ZARA'S POV
A knock on my bedroom door woke me up. I got up to open the door, and it was Madam Tess and a young maid who held a tray of food in her hands. “Good morning Ma'am,” they both greeted. “Good morning,” I replied. “Your breakfast is here,” Madam Tess said, motioning to the tray. “Please take it back, I'm not hungry, ” I replied. “You have to eat, Ma'am; Mr Adler won't be happy if he finds out that you refused to eat.” she protested. “What does his happiness have to do with my appetite?” I countered. “My dear, you don't want to evoke Mr Adler's anger, it won't do you any good. Just do yourself and everyone else a favour by doing as you are told and following his rules,” she pleaded with concern in her eyes. “I don't care what he does, he has no right to tell me what to do or order me around.” I closed the door and went back to bed ignoring her pleading. I was still angry at the way Kai treated me last night and felt stupid for thinking he was different from the rumours. I cried myself to sleep last night after the encounter, with the thought of the rest of my days with him. I jerked up at the sound of the door slamming open, revealing Kai whose expression was a mix of anger and frustration. “Get up” he barked. “We are having breakfast together.” I sat up, my heart pounding. “I don't want to.” He marched over, gripped my hands firmly and pulled me out of bed. “I don't care what you want, Zara, you do not defy my orders.” I pulled my arm free, glaring at him. “ I am not your puppet, Kai. I won't be bossed around and treated like a possession. I demand you treat me with respect.” “Respect? He leaned in close, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine as it grazed my ear. “Your father exchanged you for money and you think you deserve respect.” He laughed. “You are mine, Zara, you are whatever I say you are. Now do as I say and get dressed. The tension was palpable at breakfast. Madam Tess moved with subdued efficiency, setting out the meal and pouring coffee, while Kai's eyes remained steadily fixed on mine, his attention unnervingly intense. “Eat,” he commanded, his voice low and threatening “I'm not hungry,” I said glaring at him. “Either way, you have to eat; we don't want you looking sick, do we?” I toyed with the food, with my appetite non-existent. “What's the use of this act, Kai, why are we putting on this facade?” Kai's fork clattered on his plate. “ The point is to maintain control. You agreed to marry me, Zara. You'll play your part. I pushed my plate away; resentment smouldered in my heart, fueling my resistance. “And what about my part? Do I get any say in this?” Kai's eyes narrowed. “ Your part is to do as you're told. End of discussion. The rest of the meal passed in silence, the tension between us palpable. When I finally rose to leave, Kai grabbed my wrist. “ Don't ever defy me again, Zara,” he warned, his grip tightening. “You won't like the consequences.” I jerked my hand loose, making a hasty exit from the living room. The memory of his grip lingered, a ghostly pressure on my skin long after I'd left the room. As the day wore on, I gravitated towards the living room, craving a comforting sense of stability and normal life. Kai was there, seated on the couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. It was a Saturday, he didn't go to his office. “You are not allowed in here,” he said without looking up. “It's a free house, Kai,” I retorted, crossing my arms. “I can go wherever I want.” He set his glass down with a thud. “Not in my house, you don't. You are confined to your room and the garden unless I call for you.” I felt my temper flare. “This is ridiculous! I'm not a prisoner.” Kai Rose, his height imposing. “You are whatever I say you are, Zara. If I say you are confined, you are confined. Now, get out of my sight.” I took a step back, my heart pounding. “You can't control every aspect of my life.” He took a step forward, closing the distance between us. “Watch me.” I felt a chill run down my spine. “This isn't a marriage. It's a prison. Kai's expression softened for a moment, then hardened again. “You walked into this yourself, your father may have forced you, but I didn't. Remember that.” I turned and fled the room, the walls of the house closing in around me. I couldn't escape from him, I had to endure this for the rest of the months he had left to live. Later that night, I was in my bedroom, hoping for some peace. Kai came in without knocking, his face a mask of cold fury. I stood with my arms crossed, glaring at him. “What do you want?” He moved closer to me, his presence suffocating me with its intensity. “Your father signed a contract, Zara, you agreed to this. You have to fulfil your end.” I took a step back, my voice trembling. “I won't be your broodmare.” He grabbed my waist, pulling me close to him. “You'll do whatever it takes to save your family's company and if that means being a broodmare, then so be it.” I tried to pull away, but his grip was like an iron. “And if I refuse? You will face the bitter end of a lineage that dies with you.” I snarled. His eyes darkened, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “Then your family loses everything and ends up on the street. Do you want that on your conscience? With a broken heart, I stared at him. “You're a monster.” He stroked my cheek with a tender yet ominous touch. “Remember that next time you think about defying me.” Kai's grip tightened for a moment as his phone rang before he shoved me away. “Spare me the hassle of stripping you bare, be naked and waiting when I return.” I fell on the bed, tears streaming down my face as Kai walked out leaving me in the room, suffocating under the weight of my choices. My mind raced with a mix of emotions, including the twisted desire to grab a knife and end his life. But then I paused, reflecting on the futility of it all; ‘Why trade my life for his by committing murder, when his time is already running out.’ I thought. No, I should be patient and let the inevitable happen – his death was a matter of time, and I just needed to wait. A fate worse than hell is what he deserved. I yearned for a place of even greater suffering, where he'd suffered ceaselessly. May he rot in an abyss of unrelenting agony, forever in a living nightmare, with no escape from the misery he's earned.KAI'S POV The room was dim, illuminated only by the glow of my laptop screen. I sat at my desk surrounded by piles of medical journals and printed articles. I stared at the email from Dr. Richardson in London, my pulse quickened as I read the words again. ** Mr Adler, the surgery has a 30% chance of success. However, if you don't undergo the procedure soon, it will be too late. The tumour is aggressive, and immediate action is required. Please consider the risk and make your decision swiftly.**My phone rang. It was my friend and the managing director of my company, Ethan.“Hello,” I said, answering the call calmly.“I just found out that you didn't come to your office today. Did something happen?” Ethan asked, his voice laced with concern.“No, everything's fine, I just needed some rest,” I responded soothingly, trying to ease his worry. “All right. I have some reports to hand over to you personally. So, I'll see you at your house later today,” Ethan s
ZARA'S POV Three days, three blessed, quiet days. The mansion had never felt so peaceful, without Kai's oppressive presence. The weight that usually pressed down on me from every corner of the house has lifted, if only temporarily. I wandered the halls, feeling a strange sense of relief mingled with my ever-present dread. Kai's mansion was an architectural marvel, sprawling and grand with its high ceilings, marble floors and crystal chandeliers. But to me, it was nothing more than a gilded cage. Every ornate detail, every lavish room was just another reminder of my confinement and lack of freedom.But my heart whispers, ‘Not much longer.’ Kai's time is running out; just two months left. I can almost taste the freedom that awaits me.My room, once a prison cell, now feels like a temporary refuge. I spent my days reading, daydreaming and counting down the days until Kai's inevitable departure. “What future awaits us,” I whispered, to the little one growing inside me. Mrs Adler, My da
ZARA'S POV Ethan's announcement yesterday left me dangling over the edge. I was up all night thinking about how the rest of my life was going to be a living hell once KKaireturned. I thought I had it all planned out–Kai's death, my freedom and my life with Liam. But fate had other plans to snatch away my freedom forever, by giving Kai another chance to live. ‘I can't stay trapped with Kai for the rest of my life. I have to get out here, I have to run far away from the Adlers and my family.’ The thought echoed in my head, fueling my determination. I couldn't give up on my freedom yet.I was in my room, pacing and trying to formulate a plan, when I heard Mrs Adler's voice from the living room, which filled the whole house.“Zara, dear!” she called out, her tone unusually cheerful. “I have wonderful news!”I forced a smile and walked downstairs, my heart sinking with every step. Mrs Adler stood in the foyer, beaming. “Kai has regained consciousness,” She announced. “He called me per
ZARA'S POV The next day came with a sense of urgency. Every minute felt like a countdown to freedom. I had packed a small bag with just my essentials and hid it at the back of my closet.It was getting closer to the time for the party. Mrs Adler had informed me that Kai was already on his flight back to Berlin. It was just a two-hour flight, and he would be here soon. Mrs Adler had outdone herself with the party and gone all out for the celebration, and I was just another accessory to display.Madam Tess brought in the dress Mrs Adler had selected for me. It was a stunning emerald green gown that clung to my body in all the right places. The dress symbolized everything I despised about my life here, beautiful on the outside but a cave of thorns inside.“Let me help you with this dear,” Madam Tess said, her voice gentle.“Thank you,” I replied, forcing a smile.As she helped me with the dress, my mind was elsewhere, focused on my escape plan and the perfect timing to sneak out of the
KAI'S POVWhen I woke up on the hospital bed two days ago, the world felt different, it was as if I had been reborn. I was surrounded by the sounds of medical equipment and the soft murmurs of the hospital staff. My body still aches, but it was much better than when I first woke up; it was a dull pain and a reminder that I made it alive, against all odds, I had survived and was given another chance in life. The room was private, with a large window letting in the morning sunlight. I moved my wheelchair closer to the window and stared at the view outside. I felt weak but more alive than I had in months. My first thoughts were my mother, my unborn child and of course, Zara, my supposed wife who is carrying my child.I left without telling them the truth so as not to get my mother scared or worried. Zara wouldn't care less if anything happened to me. I'm sure Ethan would have broken the news to them about my successful surgery. I had told the doctor to inform him about the outcome of
KAI'S POV "Where in hell is she?!" My fist banged against the table, and the occupants of the room flinched in reflex. Zara had just disappeared into thin air. My patience was literally running thin.Ethan rubbed his temples, just as frustrated as I was. "Kai, we will be doing everything that we can. But it's like she's just vanished into thin air.""That is not good enough!" I cracked, my temper flaring. "My wife's out there, pregnant with my child, and you're telling me there's no trace of her. No single lead?"Inside the room were her father, Mr Klein, and her sister Lena. Mr Klein was pale and continued to shift from one leg to the other, furrows of worry had leached color from his features. "Kai, we're just simply too worried," Mr Klein began with a quivering voice. "We can't do anything without more information. Who could have helped her runaway like this?""Serious? Maybe you'd better ask your daughter! Who knows what she's been doing behind my back?" I shot back, still sar
"Kai, are you sure about this?" Ethan's voice was low, yet, from where we sat in my office, waiting for Lena to arrive, I felt the tautness in his tone.I nodded, not taking my eyes off the door. "She's the only lead we have. If Zara told anyone about her plan, it would be her sister."Ethan flopped back in his chair, expressionless. "I hope you are right. If she knows anything, though, she isn't going to make it easy.""She'll talk," I said, hardening my voice. "One way or another, she'll talk."Uneasy silence crawled minutes while my mind kept racing on and on. Security tapes kept running over in my head, the picture of Zara getting into that car with some mystery man, her image branded into my brain, and I flared up in a burning rage that just would not die. I had to know who'd helped her.Again, the silence was broken by someone else's knock on the door, and Ethan stood up to let her in. Lena walked in looking nervous; her eyes flitted from Ethan back to me, trying to be bold, tho
CHAPTER 10"Tell me where she is, Liam." My voice came out surprisingly flat. The air was tight with tension, taut, seeming as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.Liam is the son of my company's Legal advisor. I did my findings after seeing him in the CCTV footage and discovered that he was Zara's ex-boyfriend. It all made sense now. Liam's jaw was clenched tight as he looked up at me, but in his eyes, I could see the flicker of fear. He was trying to be brave, but I knew better. I could smell weakness, and I was going to use that weakness against him."Mr Adler, I don't know where she is," Liam persisted, shaking his voice. "She just wanted out, and I helped her. That is all."I was closer now, inches from his face. "You want me to believe that? You helped her get away from me, and now you think you can just feign ignorance? You know where she is, Liam. You know, and you're going to tell me.".Liam swallowed, his Adam's apple rising, then beginning to bob nervously.