Victor was seeing Olivia with a cold look, one that seems to strip away defenses of her that she had. He took a step closer; his eyes go on her phone before returning to her face. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked.Olivia grip tightened around her phone. "I needed some fresh air," she replied, hiding her fear in her voice. "The room felt… hot."Victor smile, but it held no warmth. "Interesting. I swear I heard you texting someone." He paused as he waited for her response.Olivia’s breath hitched, trying to come up with an explanation. "I was… just checking the time," she said, her voice was above a whisper. "I didn’t want to disturb you."He holds out his hand. "Let me see your phone."Her inner part panic, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn’t let him see the message she had sent to Alexander. Handing over her phone would be like signing her own death contract. She looked down, pretending to be hesitant, and finally said, "Victor, please… don’t you trust me?"He raised an eyebro
Victor's presence was like a shadow, it was like a cage tightening around her with every passing moment. She knew her window of escape was thinning, and now she had to take a risk. The question was how far she was willing to go.That night, as Victor slept, Olivia was sitting by the window, staring out. Her fingers curled around the edge of the window glass as she tried to steady her breathing.She replayed Victor’s frightening words in her mind. "I won’t let her go. Not now… And never." This promise was suffocating her. It wasn’t just possessiveness; it has turned into obsession; a dangerous force that left her with no choice but to act.The next morning, Victor’s mood was cheerful. “I have a surprise for you,” Victor said as they were doing breakfast. His voice was casual, but Olivia could sense the hint of control. “We are going for hiking. It’ll be also good for you to get some fresh air…and enjoyment.”Olivia’s heart pounded. A hike means being alone with him in the wilderness,
Victor’s grip on Olivia’s wrist was firm but not painful, yet it carried the weight of his words and a promise with a warning. Olivia hesitantly looked at him, her mind thinking of some excuses.He pulled her closer, his tall figure cast a shadow over her small body. "I’m curious," Victor began. "What exactly you were planning to do with this?" He held up the knife as he took out from her pocket.Olivia’s throat went dry. Her silence amused him and his lips curved into a dark smile."Let me guess," he continued, touching the blade between his fingers. "You thought you could sneak out, maybe hurt me if I got in your way, and then… what? Run through the forest in the middle of the night? Do you even know how far the nearest town is?"She said nothing, her eyes were between the knife and the door.Victor leaned in, he whispered in her ear. "I told you, Olivia. There’s no escaping me." He forcefully took her to the bedroom and what happens between them, only Olivia could feel the pain pas
Victor’s presence in Olivia’s room felt suffocating. He was looking at her with sharp gaze, the map in his hands was like a mysterious piece of evidence. Olivia’s heart was racing, her breathing was hard as the door shut behind him."I told you," Victor said, in a calm way. "I will be always one step ahead."Olivia sat up on bed, clutching the sheets tightly. "You can’t expect me to just… stay here," she said with a trembling voice. "I am not a prisoner."Victor gave a smirk; his eyes get dark. "Aren’t you?" he asked, moving forward. "Because last I checked, prisoners don’t get the luxury of planning their escape."Victor closed the distance between them. Olivia refused to look away, even fear resides in her. "Tell me, Olivia," Victor said, "What exactly you want to do if you managed to get past me? Wander uselessly through the forest? Get help from the first car you see? You’re smarter than that."Olivia said hesitantly. "I… I wasn’t going to leave. I just…""Don’t lie to me," Victor
The room becomes suffocating as Victor closed the door behind him."Eavesdropping isn’t polite," Victor said, his voice was low. "Care to explain what you were doing by the window?"Olivia’s heart raced. "I wasn’t eavesdropping," she said hesitantly, taking a step back. "I just… heard voices and I was curious."Victor gave a cold smile as he moves toward her. "Curiosity," he sneers. "It’s a dangerous thing. Haven’t you learned that by now?"Victor stopped few inches away from her. "What did you hear?" he asked, his voice was sharp."Nothing," Olivia lied, her voice trembles. "I couldn’t make out what you were saying."Victor studied her for a moment, looking at her. "Do you know what happens to people who lie to me?" he asked. She swallowed hard. "I’m not lying."Victor’s smiles widens but there was no warmth in it. "You are not a very good liar. But since I’m feeling generous tonight, I’ll give you one more chance to tell me the truth."Olivia clenched her fists to calm herself. "I d
Sleep escaped her, the fragments of Victor’s conversation with the unknown visitor replayed over and over. "She’s not ready… They will expect her soon." Each word felt like a shard of glass, cutting her deeper.Who were "they"? And what could they possibly want from her?The morning sun comes through the curtains, but its warmth brought little comfort. Victor had locked her room again, a precaution she was getting used to. Yet Olivia was anything but submissive. She was roaming in the room like a caged animal.She needed answers.When Victor arrived to take her to breakfast, he was calm. His suit was perfect, his dark hair perfectly styled. He extended a hand toward her.Olivia placed her hand in his, and he take her down the familiar corridors. As they reached the dining room, Olivia forced herself to speak. "Victor, who was that man last night?"Victor’s expression didn’t change but she noticed the slight tightening of his jaw. "You were dreaming," he said smoothly, pulling out her
Victor's eyes dig into Olivia’s, pinning her in place as if he could strip away her thoughts. Her heart was racing with the memory of the journal and the circled date.“What is it we need to discuss?” she asked.Victor leaned in closer. “You’ve been restless,” he said, his voice was full with suspicion. “It makes me wonder what is it that keeps you wake up late at night?”You, Olivia thought, but she didn’t say. Instead, she shrugged. “This place. It’s hard to feel comfortable when I’m here locked up like a prisoner.”Victor’s smile faded, replaced by a cold expression. “You aren’t a prisoner. You’re my wife. There’s a difference.”“A wife has a choice,” she shot back, surprising him. “A prisoner doesn’t.”Victor’s expression changed and for a moment she thought she had gone too far. “You’re right,” he said, leaning back. “A wife does have choices. But she doesn’t make mistakes, Olivia, you chose this path when you married me. And now, you can’t turn back.”His words felt like tighten
Olivia’s heart raced in the quiet stillness of the villa. Victor’s parting words echoes in her heart, "To see you." It was the claim and a warning, a threat wrapped in the illusion of intimacy.She sat up in her bed, her fists grasping the sheets. Each interaction with Victor seemed to strip away the darkness. But tonight, something had shifted. He had let her out of the house, let her see outside. Yet every step closer to understanding him seemed to drag her further into his web of control.The morning sunlight comes through windows, but Olivia hadn’t slept all night, thinking about it. What deal? And why did Alexander look at me like I was included in it?Victor was nowhere when she stepped into the dining room. She decided to take advantage of his absence.“Excuse me,” Olivia said, her voice was calm as she addressed one of the maids. “Can you tell me where Mr. Victor is?”The maid hesitated; her eyes had something that looked like fear. “Mr. Victor is handling some business in his
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
The night was dangerously quiet as Victor double-checked the locks on the doors and windows of their home.Victor’s phone vibrated on the kitchen counter. He picked it up to find a message from an unknown number."Are you ready for the end, Victor? Tonight, we finish this."Victor’s blood ran cold. He knew exactly who it was. Samantha.The Final FightThe silence of the house was shattered by the sound of breaking glass. Victor grabbed the gun he had hidden in a drawer and rushed towards the living room. Olivia appeared at the top of the stairs.“Victor, what’s happening?” she whispered, panic in her voice.“Stay upstairs and lock the door,” Victor commanded.But before Olivia could move, Samantha stepped into the room, with a knife in her hand. Her wild eyes darted between Victor and Olivia.“You thought you could beat me?” Samantha sneered; her voice laced with venom. “You belong to me, Victor. Not her.”“Samantha, it’s over,” Victor said. “Put the knife down and leave.”Samantha le
Victor stepped in front of Olivia, shielding her from Samantha’s threatening presence. The knife was in her hands. Her eyes were wild and dangerously fixated on Victor.“Samantha,” Victor began, his voice steady but laced with warning, “put the knife down.”Her lips curled into a smirk. “Victor, I’ve waited years for this moment. You don’t get to give me orders.”Olivia clutched the edge of the blanket, her body shaking as Samantha took a step forward. Victor tightens his grip on the bat, positioning himself between her and Olivia.“Whatever you want, Samantha, you’re not getting it here. Leave now before you make things worse for yourself.”Her laugh was chilling. “Worse? Worse is living in a world where you rejected me, Victor. Where you chose her over me. I can’t let that slide.”Without warning, Samantha attacked at Victor, slashing the knife through the air. He dodged just in time, grabbing her wrist and twisting it until she dropped the blade. She screamed in anger, beating agai
It was Seraphina.Olivia’s heart raced as she stumbled to her feet, backing away from Seraphina, who stood in the middle of the bedroom, her emerald eyes glowing with a strange mix of curiosity and amusement.“What are you doing here?” Olivia asked, her voice shaking as she clutched the edge of the bedside table for support.Seraphina smiled, tilting her head as if amused by the question. “I could ask you the same thing, Olivia. You seem... uncomfortable. Are you afraid of me?”“Get out,” Olivia said firmly, though her voice lacked the strength she wished it had. “I’ll call the police if you don’t leave right now.”Seraphina took a step closer, her movements slow, as if she were enjoying the moment. “Oh, Olivia,” she murmured, her voice dripping with mockery. “You and I both know the police wouldn’t be of much help. I’m not here to hurt you. I just wanted to talk.”“Talk?” Olivia’s eyes went to the door, calculating her chances of escape. “You broke into my house to talk?”Seraphina l