The figure in the doorway stayed still for a mont, like they were enjoying the tension. My heart raced, fear tightening around it, squeezing out any hope I had left.
"Finally awake, Claire," a voice said. It was Evander. I felt a rush of relief that it wasn't soone worse, but then shock hit ... Evander? He was behind all this?
I could barely believe it as he stepped forward, softly closing the door behind him. The lock clicked, sending chills through .
"Why?" I croaked as my throat was dry from fear. "Why are you doing this? What do you want from ?" My voice cracked with desperation.
Evander didn't answer right away. His face looked calm, but I could tell sothing was boiling underneath. He had always kept his distance, shutting out. But now there was sothing darker in his eyes.
"I had to," he finally said, his voice calm in a way that scared . "You were going to leave again, weren't you? You left once already." He ca closer, crouching beside the bed and staring at the chains that held . "I can't let you do that again."
"Evander, this is crazy! Let go! What happened to you?" I pulled at the chains as my leg was sore from the struggle. "You can't keep like this! It won't change anything! I won't co back to you!"
For a mont, sothing flashed in his eyes, like he wanted to agree but couldn't. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face gently. It felt wrong but so tender even while he was holding captive—that I flinched away.
"You don't understand," he whispered softly, almost like he was trying to convince himself. "I never wanted to hurt you. But you were slipping away... You always were. I thought if I kept you close, maybe you'd love like before."
"Like before?" I snapped at his ridiculous words. "Evander, I don't even know who you are anymore! The man I loved wouldn't have done this!" Or perhaps he would have! After all, I never knew this man!
For a second, pain flickered across his face. But just as quickly, he hid it, going back to his cold and blank expression.
"You were always ant to be mine, Claire," he said quietly. "And you are still mine! Running away from is not your option!
Tears filled my eyes, and my chest ached. How had it co to this? How had the man I loved turned into soone who thought chaining up was love? Didn't he see this wasn't love—it was control and obsession!
"I was yours once, Evander," I whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear. "But you lost the mont you let your family and that woman destroy everything. You let them ruin my life. You killed our marriage before I ever left."
His face hardened at my words, and he stood up quickly, pacing like a wild animal. "Hah! I killed our marriage? Or you did it?" he shouted. "Have you ever considered us married? You were always in your own world, neglecting ! Not letting co near you!"
Hah! How easily does he say all those words? How could I have let him see my bruised body and made loathe him even more? How foolish I was back then!
"Are you really blaming ? Have you ever thought of ?" I fired back. "What about our marriage? You let them tear us apart, Evander. You chose others over us, over everything we could have had!"
"I am not here to play the bla ga!" he said, his voice low and cold. "Since you want to run away so much, I simply ca here to declare that you have nowhere to go from now on!" He paused and took a deep breath as he continued, "We are going to live together forever now!"
I shook my head, feeling the irony in his words. "Together? No, Evander. This was never about us. It's always been about you. In this marriage, I was all alone; there was no you!"
He turned back, anger blazing in his eyes. "You are wrong!" he hissed, stepping closer. "I love you, Claire. I have always loved you."
What did he just say? The words I always longed to hear! But it was too late for that!
It felt too empty. The chains around my ankles, the cold tal biting into my skin—they were the real truth of his "love."
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm. I needed to get out of this. Evander wasn't thinking straight. He was lost in his own delusions, and I didn't know what he might do next.
"Please, Evander," I said, trying to sound steady. "Let go. We can talk, figure sothing out... but not like this."
He stared at , his eyes narrowing, as if he were considering it. For a mont, I thought maybe he would listen. But then the cold look returned, and I knew I was wrong.
"I'm sorry, Claire," he said softly. "I can't let you go. Not yet." He said as he leaned forward, capturing my lips in his.
I barely had ti to react as Evander tightened his grip on my arms and pulled closer. His dark eyes bore into mine with an intensity that sent a chill through .
"Evander," I gasped, struggling against him, but his strength overpowered mine. "Stop this. Let go."
His lips twisted into a faint and almost sad smile. "I can't, Claire. Don't you understand? I won't let you slip away too."
Before I could respond, his lips crashed against mine, rough and demanding. It wasn't gentle, wasn't tender—it was desperate, filled with twisted anger, frustration, and sothing deeper, darker. I struggled, my hands pushing against his chest, but he didn't let go. His hands gripped my waist, locking in place as if he feared I would vanish if he let go for even a second.
I tried to turn my face away, but he caught my chin, forcing to et his gaze. "Don't fight , Claire," he murmured, his voice low and unyielding. "You're mine, and I won't let anyone take you from ."
He kissed again; his movents were rough, as though trying to imprint himself on and force to see him the way he wanted to be seen. But all I felt was fear and an aching sadness for the man he used to be and the monster he was becoming.
When he finally pulled back, our breathing was ragged, his forehead pressed against mine. "You can hate all you want," he whispered. "But you'll never leave . Never."
Evander's grip on my chin tightened as he forced my gaze to stay locked on him. His voice was firm and commanding, leaving no room for argunt.
"Do not look away, Claire," he repeated. "You need to see . All of ."
My breath caught in my throat as he removed his shirt, revealing a sculpted chest and toned muscles that seed carved from stone. The sight of him, so raw and familiar sent a wave of conflicting emotions through .
"Evander..." I whispered. "This isn't right. Please, stop."
He ignored my plea, his focus entirely on . His hands slid over his belt as he undid it, his movents were slow, making my mind drift to what was about to happen next "You're mine, Claire," he said in a firm tone. "No one else will ever have you. Only I can!"
I averted my eyes briefly, but he caught my chin again and tilted my face upward. "Look at ," he demanded. "You don't get to hide from ."
"You'll see," he murmured and leaned close. "You'll see that you belong to , Claire. No matter what you think, no matter what you feel—you are mine." He said, holding the hem of my top as he slowly pulled upward...
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