Two weeks had passed.
Fourteen long days.
And Elena had begun to feel it
At first, the estate had seemed magnificent—grand staircases, endless hallways, rooms larger than the apartment she once shared with her brother.
Now it felt different. Smaller. Like a beautiful cage wrapped in luxury.
Elena stood beside the tall window in Lucian's office, her fingers resting lightly against the cool glass as she looked down at the gates far below.
Black cars moved in and out under the constant watch of armed guards. Men spoke into radios. Security cameras followed every movement.
Beyond those gates, the world continued.
People went to work. Children walked to school. Life moved forward. But she had not stepped outside those gates once.
Not in two weeks.
Behind her, the quiet scratch of a pen against paper broke the silence.
Lucian sat at his desk, reviewing a stack of documents with his usual calm precision. His posture was relaxed, yet every movement carried the quiet authority of a man used to control.
"Elena."
His voice was smooth and controlled.
"You've been staring out that window for ten minutes."
She turned slowly.
Her arms folded across her chest.
"I want to see my brother."
Lucian's pen stopped moving.
The silence that followed was heavy.
"It has only been two weeks," he said calmly.
"A week is a long time when you're used to seeing someone every day."
Lucian leaned back slightly in his chair, studying her.
"It isn't safe."
Elena's brows furrowed.
"For him," she asked quietly, "or for me?"
"For both of you."
Her jaw tightened.
"You promised he would still have a normal life."
"And he does."
"Except he can't see his sister."
Lucian's eyes hardened slightly.
"Elena."
"I just want to visit him."
"No."
The answer came quickly. Too quickly. And Elena felt anger flare in her chest.
"No?"
Lucian's gaze remained steady.
"No."
She stepped away from the window and moved closer to the desk.
"You can't just lock me inside this house."
"I'm not locking you in."
"That's exactly what you're doing."
Lucian stood slowly.
The shift in height and presence instantly changed the atmosphere in the room. His shadow stretched across the polished floor as he faced her.
"You are under my protection."
"I didn't ask for protection."
"You needed it."
Her voice rose slightly.
"That doesn't mean I stop having a life!"
Lucian's expression remained controlled, but steel edged his voice now.
"Your brother is safer without people knowing his connection to you."
Elena crossed her arms stubbornly.
"You're making decisions for me again."
"Yes."
The blunt answer made her blink.
"And you think that's fair?"
"I think it's necessary."
The tension between them thickened like a storm building in the air.
Elena stared at him, frustration burning in her eyes.
"You don't get to control everything, Lucian."
His voice dropped lower.
"In my world… I do."
That was the last straw.
Elena scoffed.
"Then maybe I don't belong in your world."
Lucian didn't respond. His silence was calm. Too calm.
And somehow that made her even angrier. "Fine," she snapped. She turned sharply and stormed out of the office.
Her footsteps echoed down the long hallway as she marched toward her room, anger buzzing through her veins.
The door slammed shut behind her. She began pacing immediately. Back and forth Back and forth.
Like a storm trapped inside four walls. "He thinks he can just decide everything," she muttered under her breath.
Her brother was the only real family she had left. The only piece of her old life that still existed. And Lucian was keeping her away from him.
Elena collapsed onto the bed with a frustrated groan. "Unbelievable." Minutes passed. Then an hour.
The quiet knock on her door barely registered. She ignored it. Another knock followed.
"Elena," Marco's voice called from the hallway. Silence. "Elena, I know you're in there."
She exhaled loudly. "What?" The door creaked open and Marco peeked inside.
"Lucian says you're angry."
"Really?" she replied dryly.
"What gave it away?"
Marco chuckled. "Your dramatic exit. Elena rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"I'm not talking to him."
"That might be difficult."
"Why?"
Marco grinned. "Because he's the boss. She groaned. Marco stepped further into the room.
"Look, Elena… Lucian is stubborn."
"So am I."
"Yes," Marco admitted. "That's becoming very clear."
Elena sat up on the bed. "You all keep saying this world is dangerous. Marco nodded. "It is."
"Then teach me."
He blinked.
"Teach you what?"
"How to survive it.
Marco's playful expression faded.
"Elena…"
"I'm serious."
Her voice was steady now. Determined. "I don't want to sit around being protected like some fragile thing."
Marco studied her carefully.
"You want to train."
"Yes."
"You realize what that means."
"It means I stop being helpless."
Marco crossed his arms.
"Training here isn't like some self-defense class."
"I don't care."
"You'll get bruised."
"Fine."
"You might get hurt."
"Then I'll heal."
Marco stared at her for a long moment. "You're serious. Elena met his gaze without hesitation. "I want to fight." it wasn't out of anger or revenge. But out of survival.
Marco sighed and rubbed the back of his neck "Well..." "This conversation is definitely going to make Lucian very unhappy."
Elena smirked slightly. "Good. Marco chuckled. "You're going to be trouble. She leaned back against the headboard.
"I already am."
And for the first time since arriving here…
Elena wasn't just reacting to Lucian's world.
She was preparing to stand inside it.