The villa was eerily silent after the previous night's event. Nobody dared go into the study, and everyone walked on eggshells around Zayne. He had gotten ready for work, sipping his coffee like he didn't just nearly whip someone to death.
"Get the piece of shit out of my space" his icy voice cut through the silence of the mansion. Katie rushed to the study at the sound of his order.
His employees had adapted ro him and mastered his mood, how he spoke and how to act around him with every mood swing
Katie clutched her chest at the sight of Kaia, she lay lifeless on the cold study floor, eyes swollen, naked, soaked in her own vomit, her back was laced with bruises and blisters. Katie didn't know if she wanted to cry, Kaia didn't deserve this. She wished she hadn't made that call, maybe she would've had enough time.
Kaia turned on the bed, wincing at the pain she felt. Her eyes stinged and her whole body seemed paralyzed, she couldn't even move a muscle.
"Mrs Blackwood, how are you feeling??" Katie asked, walking into the room with a tray. Kaia didn't respond, she closed her eyes, facing the opposite direction. Katie put the tray down, not wanting to push any further
"Mrs Blackwood ... .please call if you need anything" she assured, walking out the door. Kaia wanted to scream, call the police, shoot Zayne right through the chest, but she couldn't do anything, not against Zayne.
She wished she could see Eira, so she could cry on her shoulders and tell her she understood her pain, and that she was sorry for failing her. She reached out for her phone and dialed Eira's number, she wasn't picking up, her blood grew cold, could Zayne have gotten to her??.
Whether Zayne liked it or not, she was going to see her sister the next day.
Zayne's footsteps could vividly be heard on the polished marble floor, he flung Kaia's bedroom door open, jolting her from her sleep.
"Princess" his gruffy voice echoed in the dark room. Kaia trembled at his sight, shivering as he got closer.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, bending over to pat her head. Kaia flinched, moving away slightly. She wasn't going to speak a word to him. He grabbed her arm, making her wince.
"Does it hurt?" he asked, gripping her tighter. Kaia stood her ground; if he wanted to kill her, so be it, he wouldn't take away her spirit again. His gaze fell on the untouched food on the bedside table, his eyes turning bloodshot with fury.
"You don't waste food in my house," he shouted, yanking her to her feet. He grabbed her hair and force-fed her the cold meal, her muffled screams catching Stellan's attention. He burst in, unaware that Zayne was there with her.
"Get out," Zayne snapped, and the door slammed shut behind him. Kaia went numb in Zayne's grip, the food spilling from her mouth. He stood up, staring at her still form on the bed. A smirk crept across his face as he walked away, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
****************
Kaia took one last look at her design before adding the sheet to her stack. Eira still hadn't called, and she hoped it wasn't anything serious.
Zayne had imposed strict limitations on her, insisting that she remain no further than seven meters from the mansion at all times.. Though the physical bruises she had endured had faded away, the ache from her experiences continued to linger within her. Despite everything that had transpired, she had come to accept her situation, resigned to the constraints that now defined her life, and oddly, she was at peace with it.
Now, she found herself seated at the dinner table, the remnants of the meal long cleared away, yet still lost in thought as she awaited Zayne's arrival. Days had gone by since she last laid eyes on him, and the uncertainty about how to feel in his presence weighed heavily on her mind. The silence in the mansion was almost deafening, amplifying her anticipation.
"Waiting for me princess?" a gruff tone, one that she recognized without having to look was heard from the entrance
"Finally rid of your grievances" he smirked, running a hand down her cheek bone
"I have a request" she said, lifting her chin to meet his eyes
"Your wish….my command princess" his sarcasm overshadowed his sincerity
"I want to see my sister" she heaved a sigh
"You're very stubborn aren't you" he scoffed, leaning against the wall.
"Zayne, I'm not your prisoner, you can't…..
"But you are" he cut her off, leaning in
"You can send your guards to watch me, I don't mind.."
"You'll outsmart them, you've done it before" he lingered around the end of his sentence
"Bring her into the house then" she shot at him
" Point of correction, this is a villa, and it's not a reunion home" he smirked
"but I have to see my sister," she grumbled.
"I have a condition" he said leaning in
"What is it?"
"The only way to do this is me coming with you"
"No you can't" she intruded almost immediately
"You're not desperate to see your sister then" he scoffed. Kaia thought it through, she knew Ivy and her loud mouth, but seeing Eira was everything to her. She narrowed her eyes at Zayne, watching his smug expression
"Zayne…my sister is a loud mouth, you and everything going on in your life will go public"
"Sister ?..." he raised an eyebrow, Kaia nodded, noticing the sudden change in his tone
" I'm coming with you tomorrow princess"
Kaia's heart sank as Zayne's words left no room for negotiation. His piercing gaze was fixed on her, a sinister mix of amusement and control. She stifled the defiance bubbling inside her, knowing any resistance would only add fuel to his fire. Still, the prospect of seeing Eira outweighed the fear creeping into her chest, she needed this, for both their sakes.
She swallowed hard, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound steady. "Fine. But don't you dare ruin this for me."
Zayne's grin widened, his satisfaction palpable. "Oh, princess, I don't ruin things. I make them... unforgettable."
Kaia's stomach churned. His ability to twist every moment to his advantage was unmatched, and the uncertainties of tomorrow loomed like a storm cloud over her head. Zayne's presence had the power to smoothen even the brightest flames. Kaia would have to act tactfully.
He leaned in close, the scent of his cologne sharp and suffocating."Tomorrow morning then. I'll have the car ready. Don't test my patience, Kaia."
With that, Zayne pushed himself off the wall, his footsteps fading down the marble hallway. Kaia collapsed into her chair, her heart thundering as tears welled in her eyes. Every moment in this villa felt more like a noose tightening around her throat. But seeing Eira, even for a brief moment, would be worth the risk. She would find a way to get out of this mess, one way or another.
The next morning came faster than Kaia wanted. She barely slept, anxiety gnawing at her as the dark sky bled into gray. The sound of tires crunching on the driveway made her pulse quicken, Zayne kept his word. A sleek black car sat at the front of the villa, gleaming under the morning sun like a predator waiting to attack.
"Princess!" Zayne's booming voice rang through the quiet corridors. She flinched but didn't hesitate, clutching her small purse like it was some kind of shield as she descended the stairs.
He was waiting at the base, a smug look etched across his face. He was dressed impeccably, as always, his control and arrogance radiating with every step he took. "You look lovely," he said with mock sincerity. "I'm sure your sister will be thrilled."
Kaia said nothing, brushing past him toward the car. The chauffeur opened the back door, but Zayne didn't let her enter without a word of warning. "Just remember, Kaia," he whispered near her ear, his tone like venom dripping from fangs, "anything you or your sister try will have consequences."
Kaia glared back at him, hatred simmering just below the surface. "You already broke me. There's not much left for you to destroy."
Zayne chuckled, motioning her into the car. "Oh, princess, you'd be surprised."
The drive felt endless, the tension between them increasing with every mile. Zayne tapped at his phone while Kaia stared out the window, replaying potential scenarios in her mind. What would Ivy and Edith say? Will they cower at Zayne's presence too? Kaia hated herself for dragging her sister into this, but the isolation had become unbearable, and her sister was her only gate to reality.
As the car pulled into the small cul-de-sac where the house sat, Kaia's heart thudded violently in her chest. The modest brick house stood in stark contrast to the opulent, suffocating villa she was trapped in. It looked... normal. Safe, even. Zayne's world felt galaxies away compared to this quiet suburban street.
Zayne stepped out first, his suit a sharp contrast to the casual simplicity of the neighborhood. He surveyed the area with a faint sneer before glancing at Kaia. "After you, princess."
She climbed out, the scent of freedom, temporary as it was, nearly overwhelming her. The path to the door felt far too short, the mixture of anxiety and hope crashing together as Kaia reached for the doorbell. She hesitated, taking a glance at the man beside her
"Zayne…can you wait outside please" she muttered, Zayne's smirk almost slipped
"Why, you don't want your stepmother to find out about me?"
"No it's not that…." She stuttered, taking a step back
"Lying??" He smirked, placing a hand across her waist.
"Zayne…please."
"Be out in thirty minutes" he whispered, moving back.