The following morning, Olivia’s was ready to confront Victor.When she enters the dining room, Victor was already there, sipping his coffee and reading a file. He glanced up as she approached.“Good morning,” he said, his voice normal.Olivia took a seat across from him. “We need to talk.”Victor raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond immediately. He put the file aside, giving her his full attention.“What’s on your mind?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.“I want to know you,” Olivia said.For a moment, Victor said nothing. Then he leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark and thoughtful.“You want know me?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.“I think I can try,” Olivia replied.Victor studied her for a long moment before finally speaking. “You’ve probably heard stories about me. People love to talk about the monster Victor Castellano. But what they don’t understand is that monsters are made, not born.”His words sent a fear in her. She wanted to ask further, bu
Victor’s mood was unpredictable the next morning. He avoided Olivia entirely, retreating to his study and shutting himself away. The silence was suffocating, but Olivia couldn’t bring herself to approach him after what had happened.By the time evening was around, Victor emerged. He found Olivia in the library, her fingers idly tracing the back of books.“Come with me,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.Olivia followed him to his study, her heart pounding. She half-expected him to get angry, to punish her for her attempted manipulation.But instead, Victor surprised her.He poured them both a drink and gestured for her to sit. For a long moment, he simply stared into his glass, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on them.Finally, he spoke. “Do you know why I am the way I am, Olivia?”She shook her head, unsure of how to respond.Victor’s jaw clenched. “When I was a boy, I had a sister. Isabella. She was everything I wasn’t kind, compassionate, full of life. She
Victor Husley stood at the of bustling art gallery, his sharp eyes were scanning the room with his predatory gaze. The clinking of glasses and low conversations were filling the air, but his mind was somewhere else. Events like these were more of an obligation than a pleasure, a place to rub shoulders with other wealthy people and nod at the approval of overpriced paintings. His tailor suit fit him perfectly, seeing his broad shoulders and powerful build, while his expression was cold which keeps strangers at a safe distance.Tonight, however, something was different. His attention had been drawn, quite unexpectedly, to the art of piece in the far corner. It wasn't the art itself that attract him, but rather the artist who was standing near it, engaged in a conversation with a small group of admirers.She was striking, to say the least. Long, dark hair cascaded down her back, and her bright green eyes sparkles with a passion that seemed to light the entire room. She was young, probabl
Olivia left the restaurant with a mixture of emotions boiling inside her, anger, fear, and a sensation that she couldn't quite place. Victor's proposition replayed in her mind, the possessive tone of his voice and the way he looked at her as though she were already his. It was maddening and crazy, but a tiny voice in her head reminded her of her financial situation that had pushed her to accept the meeting in the first place.Her father’s health was changing rapidly, and the medical bills were suffocating her. She had poured every penny into his treatment, sacrificing her art to take on freelance work that barely kept her stable. The thought of Victor’s offer disgusted her, yet the security he promised was something she desperately needed. The idea of accepting such terms, however, was unthinkable. She was no one’s possession, and she refused to be bought, no matter how her circumstances were.Back in her tiny studio apartment, Olivia sat at her desk, her hands were trembling slightly
The days passed slowly, each one like a reminder of Olivia’s trembling situation. Victor's words haunted her thoughts, whenever she tried to push them away. She went through working her freelance jobs, visiting her father in the hospital, and painting late into the night, hoping that distraction would drive out the unease in her heart. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t escape the growing pressure.Her father’s condition took a sudden turn to the worse, and the doctors were now recommending a high-risk surgery that would give him a fighting chance. But it came with an even higher price. Olivia listened to the doctor as he explained the situation, the numbers going through her eyes. It was more than she could ever hope to come up with on her own.That night, as she lay on her bed, Olivia found herself reaching out for the letter she had thrown across the room few days ago. She looked it out, staring at the address Victor had provided. Her heart pounded as she it. Every fiber
Victor wasted no time after sealing their agreement. The very next day, he sent a car to collect Olivia’s bringing and her to his house that would now be her home. The building tower over the city like a cold glass façade reflecting the world outside, a world she was beginning to feel increasingly disconnected from. Olivia sat in the backseat, staring out of the window as her old neighborhood slowly disappears behind her. The life she had known was now over, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead filled her with a mixture of fear.The house was as stylish as she remembered, but now it felt more like a cage than a luxurious home. The living room’s open space seemed to swallow her as she walked in, her footsteps echoed against the marble floor. Victor was waiting for her, dressed as always, his posture relaxed yet commanding as he leaned against the piano by the window.“Make yourself comfortable,” he said, his voice was smooth and casual, as though she were merely a guest. “I’ll have th
The days which followed the business dinner settled into an uncomfortableness. Victor insisted on controlling nearly every aspect of Olivia’s new life, from what she wore to who she could speak to. His possessiveness was becoming suffocating, yet there was a warmth in his eyes that made her heart race. She found herself walking on a tightrope between defiance and submission, testing his limits while unwillingly surrendering small parts of herself to his will.The house became her prison. Each morning, she woke to find Victor already dressed, his mind was in phone calls and meetings, planning each day. Despite her attempts to establish some independence, it became clear that Victor's impact touched every corner of her world. She had nowhere to run, no safe place outside his eyes.One evening, as she sat on the balcony looking the city, she heard his footsteps approaching. She straightened and braced herself for another one of their tension-filled conversations.“You seem deep in though
Olivia sat alone in the living room; her thoughts were racing as she tried to picture the image of kiss exchange with Victor. His kiss warmth still feels on her lips like a dangerous blend of passion and control that terrifies her. She knew she was playing with fire, yet every time she pushed back, Victor only seemed to draw her in deeper, as if her resistance was fueling his obsession more and more.Minutes passed, and then hours, but Victor didn’t return. Olivia feels anxiety building in her, mind wandering to the possibilities of what could have called him away so urgently. She tried to brush it off, convincing herself it was just another one of his business matters. But she couldn’t.Unable to sleep, she goes back to her room and collapsed onto the bed, all day exhaustion was pulling her.Morning came, and Olivia wakes up by light voices outside her room. She slipped out of bed and open the door. She found Victor in the hallway, speaking with a man she didn’t recognize; a tall, bro
Victor’s mood was unpredictable the next morning. He avoided Olivia entirely, retreating to his study and shutting himself away. The silence was suffocating, but Olivia couldn’t bring herself to approach him after what had happened.By the time evening was around, Victor emerged. He found Olivia in the library, her fingers idly tracing the back of books.“Come with me,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.Olivia followed him to his study, her heart pounding. She half-expected him to get angry, to punish her for her attempted manipulation.But instead, Victor surprised her.He poured them both a drink and gestured for her to sit. For a long moment, he simply stared into his glass, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on them.Finally, he spoke. “Do you know why I am the way I am, Olivia?”She shook her head, unsure of how to respond.Victor’s jaw clenched. “When I was a boy, I had a sister. Isabella. She was everything I wasn’t kind, compassionate, full of life. She
The following morning, Olivia’s was ready to confront Victor.When she enters the dining room, Victor was already there, sipping his coffee and reading a file. He glanced up as she approached.“Good morning,” he said, his voice normal.Olivia took a seat across from him. “We need to talk.”Victor raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond immediately. He put the file aside, giving her his full attention.“What’s on your mind?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.“I want to know you,” Olivia said.For a moment, Victor said nothing. Then he leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark and thoughtful.“You want know me?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.“I think I can try,” Olivia replied.Victor studied her for a long moment before finally speaking. “You’ve probably heard stories about me. People love to talk about the monster Victor Castellano. But what they don’t understand is that monsters are made, not born.”His words sent a fear in her. She wanted to ask further, bu
The note haunted Olivia throughout the day. Someone knew about her conversations with Marco. Was it Victor? One of the other guards? The mansion’s each corner feels like hiding unseen eyes.When she finally saw Victor again, he was seated in the dining room. But as soon as their eyes met, she felt the weight of his stare, as though he already knew everything.“Join me,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.Reluctantly, Olivia sat down.Victor poured himself a glass of wine, his movements thoughtful. “I hear you’ve been making friends,” he said casually, though his voice carried an edge.Olivia’s heart skipped a beat. “Is that a problem?”“That depends,” Victor said, leaning back in his chair. “Are you planning to use those friendships against me?”A Warning DeliveredOlivia met his eyes, refusing to back down. “Maybe I’m just trying to survive in a situation I didn’t choose.”Victor’s expression hardens. “Survival is a delicate game. You need to know when to push and when
The night before had ended in silence, Victor’s words hanging in her mind like a thunder. She didn’t know what to expect today, but she wanted to stand her ground no matter what came her way.For the rest of the day, Victor imposed strict rules on Olivia. She wasn’t allowed to leave her room, her meals were brought to her, and even the staff avoided her as if following some unspoken command.Victor didn’t see her himself, but she felt his presence everywhere; in the guards outside her door, in the silence that seemed to echo through the halls. It was suffocating.By the evening, Olivia had had enough. When her dinner was delivered, she shoved the tray aside and stormed out of her room, ignoring the guards’ protests. She found Victor sitting in his room, a glass of wine in his hand.“What kind of punishment is this?” she asked, her voice trembling with anger.Victor looked at her. “You want to disobey me. There are consequences for that.”“This isn’t punishment, it’s control,” she snap
Victor stood in the room. Olivia sat stiffly in a chair by the fireplace, her hands gripping the arms. The coldness in the air was suffocating. She didn’t know what Victor wanted, but the look in his eyes made her heart leapt.“You’ve been pushing boundaries, Olivia,” Victor said, his voice low.“I’m not a prisoner,” Olivia shot back.Victor gave humorless smile. “You’re more than a prisoner. You’re… mine.”The word sent a sense of dread within her. His eyes were dark and intense, and she couldn’t tell if it was anger, obsession, or something else.“You don’t own me, Victor,” she said firmly, though her voice shakes slightly.Victor get closer, his presence suffocating. “In my world, Olivia, possession isn’t about ownership. It’s about protection. Control.”“That’s not love,” she snapped.Vi
Olivia stares at Victor Castellano, her heart heavy with the force of her suppressed anger and fear. His dark eyes dig into her, unwavering and cold. The ultimatum he had delivered at the end of their tense confrontation still echoes in her mind: Work for me to pay off your father’s debts, or you’ll face the consequences.Victor leaned back in his chair; his confidence unshaken. The room fell silent except for the light ticking of the clock on the wall. Olivia’s hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms."Why are you dragging me into this? I don’t even know what my father did!" Olivia finally asked.Victor gave a smirk, his amusement at her defiance barely hidden. “Your father’s actions made this your problem. His debts, his betrayals, they’ve landed basically on your shoulders.”“I’m not my father!” she shot back. “Whatever he did, you can’t just&he
The corridor was weirdly silent as Olivia crept back to her room, her heart hammering in her chest. Victor’s words replayed in her mind: “If she finds out the truth about her father, it’ll ruin everything.”What truth?Olivia knew she couldn’t confront him right away. Victor Castellano wasn’t the kind of man you could ask questions with and expect honest answers. No, she’d have to play this carefully.When she reached her room, she locked the door behind her and laid onto the bed, her heart racing.She needed to think. If Victor was hiding something about her father, it meant there was more to this story than she’d been led to believe. And if she wanted to get out of here, she’d have to figure out what it was.But how?Her eyes landed on her phone, still sitting on the nightstand. She picked it up, scrolling through her contacts. Most of her friends wouldn’t understand, what could they do against a man like Victor? But there was one person who might.Taking a deep breath, she dialed t
The car sent by Victor Castellano arrived at Olivia’s house precisely at 7 AM the next morning, its black exterior glowing beautifully in the sunlight. She stood on the doorway; her bag clutched tightly in her hands. Her mother hovered behind her; concern etched on her face.“You don’t have to do this,” her mother whispered, placing a shaking hand on Olivia’s shoulder.“I do,” Olivia replied, her voice steadier. “It’s the only way to protect us.”The driver, a man in a suit, stepped out and opened the car door for her. Olivia glanced back at her mother one last time, trying to ignore the aching feeling in her chest.“I’ll be okay,” she said, more to herself than her mother.She gets into the car, the door shutting with a heavy thud that seems to seal her fate.The ride to Victor’s house was silent. The driver didn’t say a word, his eyes were fixed on the road ahead. Olivia stared out of the window, her heart dropping as the city skyline gave way to countryside. After what felt like ho
The light buzz of the streetlamp outside Olivia’s bedroom window was the only sound accompanying in the quiet night. She was sitting at her desk, the soft glow of her laptop illuminating her face as she stared at her unfinished college application essay. Her fingers hovers over the keyboard, the words refusing to come. Life had been complicated lately, too complicated for an eighteen-year-old.“Olivia, are you coming down for dinner?” her mother’s voice called from the hallway.“In a bit!” Olivia replied, not looking away from her screen.Her mother’s footsteps retreated, leaving her alone with the quiet sound of the laptop. The house feels emptier than ever since her father’s sudden disappearance two weeks ago. No explanation, no note… just gone. Her mother kept reassuring her that he’d return, but Olivia wasn’t sure. Her father wasn’t the type to leave without saying something.As she leaned back in her chair, the faint creak of the front gate caught her attention. She turned toward