Sleep didn't come.
No matter how hard Sophia tried, her body refused to relax.
The bed was soft—too soft.
The silence was heavy.
Every little sound felt amplified—the faint rustle of curtains, the distant footsteps in the hallway, the quiet hum of something unseen.
This place wasn't peaceful.
It was watching.
She sat up abruptly, dragging a hand through her hair.
"Get it together," she muttered under her breath.
Panic wouldn't help her.
Thinking would.
Escaping would.
Sophia swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood.
The cold marble floor sent a sharp chill through her body, but she ignored it, moving straight toward the door.
She hesitated only for a second before turning the handle.
It opened.
No lock.
Her heart skipped.
He wasn't lying.
Slowly, she stepped into the hallway.
It was dimly lit, long and eerily quiet.
The same elegance from earlier stretched endlessly in both directions—but now, it felt different.
Darker.
More dangerous.
Sophia moved carefully, her bare feet silent against the floor.
Her eyes scanned everything—doors, corners, shadows.
Every step felt like a risk.
But she kept going.
She reached the staircase and paused, listening.
Nothing.
Taking a steady breath, she made her way down.
The mansion at night was a completely different world.
The grand beauty had turned into something haunting.
Shadows stretched along the walls, and the chandeliers above cast faint, flickering light.
Sophia wrapped her arms around herself as she crossed the living room.
Just find an exit.
That was all she needed.
One door.
One chance.
She spotted it near the far end of the hall—a large wooden door that looked like it led outside.
Her pulse quickened.
This is it.
She moved faster now, her heart pounding harder with every step.
Freedom was right there—so close she could almost feel it.
Her fingers wrapped around the handle.
She turned it—
It opened.
Cool night air rushed in.
Hope exploded in her chest.
Sophia stepped outside—
"Going somewhere?"
Her entire body froze.
Slowly… painfully… she turned around.
Luciano stood a few feet away.
Like he had been there all along.
Watching.
Waiting.
Her heart dropped.
"How—" she started, but the words died in her throat.
Of course.
Of course he knew.
"You're predictable," he said calmly, stepping closer.
His voice was low, almost bored—but his eyes… his eyes were sharp.
Focused.
Alive.
Sophia straightened, forcing herself not to step back. "You said I wasn't locked in."
"You're not."
"Then why are you stopping me?"
Luciano stopped right in front of her.
Too close.
Again.
"I'm not stopping you," he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
"Go."
He stepped aside slightly, giving her a clear path.
Sophia stared at him, confused.
Suspicious.
"Just like that?" she asked.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Run."
Her heart raced.
This felt wrong.
Like a trap.
But freedom was right there.
She could see the gates in the distance.
If she ran fast enough—
Without giving herself time to think, Sophia turned and bolted.
Her feet hit the ground hard as she sprinted across the driveway, adrenaline surging through her veins.
The night air whipped past her, her breath coming in sharp bursts.
Don't look back.
Don't stop.
The gates got closer.
Closer—
Hope surged—
And then—
Men stepped out of the shadows.
Her steps faltered.
No.
No no no—
They blocked her path completely.
Armed.
Unmoving.
Waiting.
Sophia stopped, her chest heaving as reality crashed down on her.
There was no escape.
Not really.
Slowly…
She turned around.
Luciano was still there.
Exactly where she left him.
Watching her.
Like he already knew how this would end.
Her anger flared, burning through the fear.
"This isn't freedom!" she snapped, marching back toward him.
"This is a game to you!"
His expression didn't change.
"Yes."
The honesty hit harder than any lie.
Sophia stopped in front of him, her fists clenched.
"I hate you."
The words came out sharp.
Raw.
Luciano's gaze darkened slightly—but not with anger.
Something deeper.
More dangerous.
"Good," he said softly.
Her breath hitched.
"What?"
"I'd be concerned if you didn't."
The calmness in his voice unsettled her more than rage ever could.
Before she could react, he reached out suddenly—
And grabbed her wrist.
Sophia gasped, trying to pull back, but his grip was firm.
Unyielding.
"Let go of me!" she demanded.
Instead of releasing her, he pulled her closer.
Their bodies nearly collided.
Her heart slammed against her chest.
"Listen carefully," Luciano said, his voice dropping, losing its calm edge.
"You can run. You can fight. You can hate me."
His grip tightened slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her he could.
"But you're not leaving."
Her breath came faster now, her pulse wild.
"You don't own me," she whispered.
Something in his expression shifted.
Darkened.
His free hand lifted, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to look at him.
"You're right," he said quietly.
For a split second, relief flickered—
Then—
"I don't own you."
His thumb brushed lightly against her jaw.
Slow.
Intentional.
"But you belong to me."
The words sent a chill straight through her.
"No," she breathed, shaking her head. "No, I don't—"
He leaned closer.
Too close.
"You do," he murmured.
Her body went still.
Not because she wanted to—
But because something about him made it impossible to move.
Impossible to think
Dangerous.
That's what he was.
Not just physically.
But in a way that got under her skin… into her head.
And she hated it.
With everything in her.
Luciano held her gaze for a moment longer, then finally released her.
The sudden absence of his touch felt… strange.
Wrong.
Sophia stepped back immediately, putting distance between them.
"Stay away from me," she said, her voice unsteady.
A lie.
She didn't want him anywhere near her.
And yet—
Her heart was still racing for reasons she didn't want to understand.
Luciano straightened his jacket slightly, his composure already back in place.
"Go back to your room," he said calmly.
"I won't."
His eyes flicked to hers.
Sharp.
Warning.
"I won't ask again."
Sophia hesitated.
Her pride screamed at her to refuse.
But her instincts—
They told her something else.
Something smarter.
Slowly, reluctantly…
She turned and walked back toward the mansion.
But this time, her steps felt heavier.
Because now she knew the truth.
There was no escape.
Not from the guards.
Not from the walls.
And definitely not…
From him.
Behind her, Luciano watched her go.
Silent.
Still.
His jaw tightened slightly, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure.
Then, under his breath—so quiet no one else could hear—
"Run all you want, Sophia…"
His eyes darkened.
"…you'll always come back to me."