured. "But your actions don't match your words."
"What does that even mean?"
"You're still here," he said.
"I don't have a choice!"
"Everyone has a choice."
His voice dropped slightly.
"You just haven't made yours yet."
The tension between them thickened.
Lily felt it—every second of it.
The fear.
The anger.
And something else.
Something she didn't want to name.
She stepped back. "Stay away from me."
But he stepped forward.
Not aggressively.
Just enough.
"You're trying to convince yourself," he said softly. "Not me."
Her breath hitched.
"I don't feel anything," she said quickly.
A lie.
And they both knew it.
He reached out—slowly, giving her time to pull away.
She didn't.
His fingers closed around her wrist.
That same spark.
That same unfamiliar warmth.
Lily inhaled sharply, her body reacting before her mind could catch up.
"You feel that," he whispered.
She shook her head immediately. "No."
A lie.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
Her breath caught as his other hand lifted slightly, brushing against her cheek, guiding her face up toward his,
And then—
He leaned in.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
His face inches from hers.
Closer.
Closer—
Until his lips were just a few centimeters away.
Lily froze.
Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Her thoughts scattered, every instinct screaming at her to move—push him away, run, do something—
But she didn't.
She couldn't.
His voice dropped to a whisper, barely there, yet impossible to ignore.
"Say it again."
Her lips parted slightly, her breath uneven. "I… don't feel anything."
His gaze flickered to her lips for a brief second before returning to her eyes.
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Charged.
Then—
He pulled back.
Just enough.
Not touching her. Not crossing the line.
But leaving something unfinished hanging in the air between them.
"You will," he said quietly.
And somehow…
That felt more dangerous than if he hadn't stopped at all.
He turned toward the door, then paused.
"One more thing," he added without looking back.
Lily stayed silent.
"There are rules."
Her stomach dropped.
"Rules?"
"Yes."
He turned slightly, just enough for his voice to reach her clearly.
"You don't leave the mansion without me."
Her jaw tightened.
"You don't go into certain areas."
"And if I do?" she challenged.
A pause.
Then—
"Then you'll learn why those rules exist."
A chill ran down her spine.
"And the last rule?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
This time, he looked directly at her.
"Don't lie to yourself."
Her breath caught.
"What?"
"You can lie to everyone else," he said. "But not to yourself."
His gaze deepened.
"Not about what you feel when I'm near."
He left after that.
The door closing behind him echoed louder than it should have.
Lily stood there, frozen.
Her heart was still racing.
Her thoughts were a mess.
She looked down at her wrist—where he had touched her.
It still felt warm.
And that terrified her.
"I hate him," she whispered.
But the words felt weak.
Unsteady.
Because somewhere deep down—
She wasn't sure if they were completely true.
(No one expected him to be such a cruel man 😰,why is he doing so? Watch further to know 😨🤧)