I wasn't sure at what point I fell asleep, but when I woke up, I wasn't in the car anymore. The first thing I noticed was how soft the sheets beneath my fingertips felt. The second was the enormity of the room I was in.
Growing up rich, I knew what it felt like to wake up and live in luxury, but this? This was extreme.
The room was grand, with white marble floors that reflected the sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, a canopy bed that was twice as large and lush as the one in my apartment was, and furniture that screamed unlimited money.
I knew that the Blackwoods lived in a three-hundred-million-dollar mansion, it had been pasted all over the tabloids years ago, and people still talked about it. It's probably where I was.
It was a private estate with about four different enormous buildings, and I supposed the two of the Blackwood brothers owned one each, along with other numerous properties.
But it didn't matter how luxurious or beautiful the Blackwoods mansion was, I wasn't going to live here.
Sitting up, I threw the covers off my body and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, taking a moment to steady myself. I winced when I felt a sharp pain in my neck, and when I caught my reflection in the mirror across the room, the faint bruise at its base sent a wave of fury coursing through my bones.
I was startled by a knock at the door, but before I could answer, it swung open. A young woman stepped in, carrying a tray filled with food. When she dropped the tray on a nearby table, I studied the content—fresh fruits, toast, and a steaming cup of coffee.
She started to leave without a word but I stopped her.
"Wait," I said, my voice harsher than I intended. She froze, a tentative smile playing on her lips as she turned around.
"What is this place?" I asked, then shaking my head at the ridiculous question, I rephrased. "Where's Axel?"
Her warm, brown eyes flicked to the door, fear flashing in them, before she murmured, "You're in Mr. Blackwood's estate. Please eat."
And with that, she scurried out, leaving me alone again.
******
I didn't touch the food. Instead, I spent the next hour exploring the room, testing the doors which were locked. The girl from earlier must have locked it with a key or something after she left.
The windows were impossible to even try to check. There weren't any railings or anything that would aid me if I were to make my escape. The vents in the room were too small. The only other door in the room led to a lavish bathroom, complete with gilded mirrors and a clawfoot tub.
I was still searching for something—anything—that could get me the fuck out of there when I heard the doorknob turn and the door opened again.
This time, it was Axel.
He leaned casually against the doorframe, dressed in a black suit that looked tailored to perfection. His eyes, dark and unpredictable, did a slow sweep of my frame from my feet to my head. I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another, but I didn't take my eyes off him.
I was still putting on the same gown from last night, and for some reason, I hated that I wasn't dressed properly in front of him.
I noticed that his expression faltered a bit when his eyes lingered on my neck, but before I could figure out what it was, the mask was back like it never left.
"You're awake," he said when his eyes settled on my face.
I didn't reply, and his eyes darted to the table containing the untouched food, and back to me. "I see you haven't touched your breakfast."
Folding my arms across my chest, I said, "I'm not hungry."
Axel stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with a click. His movements were unhurried, as though he had all the time in the world to deal with me.
"Not hungry," he echoed with a low and calm voice that still managed to sound somehow more threatening than if he shouted. "Or just being difficult?"
"Maybe both," I said, forcing myself to hold his gaze.
He paused in front of me, staring me down and forcing me to take an involuntary step back. His smirk was maddening. "Difficult suits you, but starving yourself won't help your situation, darling."
I clenched my fists at his casual endearment, nails biting into my palm hard enough to make me bleed. "I'd rather starve than eat something provided by you. Let me go."
His dark eyes glinted, and he took another step closer. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to put some distance between us but I stood my ground, refusing to back away again.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," he said, "You see, your running away violated the terms of the contract, so I had it altered."
Altered? A wave of confusion swept through me.
"Your father was thrilled to hand you over to me completely." He raised a hand to my hair, almost gently stroking it once.
The air between us grew tense and heavy, and I felt something within me stir.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, scared of the answer but knowing it was something I needed to hear.
"Don't worry about that, darling," I flinched again at that word. "All you have to do is not run away."
His hand on my hair pulled forcefully and I hissed as his expression shifted into something darker. Something… predatory.
"You're dead if I catch you trying to run away again."
I barked a laugh. "I bet you're just dying to choke me to death right now, aren't you?" My voice was sharp.
Axel's smirk widened. "That depends," he said, his voice dipping lower. "Will you give me a reason to?"
I hated how small I looked under his gaze. His presence in the room left no space for me to breathe.
"You're a monster," I said quietly, my voice trembling despite my best efforts.
His smile faltered, just for a moment, and his chiseled jaw twitched. I almost laughed because I knew I'd gotten to him. But then the smile returned, sharper than it was before.
"Perhaps," he said, as if he didn't care one way or the other.
For a long moment, we just stared at each other. I wasn't sure if I was still holding my ground or I was just frozen in place. Then, without warning, he reached out again.
I flinched, but he didn't touch me. Instead, he side-stepped, picking up the plate of food, and carried it to the door.
"You don't want it? Fine." He opened the door and handed the tray to the lady from before. I never even knew she was there.
Axel turned to look at me one last time. "But don't expect me to be so accommodating next time, Remira."
The door closed behind him with a finality that made my stomach drop. I stared at it for a long time, my chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.
My father and brother had betrayed me, but I wasn't going to cry. That would mean letting them win.
They didn't know me. None of them did.
Not even Axel.