Chapter 04: No Escape.

Lily's POV.

I was frozen in place, my body unable to move as Draco slowly rose from his seat and advanced towards me, his steps deliberate and menacing. It felt as though a predator was closing in on its helpless prey, and my heart pounded with each step he took. Panic surged through my veins, urging me to flee, but where could I go? I was alone and vulnerable.

I squeezed my eyes shut, unwilling to witness the horrors that awaited me with Draco mere feet away. If only I could black out, escape this nightmare in an instant.

"Lily, look at me," Draco's voice commanded, low and breathy, causing a shiver of fear to ripple through me.

"I said, look at me!!!" he bellowed, his tone sharp and forceful, forcing me to snap my eyes open in terror.

"Please, don't do this now," I pleaded, my voice quivering, my legs trembling with fear.

A deep, dark chuckle escaped Draco's lips as he stared at me. Then, without warning, he reached out and grabbed the straps of my top, yanking them so violently that I heard a distinct tearing sound, followed by a searing pain shooting through my shoulder.

"Please..." I whispered, my voice barely audible, "I'm... I'm on my period..." I lied desperately, instantly regretting the words as they left my mouth. His hand froze, and dread consumed me.

If Draco discovered my lie, the punishment would be severe. I wasn't allowed to deceive my fiancé.

Oh God, what have I done?

"If I find out you're lying to me, I'll punish you so severely that you'll wish for death!" he growled, his finger tracing a path from my shoulder blade downward.

'God, please... Please help me,' I silently prayed, my heart hammering against my ribs.

I was on the verge of dropping on the floor, about to prostrate myself and beg for forgiveness, when a sharp knock on the door interrupted us. Draco's fingers paused on my stomach.

"Who's that?" he demanded, pinching my stomach which elicited a low, pained whimper from me.

"Boss, your family will be here in less than an hour," a masculine voice conveyed urgently.

"Alright, go away, I'm busy," Draco instructed, ready to resume his actions. But the voice cleared his throat, forcing Draco to control his irritation. Once again, his fingers jabbed into my stomach, harder this time.

"What do you want again, Johnson?" he queried, annoyance evident. I could feel his frustration as his fingers pressed harder against my body.

"Your attention is needed urgently, boss," the voice informed, and relief washed over me like a divine wave.

Draco cursed angrily, removing his fingers from my body. "I'll be there in the next five minutes," he grumbled, and began walking away.

Snapping out of my trance, I hastily adjusted my dress. The thought of fleeing this place forever crossed my mind, but it was a futile thought. Wherever I ran, Draco would find me. He was a feared mafia lord, reigning over this city.

"Girl... Come here," Draco's sharp, cold command snapped me back to reality. When I looked up, I saw him fully dressed, exuding a dangerous aura. Despite his chilling demeanor, there was no denying his striking handsomeness. He appeared to be in his twenties, but such details hardly mattered. He was a ruthless mafia lord at such a young age.

I took hesitant steps towards him, stopping when he ordered, "Stop!"

"Now listen to me, lassie," he began, his tone commanding. I lowered my head, swallowing hard, ready to absorb his words.

"Whatever we have between us will be nothing more than a business arrangement, though I still get to have my way with you whenever I want.." Draco said, chuckling. "Once I take over your mafia, I'll banish you from this place for good. We have nothing in common, and I doubt we ever will. Don't expect anything from me except a good fuck." His words cut through my heart, shattering it into countless pieces, but I couldn't afford to break down now.

"Get dressed and make yourself presentable. My family is coming over," he added before walking away from me.

As soon as the door slammed shut, my trembling legs gave way, and I collapsed to the floor. My chest constricted with a painful intensity, making it feel as if I couldn't breathe. Tears, held back for so long, now streamed down my cheeks. Each drop carried with it a sense of emptiness and isolation.

Clutching my chest as if I could physically contain the agony radiating from my heart, I felt the ache intensify. It wasn't a gentle ache; it was a fierce, gut-wrenching pain that left me gasping for air. Breathing itself became a harsh task, a constant reminder of the heavy burden I carried within.

I wanted to scream, but who would listen? A knock on the door made my heart skip a beat, and I immediately stood up, hastily wiping away my tears, afraid that it might be Draco.

"Don't be ridiculous, fools like him don't knock," my inner voice scoffed, and I quickly agreed. With a shaky voice, I asked, "Who's there?"

"It's me, Agnes, mistress. The master wants me to assist you in getting dressed, and he strictly instructed me not to leave until I've attended to you," Agnes's tiny voice conveyed, and I let out a sigh of relief. Taking a deep, sharp breath to steady my emotions, I headed towards the door to open it.