Sophia didn't wait.
The moment she left him—
The moment his words stopped echoing in her ears—
She made her decision.
I won't stay here.
Her heart pounded as she shut her bedroom door, locking it behind her like it would somehow give her control.
It didn't.
Nothing in this place did.
But she wasn't going to sit around and accept it.
Not anymore.
"Tonight," she whispered to herself. "I'm leaving tonight."
Hours passed slowly.
Painfully.
Every second felt stretched, her thoughts racing as she prepared.
She didn't pack much.
Just what she could carry quietly.
She changed into something simple—dark clothes this time.
Something easier to move in.
Easier to disappear in.
Her hands trembled slightly as she tied her hair back.
Not from fear.
Not completely.
From adrenaline.
From determination.
From knowing this might be her only chance.
Night fell.
The mansion grew quieter.
But Sophia knew better now.
Quiet didn't mean safe.
It meant watched.
Still—
She moved.
Carefully.
Slowly opening her door, she stepped into the hallway.
No guards.
At least… none she could see.
Her pulse quickened.
This is it.
She moved quickly but silently, her steps light against the floor as she made her way down the corridor.
Every shadow felt alive.
Every sound made her heart jump.
But she didn't stop.
She couldn't.
Not this time.
She reached the staircase.
Paused.
Listened.
Nothing.
Then continued.
Downstairs.
Across the hall.
Toward the same exit she had tried before.
But this time…
She had a plan.
She wouldn't run straight out.
She would move around the side.
Avoid the main gates.
Find a blind spot.
There had to be one.
There had to be.
Her fingers wrapped around the door handle.
Slowly…
Carefully…
She opened it.
Cool night air hit her face.
Freedom.
So close.
Sophia stepped outside.
And didn't look back.
She moved fast.
Keeping low, sticking to the shadows, her heart pounding louder with every step.
The mansion loomed behind her.
Watching.
Waiting.
But she didn't stop.
She rounded the side of the building, her eyes scanning the perimeter.
There—
A section of the wall.
Less guarded.
Her breath caught.
That's it.
Hope surged through her.
She ran.
Faster.
Closer—
Closer—
And then—
A hand grabbed her arm.
Hard.
Sophia gasped, twisting instantly. "Let go—!"
But the words died in her throat.
Luciano.
Her heart dropped.
No—
No no no—
"How many times," he said quietly, his grip tightening, "are you going to try this?"
Her chest heaved as she tried to pull away. "Let me go!"
"You're not leaving."
"I don't belong here!" she snapped, struggling harder. "I told you—I won't stay!"
Luciano's expression darkened.
Not surprised.
Not even angry.
Just… certain.
"I know."
Before she could react, he pulled her toward him.
Close.
Too close.
"You think I wouldn't notice?" he murmured.
Her breath came fast.
"I watched you plan this."
Her stomach dropped.
"You—what?"
His lips curved slightly.
"Every move."
Humiliation burned through her.
Anger followed.
"Then why didn't you stop me earlier?!" she demanded.
Luciano leaned in slightly.
"Because I wanted you to understand something."
Her heart pounded.
"What?"
His grip tightened just enough to make her still.
"That there is nowhere you can go… where I won't find you."
The words sent a chill through her entire body.
"I hate you," she whispered.
"I know."
He didn't even hesitate.
Didn't even react.
And somehow…
That made it worse.
Sophia tried to pull away again—but this time, he didn't let her.
Instead—
He lifted her.
Effortlessly.
Sophia gasped, hitting his chest. "Put me down!"
"No."
"Luciano!"
But he was already walking.
Back toward the mansion.
Back toward the cage.
Her chest tightened as panic rose again.
"You can't do this!" she shouted. "You said I wasn't a prisoner!"
"I changed my mind."
The calmness in his voice terrified her more than anything.
The doors opened.
Staff stepped aside immediately.
No one said a word.
No one dared.
Sophia struggled in his arms, her heart racing wildly. "Put me down! I'm not staying here!"
"You don't have a choice."
"Stop saying that!" she snapped, her voice breaking. "I do have a choice!"
Luciano didn't respond.
He just kept walking.
Up the stairs.
Down the hallway.
Past her room.
Sophia froze.
"Where are you taking me?"
No answer.
Her pulse spiked.
"Luciano—"
He stopped in front of a door.
A different door.
Larger.
Darker.
And then—
He opened it.
Her breath caught.
His room.
"No," she said immediately, shaking her head. "No, I'm not staying here—"
"Yes, you are."
He stepped inside.
And closed the door behind them.
The room was bigger than hers.
Darker.
Less decorative.
More… him.
Cold.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Luciano set her down slowly—but didn't step back.
Sophia immediately moved away, putting distance between them.
"You can't keep me here," she said, her voice unsteady now. "This is insane."
Luciano watched her.
Quiet.
Focused.
"You've proven you can't be trusted alone."
Her chest tightened. "So this is your solution? Lock me in your room?"
"Yes."
The simplicity of his answer stunned her.
"You're unbelievable."
"I'm effective."
Anger flared again. "I'm not staying here!"
She turned toward the door—
But he was faster.
His hand slammed against it before she could reach it.
Blocking her.
Trapping her.
"Try it," he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
She froze.
Because she knew—
He meant it.
Sophia slowly turned back to face him.
Her heart pounded wildly.
"This isn't going to work," she whispered.
Luciano stepped closer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"It already is."
Her pulse spiked.
"You can't watch me forever," she said.
A dangerous statement.
Luciano stopped right in front of her.
Close enough that she could feel the heat of him again.
"I don't need to."
Her breath hitched.
"Because now," he said, his voice dropping lower, darker, "you're exactly where I want you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Sophia swallowed hard, her back inching toward the wall again.
"You're crazy," she whispered.
Luciano didn't deny it.
Instead—
His hand lifted slowly.
Tilting her chin up.
Forcing her to look at him.
"Maybe," he murmured.
Her heart slammed against her chest.
"But you're still here."
The words wrapped around her like chains.
Tight.
Unbreakable.
Sophia's breath came faster.
Because now—
There was no distance.
No escape.
No space to think.
Just him.
His presence.
His control.
And the terrifying realization that this—
This might be the closest she had ever been to him.
And the most dangerous place she could possibly be.