Trapped with the heart that loved him

se neve

g fountains at the center of the compound. Staff moved silently through the hallways, shadows flitting across walls lined with

ther's rules were invisible walls and though I appeared free, every step I took had alway

My heels clicked against the stones as I stepped from the house into the driveway, straightening the emerald silk dress that hugged my curves in all the

oors. Sculptures and paintings lined the walls, each a symbol of power and taste. Everything about this house screamed contr

Mee

tall, immaculately dressed in a dark tailored suit. He didn't smile often. When

g us tonight," he s

tanding, Smiling,Observing, Being beautiful, being graceful, being silent. My life w

't belong. She had always been my rebellion, my breath of air in a life boxed by luxury and rules.

e hall. "Your house somehow manages

ntly. "That's

tiful,curvy,confident. You walk like you own the room, even if your life is... we

my eyes.

r could auction you tonight, and peopl

everything I pretended didn't matter,the way I carried myself, the way I

hony of politeness and quiet competition. I moved through it all like I always did, standing by my father, noddin

hen I f

. it was Subtle, mag

oward the ba

was t

lly in his pocket, the other held a glass untouched. He wasn't moving, wasn

eyes

ng of glasses. My breath caught. My heart slammed against my ribs. The

trong jawline, high cheekbones, eyes like sharp knives softened by mystery. A mouth that hinted at charm and danger at once. He didn

ve. ....In fa

ed my arm. "Meela

oice caught in my throa

dn't lo

ther

in a single look: awareness, curiosity, and the silent promise of chaos. My chest tightened.

"He's... unreal. Yo

to observe, to comply, to obey rules. Yet this man, th

e said. Calm words, but firm and Protective . My father,Mr.Harlan didn't s

s already violating a rule my f

hold my gaze, and yet here he was unapologetic, unflinching, standing so close I could feel the weight of his presence a

just attraction; this was dan

nder the hum of the crowd, "Mark my

gled. She could see the tension, the

fixated. He hadn't moved, hadn't interacted with anyone, yet his presence was ab

t my body... my body betrayed me. It leaned forward,

e didn't speak, but the warning in that glance froze me cold. Do not l

ay of falling apart when

tightening just to resist him, and yet a tiny

hen...

vier, my heartbeat louder, the room smaller. His gaze swept the hall with quiet command, lingering where it pleased.

chest burned with the urge to act, to step, to speak, to touch but I

as a promise he w

night twisted

d, thinking it a minor fault in the wiring. But I knew better. Something had shifted, something unsee

life had irrevocably changed. The comfortable, safe, locked-in wo

id nothing to ease the fire building in my chest. His calm

everything

I kn

d exist so close to me, had already staked a claim ,not on my

racted to nothing but that dangerous, undeniable pull. I didn't know his

w this: Alaiz w

was powerle