The word echoed in her mind—
RUN.
Not a whisper anymore.
A scream.
A command.
A warning.
Aria's chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. Her fingers trembled as she slowly stepped back—
One step.
Then another.
Her eyes never left Rowan.
Because something had changed.
Completely.
The man standing in front of her—
He wasn't just controlling anymore.
He was dangerous.
Truly dangerous.
Rowan watched her silently.
Too silently.
His gaze was fixed on her like a predator watching its prey—
Waiting.
Measuring.
Calculating.
"You're thinking too much," he said calmly.
But his voice—
It was wrong.
Too calm.
Too steady.
Like he already knew what she was about to do.
Aria shook her head slightly.
"No… I just…"
Her voice broke.
She couldn't lie properly anymore.
Not when her entire body was screaming to escape.
Rowan took a slow step forward.
And that's when—
She turned.
And ran.
Her feet hit the floor hard as she sprinted down the hallway.
Her heartbeat roared in her ears.
Loud.
Wild.
Terrified.
She didn't think.
Didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
Because she knew—
If she stopped for even a second…
He would catch her.
"Aria."
His voice echoed behind her.
Low.
Cold.
Not loud.
But it didn't need to be.
Because it carried something far worse—
Certainty.
She ran faster.
The staircase came into view.
Her steps stumbled slightly as she rushed down, almost slipping—
But she didn't stop.
She couldn't.
Her hand slid along the railing as she forced herself forward.
Just a little more—
Just a little more—
Freedom.
The front door.
It was right there.
So close.
Her heart pounded harder.
Hope flickered for a split second.
She reached for the handle—
And pulled.
Nothing.
Her breath hitched.
"No… no…"
She pulled again.
Harder.
But the door didn't move.
Locked.
Of course it was locked.
A cold realization sank into her chest—
This place wasn't a home.
It was a cage.
A beautiful—
Silent—
Perfect cage.
A slow clap echoed behind her.
Once.
Twice.
Aria froze.
Her hand still gripping the door handle.
She didn't want to turn around.
But she had to.
Slowly—
She did.
Rowan stood a few steps away.
Leaning slightly against the wall.
Watching her.
Not angry.
Not even surprised.
Just—
Amused.
"I was wondering how long it would take," he said softly.
Aria's chest tightened.
"You locked it…" she whispered.
Rowan tilted his head slightly.
"Of course I did."
Simple.
Like it was obvious.
Like it was normal.
Her eyes filled with disbelief.
"You're… you're keeping me here?"
Rowan straightened.
His expression shifted slightly.
Not softer—
But sharper.
"I'm keeping you safe."
The words hit her like a slap.
"Safe?" she repeated, her voice shaking. "You tied me up… you locked me in a room… and you call this safe?!"
For the first time—
Something flickered in his eyes.
Not anger.
Something darker.
Something deeper.
"You don't remember what happens when you're not here," he said quietly.
Aria's breath caught.
"What… does that mean?"
Rowan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he walked toward her.
Slow.
Measured.
Each step echoing in the silent hall.
Aria instinctively stepped back.
Until her back hit the door.
Trapped.
Again.
Rowan stopped right in front of her.
Close enough that she could feel his presence wrap around her like chains.
"You ran," he said softly.
"You screamed."
His voice dropped further.
"You begged."
Aria's heart pounded violently.
Her mind blurred.
Images flashed—
Darkness.
Hands holding her down.
Her own voice breaking—
"Stop… please—"
She gasped.
"Why…?" she whispered.
Rowan's gaze hardened.
"Because you were leaving me."
The words were sharp.
Possessive.
Terrifying.
Aria shook her head weakly.
"I don't even know you…"
A pause.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Rowan's jaw tightened.
"You do."
He leaned closer.
His voice brushing against her ear—
"You just forgot."
Her entire body went cold.
"That doesn't give you the right—"
Her words cut off suddenly.
Because Rowan's hand slammed against the door beside her.
Trapping her completely.
"You're not listening," he said quietly.
And this time—
There was anger.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
But controlled.
And that made it worse.
"Every time you leave," he continued, "something happens to you."
Aria's brows furrowed.
"What are you talking about…?"
Rowan's eyes darkened.
"You almost died."
Silence.
Complete.
Heavy.
Aria stared at him.
Trying to process.
Trying to understand.
But nothing made sense.
"You're lying…" she whispered.
But her voice lacked strength.
Because deep down—
Something didn't feel like a lie.
Rowan watched her carefully.
"You think I enjoy this?" he asked.
His voice softened slightly.
But not in a comforting way.
In a dangerous way.
"You think I want to lock you away?"
Aria didn't answer.
Because she didn't know.
Didn't understand.
Couldn't.
Rowan's hand slowly moved—
From the door—
To her wrist.
Holding it.
Firm.
Warm.
Unyielding.
"You don't remember the outside world," he murmured.
"But it remembers you."
A chill ran down her spine.
"What does that mean…?"
Rowan's lips pressed into a thin line.
For a moment—
It looked like he might say something more.
Something important.
But then—
He stopped.
Pulled back.
And just like that—
The moment broke.
"You're not ready," he said flatly.
Aria's frustration snapped.
"Stop saying that!" she burst out. "Stop controlling everything! Stop deciding what I should or shouldn't know!"
Her voice echoed in the hall.
Loud.
Desperate.
Real.
For a second—
Rowan just stared at her.
And then—
Something unexpected happened.
He smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
But slowly.
Dangerously.
"There you are," he murmured.
Aria froze.
"That fire…" he continued, his eyes locked onto hers. "That's the Aria I know."
Her heart skipped.
Confusion mixed with fear.
"I'm not—"
"You are."
His voice cut through hers.
Sharp.
Certain.
"You just don't remember yet."
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Unstable.
Aria's mind raced.
Her body trembled.
Nothing made sense.
Nothing felt safe.
And yet—
One thing was clear.
She couldn't stay like this.
Couldn't stay trapped.
Couldn't trust him.
Not completely.
Not yet.
Her fingers slowly curled into fists.
And deep inside—
That voice returned.
Quieter now.
But still there.
Still warning.
Still guiding.
Not now.
Wait.
Aria took a slow breath.
Then another.
Her expression shifted.
Not fear.
Not completely.
Something else.
Something controlled.
She looked at Rowan.
Straight into his eyes.
"Okay," she said softly.
Rowan's brows lifted slightly.
Surprised.
"Okay?" he repeated.
Aria nodded.
"I won't run."
A lie.
But a necessary one.
Rowan studied her carefully.
Suspicion flickered.
But only for a moment.
Then—
He stepped back.
Just a little.
Giving her space.
A mistake.
"You're learning," he said.
Aria forced a small nod.
But inside—
Her mind was already moving.
Planning.
Watching.
Waiting.
Because now—
She understood something important.
Running blindly wouldn't work.
Not here.
Not with him.
If she wanted to escape—
She had to be smarter.
Quieter.
Patient.
Her gaze flickered toward the staircase.
Then back to Rowan.
A calm mask settled over her face.
But beneath it—
A storm was building.
Because this wasn't over.
Not even close.
And next time—
She wouldn't fail.
Because in this game of control and survival
Aria had just made her first move.
And Rowan had no idea—
The girl he locked inside his mansion…
Was already planning her escape.