The first streak of dawn crept through the large windows, but the room was still shrouded in a heavy, lingering tension. Liana sat on the edge of the bed, her legs pulled up close to her chest. Her fingers gripped the silk sheets tightly, as though she could anchor herself with them.
Her lips were still swollen from Adrian's punishing kiss, and her skin still tingled with the ghost of his touch. She could feel him somewhere in the mansion—lurking, pacing, watching. Even when she couldn't see him, he was there, lingering in the shadows.
The echo of his words still burned in her mind.
"You're mine."
Her fingers clenched the sheets even tighter. She hated him—she was sure of it. Hated the way he invaded her life. Hated the way he made her feel powerless. Hated the way her body still reacted to him, despite every part of her mind screaming to run.
But running wasn't an option anymore.
He had made sure of that.
---
Adrian's Study – A Battle of Control
Downstairs, Adrian stood by the massive window in his study, a crystal glass of whiskey dangling loosely from his fingers. His eyes were narrowed, cold and calculating, as he stared out into the estate's sprawling gardens.
The rage still simmered in his veins—a molten, uncontrollable force that refused to settle. The very thought of her being hurt, of someone else daring to touch her, made his blood boil.
He pressed the glass to his lips but didn't drink. His fingers tightened around the glass instead, until the delicate surface creaked under the pressure.
Behind him, Dominic entered the room silently. His eyes quickly swept over Adrian's rigid posture, noting the dangerous stillness in his frame.
"The men who tried to take her," Dominic said quietly. "They're dead."
Adrian didn't respond. His grip on the glass only tightened.
"Do you want me to look into who hired them?" Dominic asked carefully.
Adrian turned slightly, his eyes cold and detached. "No need," he murmured darkly. "I already know."
Dominic's brows furrowed. "Scarlet?"
Adrian's lips curled into a cruel smirk, though there was no humor in it. Only ruthless satisfaction. "She's getting bold." His voice was low, dangerous. "But if she thinks she can touch Liana and walk away unscathed…"
The unspoken threat lingered in the air like poison.
Dominic's jaw tightened. "What do you want me to do?"
Adrian's eyes were like shards of ice as he turned fully toward him. "Find her." His voice was deadly calm. "And bring her to me."
---
The Bedroom – A Fragile Defiance
Liana was still curled up on the bed when the door creaked open. Her eyes snapped toward the sound, her body instantly stiffening.
Her breath caught when she saw Adrian standing in the doorway. His eyes were dark, unreadable, and his expression was devoid of all emotion.
He shut the door behind him, and the click of the lock echoed in the quiet room. The sound made her pulse quicken.
He took slow, deliberate steps toward her, his hands casually resting in his pockets. His towering frame seemed to fill the entire space, suffocating her.
She stared at him, forcing herself not to look away, even as her throat tightened. "I want to leave," she said hoarsely, her voice barely above a whisper.
Adrian's lips curled into a slow, cruel smile. "No."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You can't keep me here forever."
He stopped in front of her, looming over her. His fingers reached out, tracing a slow path along her jawline, tilting her face upward. His eyes narrowed slightly, watching her every reaction.
"You still think you have a choice, don't you?" he murmured softly, his voice almost gentle.
Her heart slammed against her chest. "I'm not afraid of you," she lied through gritted teeth.
A dark chuckle rumbled in his chest. "You should be."
Without warning, he leaned down and caught her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look at him. His grip was firm but not painful—possessive, claiming.
"You're afraid of how much you want me," he whispered darkly.
Her breath caught. She tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip slightly, keeping her in place.
"Let me go," she hissed.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "No."
The single word was filled with such unwavering finality that it made her stomach twist.
He lowered his face until his lips were inches from hers. His breath was hot against her skin, making her shiver. "You can fight me all you want, Liana," he whispered darkly. "But you can't fight yourself."
Her eyes widened slightly. "I hate you," she spat.
His lips curved into a wicked smirk. "I know."
And then, without warning, he crushed his lips against hers. The kiss was fierce—wild and claiming. His hand tangled in her hair, pulling her head back slightly, deepening the kiss.
Her hands pressed against his chest, shoving at him, but he didn't let her go. His lips were relentless, demanding.
When he finally pulled back, she was breathless. Her eyes were wild with fury and confusion.
"You—" she started, but he cut her off with another punishing kiss.
Her hands pressed against him, but her strength was no match for his. Her traitorous body arched against him, craving more despite her anger.
When he finally broke the kiss, he stared down at her, his eyes dark and triumphant.
"You can hate me all you want, Liana," he rasped against her lips. "But you'll still crave me."
Her breath came in short, shaky gasps, and she stared at him with wild eyes, her chest heaving.
"You're a monster," she whispered hoarsely.
His lips brushed over hers once more, a cruel smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "And you belong to me."
---
Scarlet's Next Move – The Snake Strikes
Miles away, Scarlet sat in her dimly lit hotel suite, her legs crossed elegantly as she swirled a glass of wine in her hand. Her lips curled into a cruel smile as she stared at the photos laid out before her—grainy images of Liana and Adrian entering the estate.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she traced her finger over Liana's face in the picture.
"You're in my way," she whispered darkly, her voice venomous.
She lifted the glass to her lips and took a slow, deliberate sip, her eyes glimmering with cold amusement.
Her phone buzzed, and she casually answered it.
"It's done," the voice on the other end said.
Her lips curved into a wicked smile. "Perfect."
She hung up, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Her fingers slowly trailed over the photograph once more, her nails digging into the paper.
"Enjoy your time while it lasts, Liana," she purred softly. "Because soon… you'll be nothing but a memory."
---
See you in next chapter...