The villa felt smaller after Alexander discovered my escape plan.
He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t lock me in a room. Instead, he simply tightened the invisible chains around me. The new security guards became a constant presence. The boat was moved to a locked dock. Even the children’s playtime was carefully scheduled and supervised.
I was never alone.
That morning, I sat on the terrace watching Alex and Sofia play under the watchful eyes of a guard. My hand rested on my pregnant belly as the baby kicked gently. The rose-gold collar around my neck caught the sunlight, a beautiful reminder of the man who refused to let me go.
Alexander joined me, pulling a chair close and taking my hand. His touch was gentle, but his grip was firm.
“You haven’t spoken much since that night,” he sa
