Chapter 5

Ten o'clock at night.

Damian opened the bedroom door with a tray in his hand. On it was a bowl of warm soup and a glass of orange juice. His steps were slow. As he approached Yara, she immediately fixed him with a sharp, hateful stare.

"Eat," Damian said simply as he placed the tray on the small table beside the bed.

Yara didn't answer; she just looked away. Her hands were still bound in chains, leaving her little choice, but she wasn't about to show weakness in front of the man.

"Yara, I don't want to argue. Eat now," Damian said more firmly, picking up a bowl of soup and holding a spoon. He sat on the edge of the bed, trying to feed Yara.

"Don't touch me," Yara refused.

"Don't be stubborn. You need to eat," Damian retorted, bringing the spoon to Yara's mouth.

Yara turned her face away violently. "I'd rather starve to death than accept anything from you."

Damian's thin patience was running out. His jaw hardened. "I've tried to be nice, Yara. Don't force me to use other means." 

Yara laughed bitterly, giving Damian a hateful look. "Been nice? You think that after everything you've done, you can be called nice? You're a monster, Damian. You'll never be a prince." 

Damian sighed heavily, gripping the spoon tighter. "I don't care what you think. I just want to make sure you don't hurt yourself. Eat now." 

"If I die, it's not your fault, right? Wouldn't that be easier for you?" Yara challenged him, her gaze fiery despite her weak body. 

Damian was losing patience. With a quick movement, he grabbed Yara's chin, forcing her to open her mouth. "Don't make me angry, Yara," he said in a cold tone. 

"Don't touch me, Damian!" Yara struggled, pushing his hand away with all her might. "I don't need your sympathy! I don't need anything from you!"

"Stay alive for what? To be tortured by you? To be treated like an animal? If that's living, I'd rather die!" Yara cried out, her tears starting to flow without her being able to hold them back.

Damian was silent for a moment, looking at Yara with a complicated mix of emotions. He didn't know how to answer her. His heart was heavy, but his ego was too big to admit it.

"You don't understand," Damian muttered finally.

"What am I supposed to understand? That you only see me as a toy? That you feel entitled to my life? I don't care what your reasons are, Damian. I will never forgive you!"

The words were like a knife stabbing Damian, but he hid his feelings behind a cold expression. Roughly, he put the soup bowl back on the table. "If you don't want to eat, fine. But don't blame me if your body weakens." 

Yara did not reply. She just stared at Damian with a hateful gaze. She wanted to scream, wanted to fight, but her body was too tired. 

Damian got up from the bed, walking towards the door. Before going out, he turned around and said, "I'll be back later. If you change your mind, eat." 

After Damian left, Yara stared at the soup left on the table. Her stomach was hungry, but the anger and resentment that filled her mind made her refuse to touch it. She felt this was the only way to fight back—not to submit to Damian's wishes, no matter how difficult it was.

Outside the room, Damian leaned against the wall. His breathing was heavy, and his mind was in turmoil. Yara's words kept ringing in his head. "She's really hard to persuade," he muttered under his breath. "How do I get that annoying girl to submit to me?"

Hugo, who happened to be passing by, stopped and looked at Damian curiously. "Mr. Damian, is there a problem?"

Damian shook his head, but his face showed confusion. "Yara is stubborn. She's hard to persuade."

Hugo nodded slowly. "Perhaps because she feels she has no control over her life, sir. If you keep pushing her, she'll only resent you more."

Damian massaged his temples, feeling frustrated. "I don't know what to do. She's stressing me out, Hugo. I just want her to obey."

"Maybe it's the way she is, sir. You can't force someone to understand your wishes. Your actions so far have only made things worse."

Damian gave Hugo a sharp look, but he knew his assistant's words were true. "I don't know how," he muttered under his breath.

Hugo smiled slightly. "Perhaps the first step is to stop forcing her. Give him the freedom to choose without running away from the contract."

Damian didn't answer; he just stared at the door to Yara's room with a doubtful look. Would Hugo's method work?