The dining room was quiet when we entered. A long, polished table stretched before us, chairs set precisely, glasses sparkling under the soft chandelier light. Everything smelled faintly of lemon polish and fresh flowers, but it did nothing to calm the knot in my stomach.
"Sit," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him. I hesitated, then obeyed. My fingers clutched the edge of the table, nails digging into the wood.
He sat opposite me, posture straight, eyes steady. "You need to understand your situation," he said. His voice was calm, measured, leaving no room for argument.
"My…situation?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Yes. You were handed to me because of your father's debt," he explained. "He doesn't care what happens to you. I do, in my way. But this is not negotiable."
I swallowed hard. "So… I'm just—yours?"
He nodded once. "For now. That doesn't mean I'll harm you, but it does mean you follow my rules while you're here."
I felt anger flare inside me. "Rules? You can't just---"
"You have a choice," he interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "You can obey and live without unnecessary trouble, or resist and make things far harder for yourself. That's your choice. I won't waste time arguing."
My hands tightened in my lap. "And if I refuse?"
His eyes met mine, unblinking. "Refusal isn't a good option. You'll see why soon enough."
I wanted to run. I wanted to scream. But the words stuck in my throat. There was no one to turn to, no one who would help me.
He leaned back slightly. "Eventually, all of this will be formalized. Legally."
I froze. "Formalized? You mean—marriage?"
He gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Yes. It will make everything simpler. But that is not tonight. Tonight, you follow my rules, learn the house, and understand the situation. We will move forward from there."
I swallowed, my pulse racing. My mind spun with fear, disbelief, and anger. He was serious. My father had given me away, and now Daniel would have the power to decide my life.
"What rules?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.
"Where you go, who you speak to, how you behave. Simple things, but they matter. Breaking them will make life harder for you. And for me," he said.
I wanted to argue, to push back, but I knew it would do no good. My defiance would only make things worse.
He studied me for a long moment, then continued. "Ignore me, and the consequences are yours. Accept me, and life will be easier. That is all you need to know for now."
I looked down at my hands, trembling. The reality of my situation settled heavily on me. I was trapped. Alone. And my life had changed completely in a single night.
I swallowed hard and nodded, not because I agreed, but because it was the only option. He watched me, calm, controlled, unyielding.
The rest of the evening stretched out before me, quiet but tense. I sat there, trying to imagine how I could survive this. And somewhere in the back of my mind, the thought lingered: a legal marriage, a man I didn't know… and a future I couldn't yet see.