Silence settled over the room like a suffocating fog.
Not the peaceful kind.
Not the kind that calms the heart.
This silence was heavy.
Crushing.
Unforgiving.
Elena didn't cry.
Not this time.
No tears fell.
No sobs escaped.
Because something inside her had gone still.
Completely still.
She sat on the cold floor, her body slack, her hands resting lifelessly on her lap. Her gaze fixed on nothing—empty, distant, hollow.
As if whatever was inside her…
Had already broken beyond repair.
The world blurred around her.
Voices, threats, fear—
Everything faded into a dull echo.
Why…?
The question floated somewhere in her mind.
Weak.
Barely alive.
Why was I even born…?
Her chest felt tight.
But no tears came.
Because even grief had abandoned her.
A sharp flick broke the silence.
Click.
Adrian stood a few steps away.
A lighter in his hand.
The small flame danced to life, glowing against the darkness in his eyes.
In his other hand—
The letter.
Crumpled.
Wrinkled.
Dangerous.
Without hesitation—
He brought the flame to its edge.
The paper caught fire instantly.
The flames spread quickly, devouring the words, the ink, the message—
As if erasing the sender's existence itself.
Adrian watched it burn.
Calmly.
Intently.
A faint satisfaction flickering across his face.
As if every inch of that burning paper was someone's flesh.
Someone's defiance.
Someone's audacity.
The fire reflected in his eyes—
Wild.
Ruthless.
Unforgiving.
He didn't look away.
Not even when the flames licked his fingers slightly.
Not even when the paper curled into blackened edges.
He held it—
Until it turned to nothing.
Ashes.
Then finally—
He let it fall.
The remains scattered on the floor.
Gone.
Just like that.
Adrian turned.
His gaze landed on her.
Still sitting there.
Still empty.
Still unmoving.
For a brief second—
Something shifted in his expression.
Something unreadable.
But it vanished almost instantly.
Replaced by the same dark intensity.
He strode toward her.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Each step echoing in the silence.
Then—
Without warning—
He grabbed her arm.
Pulling her up from the floor.
Not gently.
But not enough to hurt her either.
Just enough to force her to stand.
To face him.
"See that?"
His voice was low.
Dangerous.
He tilted his head slightly toward the ashes on the floor.
"I'll burn his entire existence just like that."
His grip tightened slightly.
His jaw clenched.
"But before that…"
His eyes darkened further.
"…I'll carve out his eyeballs."
Elena's breath hitched.
"…because he dared to look at what's mine."
A pause.
His voice dropped even lower.
Colder.
"…and I'll crush his brain for even thinking of taking what belongs to me."
The words weren't just threats.
They were promises.
Raw.
Violent.
Terrifyingly real.
For a moment—
She just stared at him.
Then suddenly—
She pushed him.
With whatever strength she had left.
"Stop it…!"
Her voice broke.
Shaking.
"Please… stop saying things like that…"
Her chest heaved.
Her throat tight.
Tears burned in her eyes—
But still, they didn't fall.
Adrian didn't move.
Not even an inch.
Her push didn't affect him at all.
He stood there.
Unshaken.
Unbothered.
His expression hardened.
His jaw clenched tighter.
Then—
"The marriage will happen the day after tomorrow."
His tone changed.
Firm.
Dominating.
Final.
No room for argument.
No room for refusal.
"Don't waste your time crying."
His gaze scanned her face briefly.
Sharp.
Calculating.
"And don't starve yourself."
A slight pause.
Then—
"I don't want my bride fainting from exhaustion and malnourishment."
The word bride hit her like a slap.
Her fingers curled into fists.
Her nails digging into her palms.
"It's my order."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Then—
Adrian stepped closer.
Too close.
His presence overwhelming.
"You…"
His voice dropped into a dangerous whisper.
"…are mine."
Each word slow.
Deliberate.
Like chains locking into place.
"Don't make me repeat myself."
A pause.
His eyes burned into hers.
"Otherwise…"
His hand lifted slightly—
Not touching her—
But close enough to make her flinch.
"…I'll carve my name into your very soul."
Her breath caught.
Her entire body stiffened.
Because something in his tone—
Something in his eyes—
Told her he meant it.
Every word.
Every threat.
Every claim.
Behind him—
The guards stood frozen.
Silent.
No one dared speak.
No one dared move.
Because they knew—
This wasn't the time.
This wasn't something anyone could interfere in.
This was between Adrian—
And what he had decided was his.
One by one—
They slowly left the room.
Closing the door quietly behind them.
Leaving them alone.
Silence returned.
But it wasn't the same.
It was heavier now.
Darker.
Filled with unsaid words.
Unspoken screams.
Elena stood there.
Facing him.
Her eyes no longer empty.
No—
Now they burned.
With something else.
Rage.
Pain.
Hurt.
And something even deeper.
Something she couldn't put into words.
Her lips parted slightly.
As if she wanted to speak.
To scream.
To reject.
But no sound came out.
Because what could she say?
What words could break a man like him?
What voice could stand against that kind of power?
Still—
Her eyes spoke.
Loudly.
Clearly.
They told him everything she couldn't say.
I hate this.
I hate you.
I won't accept this.
Adrian saw it.
Every bit of it.
And instead of anger—
A slow, dangerous smirk appeared on his lips.
As if her resistance—
Amused him.
Interested him.
Challenged him.
"Keep looking at me like that," he murmured.
His voice almost… intrigued.
"It won't change anything."
Her chest rose and fell sharply.
But she didn't look away.
Not this time.
He stepped back slightly.
Giving her just enough space to breathe.
But not enough to escape.
"Get ready."
His voice returned to its usual command.
"Everything will be arranged."
Without waiting for a response—
He turned.
And walked out of the room.
The door closed behind him with a firm sound.
Leaving her alone again.
—
Minutes passed.
Or maybe hours.
She didn't know.
Didn't care.
Elena stood there.
Still.
Frozen.
Trying to process everything.
But her mind refused.
Her heart refused.
This wasn't her life.
This couldn't be her life.
But it was.
And there was no way out.
Or so she thought.