Charlie carried me like I was already his property, arms locked around my battered frame with unyielding strength. When he tried to claim my lips, I twisted away, heart hammering. He didn't force it in that moment — but the dark promise in his eyes said he would take what he wanted soon enough. He bundled me into the car, pulled me onto his lap, and commanded the driver to move. His head settled heavily on my shoulder, breath scorching my skin, marking me with every slow inhale as if reminding the world — and me — that escape was no longer an option.
The next day he brought me to the family mansion, a cold palace of marble and buried sins. I was about to demand what the hell we were doing here when Anna's voice shattered the tension.
"Daddy! You're here!"
She ran into my arms. Pain tore through my aching body, but I crushed her close anyway, burying my face in her hair, showering her with fierce, desperate kisses. Her soft chuckles were the only thing keeping my fractured soul from splintering completely.
"Darling, you called me yesterday," I whispered urgently, hands roaming over her small frame, checking for injuries. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, Daddy. A weird kid locked me in the storage room."
"Weird?" The word came out hoarse.
"My sister's kid," Charlie answered, voice smooth as poisoned honey, stepping closer behind me.
My blood ran cold. His sister's child. The connection hit like a blade between the ribs.
"But don't worry," he murmured, "she was found in time."
Reality snapped back when Charlie seized my hand, fingers wrapping around mine with bruising force. "My love," he said, low and commanding, "what's wrong?"
"Nothing," I lied, yanking back — or trying to. He held tighter, a silent, possessive warning that I was his to control now.
I turned to Anna, forcing softness into my voice. "Baby, have you eaten?"
"Yes," Charlie answered for her, already steering me forward with that iron grip. "The nanny made dessert. We're going to eat it. Together. No arguments."
As we headed toward the dining room, the nightmare from my past descended the grand staircase.
" Her." The woman who had ordered me killed seven years ago. The reason I had fled into the shadows with Anna, bleeding and broken, never looking back. She had no idea I had escaped that night — that I had survived her betrayal and built a fragile life far from her reach. Yet here she was, gliding down like she still owned every drop of blood she'd tried to spill.
My entire body went rigid, ice flooding my veins, old terror clawing up my throat.
Charlie noticed instantly. His grip turned punishing, yanking me against his side as his other hand cupped my jaw, forcing my gaze to him. His eyes burned with dark obsession and suspicion. "My love," he growled softly, voice laced with velvet threat, "what's wrong?" His thumb pressed into my pulse point, feeling the frantic race of my fear. "Kim? Tell me. What's wrong