The ride was silent.
Too silent.
The car moved smoothly through the empty road, but inside—
The tension was suffocating.
Aria sat by the window, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of her dress.
Her eyes stayed outside—
Watching.
Thinking.
Trying to breathe.
Beside her, Rowan said nothing.
Not a single word.
But his presence—
It was everywhere.
Heavy.
Controlling.
Unavoidable.
Every time she shifted slightly—
She could feel it.
His gaze.
On her.
Always on her.
Like she was something he owned.
Not someone.
Something.
Aria swallowed slowly.
Her chest felt tight.
That voice—
It hadn't disappeared.
"Don't trust him…"
It echoed again.
Soft.
But sharp enough to make her heart skip.
Her fingers curled tighter.
She didn't know who that voice belonged to.
But one thing—
It felt real.
More real than anything Rowan had said.
The car suddenly slowed.
Then stopped.
Aria blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.
Her eyes lifted.
And then—
She froze.
In front of her stood a massive mansion.
Dark.
Elegant.
And cold.
It didn't feel like a home.
It felt like something else.
Something watching.
Something waiting.
Rowan stepped out first.
Calm.
As if everything was normal.
As if this—
Was normal.
He walked around the car and opened her door.
Holding it.
Waiting.
Aria hesitated.
Just for a second.
But that second—
Didn't go unnoticed.
Rowan tilted his head slightly.
His eyes darkened.
"Come out, Aria."
His voice was soft.
But it wasn't a request.
It was a command.
Aria slowly stepped out.
The moment her feet touched the ground—
A strange chill ran through her body.
She looked up at the mansion again.
Something inside her twisted.
"I… don't like this place," she whispered.
Rowan's expression didn't change.
"You will."
Simple.
Flat.
Final.
Her heart sank slightly.
Before she could say anything—
His hand wrapped around her wrist again.
Firm.
Possessive.
"Let's go."
No escape.
No space.
Aria didn't resist.
But her steps felt heavier with each second.
The large doors opened.
And the moment she stepped inside—
Her breath caught.
The interior was beautiful.
Luxurious.
Perfect.
But—
Empty.
Too empty.
Too quiet.
Like no one truly lived there.
Like it was just waiting…
For her.
Aria's eyes moved around slowly.
Taking everything in.
Trying to feel something.
Anything.
And then—
It hit her.
A sharp pain in her head.
She gasped softly.
Her hand flew to her temple.
Flash—
A staircase.
Blood.
Her own voice—
"Let me go!"
Her eyes widened.
Her breathing turned uneven.
"No…"
The memory vanished instantly.
Like it was never there.
But the fear stayed.
Rowan noticed.
Of course he did.
He always noticed.
"What happened?"
His voice was low.
Controlled.
But his eyes—
Sharp.
Watching for every reaction.
Aria shook her head quickly.
"I… I just felt dizzy."
A lie.
She didn't even know why she lied.
But something told her—
She shouldn't tell him everything.
Not yet.
Rowan stared at her for a moment longer.
Too long.
Like he was trying to read her mind.
Then—
He stepped closer.
Too close.
His fingers lifted her chin gently.
Forcing her to look at him.
"If something comes back…"
His voice dropped.
Dangerous.
"You tell me."
Not caring.
Not concern.
Control.
Aria nodded slowly.
But inside—
Something resisted.
Something whispered—
Don't.
Rowan finally let go.
Turning away.
"Your room is upstairs."
He started walking.
Then paused.
Without looking back—
"Stay where I can see you."
Aria's chest tightened.
That wasn't normal.
That wasn't love.
That was surveillance.
She followed him anyway.
Because what choice did she have?
The staircase creaked slightly as she stepped on it.
And the moment she reached the top—
Her heart stopped.
For a second.
The hallway—
It felt familiar.
Too familiar.
Like she had walked here before.
Run here before.
Her breathing became uneven again.
Her steps slowed.
And then—
She saw it.
A door.
Half closed.
Dark inside.
Something about that door—
Pulled her.
Without thinking—
She stepped toward it.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Her fingers reached out—
And pushed it open.
Creak—
The sound echoed.
Loud.
Too loud.
The room inside was dark.
Cold.
And empty.
But in the middle of the floor—
There was something.
A broken chain.
Aria's eyes widened.
Her breath stopped.
A sudden, violent flash hit her—
Her hands tied.
Her struggling.
Her voice screaming—
"Rowan, stop—!"
She gasped sharply—
Stumbling back.
"No… no…"
Her body trembled.
That wasn't imagination.
That wasn't nothing.
That was real.
Before she could process it—
A voice came from behind.
Cold.
Quiet.
Terrifying.
"You weren't supposed to come in here."
Aria froze.
Slowly—
She turned.
Rowan stood there.
Watching her.
Not angry.
Not shocked.
Just—
Dark.
His eyes moved from her face—
To the broken chain.
Then back to her.
And for the first time—
There was no softness left.
Only danger.
"Curiosity…" he said slowly.
"Is a very dangerous thing, Aria."
Her heart pounded violently.
"I— I didn't mean—"
He stepped forward.
Once.
Twice.
Closing the distance instantly.
"You don't remember," he murmured.
Almost to himself.
Then his gaze locked onto hers.
"But your body does."
Aria's breath hitched.
Fear wrapped around her chest.
Tightly.
Painfully.
Rowan leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropping to a whisper near her ear—
"You tried to run once."
A pause.
Deadly.
"You won't try again."
Her entire body went cold.
Because this time—
It didn't sound like a warning.
It sounded like a promise.
And somewhere deep inside—
That same voice screamed louder than ever.RUN.
The word didn't come from her mind this time.
It screamed.
Louder.
Sharper.
Like a warning carved into her soul.
Aria's breath hitched.
Her heart pounded violently against her chest—
Because for the first time…
She wasn't confused anymore.
She was afraid. Not of the past.
Not of the unknown voice.
But of him.
Of Rowan.
And deep down—
She knew.
If she didn't run now…
She might never get the chance again.