Chapter 10: Chains of Defiance
The door to the mansion slammed with a boom, shaking the fragile calm of the night.
Gabriel's anger filled the grand halls as he held Lirian's arm, pulling her through the corridors.
"You really enjoyed yourself tonight, didn't you?"
Lirian stumbled but kept her head high. "Let go of me, Gabriel. Your tantrums are beneath you."
Her words only seemed to feed his ego.
He spun on his heel and seized her by the mouth, pressing his fingers hard against her soft lips.
"You don't get to mock me," he growled.
"Do you think I didn't notice the way you looked at him? The way your eyes softened, your lips curved? You've been playing a dangerous game, my dear."
Her heart thundered, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of fear.
She wrenched her face free, glaring back at him. "I didn't look at him any differently than I look at you."
His brow furrowed, his jaw tightened.
She smiled coldly. "Actually, I take that back. He's charming. You, on the other hand? You're just a cruel man hiding behind his insecurities."
The slap came fast, strong, and precise, sending her head snapping to the side.
Silence swallowed the space between them as her cheek burned.
"You think this is a game?" His voice was deceptively calm.
"Do you think you can humiliate me and not suffer the consequences?"
"Do you think you can break me?" she replied back, shaking only slightly.
"You don't scare me, Gabriel. I may be your wife on paper, but I don't belong to you."
He grabbed her wrist, twisting it just enough to make her gasp in pain.
"You will do as you're told, Lirian. Go to your chambers before I lose what little patience I have left."
She yanked her arm free with a force that surprised even her.
"I'm not your slave," she spat. "And I don't take orders from a man who acts like a spoiled child whenever he doesn't get his way."
Something dark passed over his face, like a shadow that took away his last bit of control.
Without a word, he stepped closer, pulling the knife from the sheath at his side.
The cold steel gleamed as he held it up, pressing the flat of the blade against her cheek.
"Say that again," he murmured slowly. "I dare you."
Her breath hitched, but she didn't flinch.
Instead, she lifted her chin, her dark lashes lowered as she stared at the blade.
Her lips parted, and her voice was quiet but confident.
"Do it, Gabriel. If you think this will solve your problems, then go ahead. But be ready to face the crown prince... and my family."
"Hahahhaah," he laughed.
"Your family? Is that what you're clinging to?" He leaned in.
"Your family works for me. They're the ones who sold you to me, my dear wife. Every piece of silk you wear, every morsel of food you eat—it's all bought with their compliance."
Her eyes widened, and for the first time, the fire in her eyes dimmed.
She didn't understand why, but tears stung her eyes, burning trails down her cheeks.
She blinked rapidly, refusing to let him see her break.
"Liar," she whispered, almost cracking. "You're a liar."
"Am I?" he sneered.
"Do you want me to fetch the contracts? The signatures of your oh-so-loyal family?" He chuckled, stepping back just enough to savor the shattered expression on her face.
"You don't understand, Lirian. You've never understood. You are mine—body and soul. And the sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for you."
She shook her head, her tears started falling freely.
"You're a monster," she whispered.
"And you're a lesson that needs to be learned," he stated coldly.
Without warning, he grabbed her wrist again and dragged her toward her chambers.
She struggled, pulling back, but he was stronger.
"Gabriel, let me go!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the empty halls.
He didn't answer.
When they reached her room, he kicked the door open, its heavy wood slamming against the wall.
He shoved her inside, the force sending her stumbling onto the bed.
"Stay there," he commanded in a tone that was like a whip.
She scrambled to her feet, fire returning to her eyes.
"I'll leave when I want to, and you can't stop me."
But she was wrong.
Immediately, he pulled a length of chain from his belt... it was like a tool of control he had clearly prepared for this moment.
Before she could react, he pinned her down, his weight overpowering her struggles, and fastened the chain around her wrist, locking it to the iron frame of the bed.
"You bastard!" she screamed, kicking and thrashing. "Let me go! You can't do this!"
He stepped back. "You'll leave when you've learned your lesson, not a moment before."
Her chest heaved, anger and helplessness fighting inside her, making her tremble.
"You think this makes you strong? You're nothing but a coward, Gabriel! A scared little boy who can't handle rejection!"
Her words struck a nerve.
He leaned down, close enough for her to see the tornado in his golden eyes.
"You want to talk about fear? Fine. Let's talk about yours. You fear that you'll never leave here, that I'll always own you. And you should. Because as long as you belong to me, there is no prince, no family, no savior who will come for you."
She stared at him, her throat tight, tears blurring her vision. "You— you'll pa-pay for this," she stuttered.
"Perhaps," he said, "but not tonight."
He straightened, turned on his heel, and walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he gave her one last glance.
"Sleep well, my dear. You have a long lesson ahead of you."
The door slammed, leaving Lirian chained, defiant but alone in the cold, oppressive silence of her chambers.