“Are you alright?” he asks, breathing heavily.

“Yes.” My voice is a whisper from sheer excitement and exhaustion.

He chuckles.

That's it. Nathan suddenly jumps out of bed.

“Get up.”

“What?”

“Get up. Get out of the fucking room.”

He grabs my hands and pulls me out of bed. I barely have time to react before he picks up my nightwear from the floor and tosses it at me.

“Put that on and get out.”

I clutch it against my chest, staring at him in disbelief.

He doesn't look away. He simply watches me as I quickly pull it on.

Then he grabs my hands, drags me toward the door, and pushes me out.

“We are not staying in the same room. That's your room across the hall. Now stay out.”

The door slams shut behind me.

I stand outside our bedroom—the bedroom that is supposed to be my matrimonial bedroom. My mouth hangs open. Nathan just pushed me out. I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly shivering as I take an involuntary step backward.

I search my memory for what I did wrong. Did I do something wrong? Say something? Or was this marriage never real to begin with?

A housekeeper walks down the hall and stops mid-step, her eyes sweeping over me from head to toe. For a second, our gazes lock, but her expression goes blank; I catch something—fear? Recognition?—before she looks straight ahead and walks past as though I were invisible.

Shame suddenly washes over me when I realize I am still standing there in nothing but my nightwear. Slowly, I fold my arms across my chest, trying to make myself feel less exposed. Tears well up in my eyes.

What the hell is going on? I stare at the bedroom door. I was just inside that room with my husband. My husband. And now he has thrown me out like I don't belong there.

I look at the room opposite ours and slowly open the door to a bedroom that looks almost exactly like ours, except this one feels empty. Cold. I step inside and close the door behind me.

“This isn't happening.” My voice trembles. “What? I'm being dumped?”

I shake my head. “No. This isn't true. I'm married.” I press a hand against my chest. “I married Nathan Viante. I'm Mrs. Nathan Viante.”

Then another thought hits me. Nathan doesn't love me. I can't breathe for a moment, can't think past that one devastating fact. Then all those things he said while we were together.

What were they?

Memories of Nathan come rushing back. The way he looks at me, the way his eyes linger on my body, making me feel beautiful. The way he takes his time with me, never rushing me, making me shudder beneath his touch. I remember how relieved I feel knowing Nathan is mine. My husband. The man I believe loves me.

Then I remember the altar.

Nathan stares into my eyes while we stand before the altar. When our eyes meet, he smiles at me, and I remember how my heart flutters. I believe that smile means he is happy to be marrying me. I believe I am happy too.

So how can that man be the same man who has just pushed me out of our bedroom?

I sit on the edge of the bed. My head aches as I try to piece together who Nathan really is. The man at the altar. The man in bed. The man who just threw me out. They don't match. I've loved him since before he even asked me to marry him, and now I'm wondering if I ever knew him at all. Or worse—if I was so desperate for his attention that I created a version of him that never existed.

No. I can't just sit here. I need answers. I need to understand what he meant, why he's doing this.

I stand abruptly and storm back to his room.

“Nathan!” I pound on the door. My fist hits hard enough to hurt, but I don't care.

“Open the damn door, you fucking stupid shit!”

Nothing.

“Nathan! Open the door!” I hit it again. “We need to talk!”

Still nothing.

“Open the damn door, Nathan!”

I raise my fist to hit it a third time. The door suddenly swings open.

Smack!

My face snaps sideways from the impact, and I nearly fall, gasping. Nathan grabs my arm and pulls me inside.

"Now you listen, and you listen very carefully." His jaw tightens.

"I married you because there is something I needed to secure. A contract, and now it is secured."

My eyes widen. Unbelievable.

"You will do exactly as I say. You will not leave this marriage. There's no fucking way you're getting out of it. You'll stay in that room, and you will not disturb me. What I do from now on is none of your business."

He steps closer until his presence overwhelms me, his eyes cold and warning.

"You don't have anyone. That's why you're perfect for this. You don't have the mouth or the guts to challenge me."

I remain silent, unable to force a word past my lips. He's right, and we both know it.

"And if you ever think about running away from this marriage—you know who I am. I am Nathan Viante. I will find you. I will trace you. I will get you."

I shake my head, stepping backward. What have I married?

He points toward the door. "Now get the fuck out and go sleep in that room. Tomorrow, you'll meet the family."

I nod slowly. He opens the door and pushes me out. The door slams shut behind me.

I stand there, frozen, staring at the closed door as though I can't believe what just happened. The tears that have built up come pouring out, and I can't control them. I sob so much, heaving as I walk into the other room.

No, I won't remain calm.

I wait till late at night, then pick up my suitcase, pack a few things, put on my clothes, and quietly slip out. I slow my steps as I pass his room, terrified that the door will suddenly open. I make it outside.

I look around. A few bodyguards are positioned nearby—one by the east gate, two near the main entrance. The east guard is scrolling on his phone, distracted. That's my chance.

I don't let them see me. I take off, but the suitcase is pulling me down. I leave it behind and run like hell, my legs moving as fast as they can. My lungs burn as I run. I don't dare look back. I don't dare. I just run. I run like my life depends on it till I get to the gate. I look around, but the guard is nowhere in sight as I push open the gate to leave; a voice comes from a phone.

“Crystal.”

I turn; Nathan is behind me with a phone in his hand. I back away until my body hits the gate.

“I can't thank you enough, Crystal,” the voice continues. “How do you know I needed this vacation? Nathan told me it was all you.”

I stare at Nathan, confused. Tessy had been having problems with her boyfriend. He was obsessive, and I knew he had slapped her once. I had thought she had finally ended things with him.

I shake my head. No. No. My mind screams it.

“He said I can stay for a long time if I want.” Tessy continues.

“Do you know bodyguards are positioned around me? He said it's for my safety; you know why.”

I sob, covering my mouth with my hand, then pull it away and yell.

“Tessy!” but Tessy’s recorded voice continues playing from the phone. My eyes widen.

“Please… I beg you, Nathan. Please.” I sob bitterly “Not my sister.” My voice breaks as I drop to my knees and crawl toward him, with hot tears streaming down my face as I reach for him.

“Please,” I sob, barely able to get the words out. “She’s all I’ve got.”

He doesn't move. He simply stands there, calm and utterly unafraid, watching me plead. Then the corner of his lips lifts into a slow smile. His eyes remain locked on mine, carrying a quiet certainty that makes my stomach twist.

"Your sister is very comfortable right now. As long as you stay, she stays comfortable. You understand me?”

My blood runs cold. I nod slowly, unable to speak.

With my sister's life in his hands, I know I can never run.