Prologue

The room was dimly lit, and the oppressive silence was deafening. My hands were tied tightly behind my back, the rough ropes digging into my wrists. My legs were bound too, rendering me immobile. A dull ache throbbed in my head as I slowly came to my senses.

The air was heavy and carried a faint metallic smell-blood? Or was it just my imagination? It was hard to tell in the suffocating darkness. My last memory surfaced like a cold wave, sending shivers down my spine.

I was on my way to the marriage hall. My marriage. The white gown, the bouquet in my trembling hands, the excitement mixed with nervous energy. I remember the car, the laughter of my friends, the faint melody of the wedding bells in my mind.

And then... nothing.

The cold realization hit me. Something had gone terribly wrong. The question echoed in my mind: "How did I end up here?"

I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the dim light as fear clawed at my chest. Was it a kidnapping? A cruel prank? My throat was dry, my heart pounding furiously.

Straining against the ropes, I tried to gather my strength. I needed to figure out where I was-and most importantly, why.

I was still lost in my thoughts, trying to piece together fragments of memory, when the sharp click of a door opening echoed through the room. My heart leapt into my throat, and my breath quickened. Through the haze in my vision, I made out a tall figure leaning casually against the doorframe. The dim light cast an eerie glow on his silhouette, highlighting the glass of whiskey in his hand, which he swirled slowly, almost deliberately.

He stepped into the room, and with every measured step, my dread grew. His presence was suffocating, his movements commanding, as if he owned the very ground he walked on. He stopped in front of me, close enough for me to feel his heat, and tilted his head, a predatory glint in his eyes.

"Mm, my babygirl is awake," he murmured, his voice deep and taunting, each word slicing through me like ice.

A chill raced down my spine. That voice-it was familiar. I had heard it before. But where? My mind scrambled to recall, but the memory danced just out of reach.

He crouched down, his face inches from mine, and untied the cloth gagging me. He held a glass of water to my lips, and despite my fear, I drank it greedily, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat. I gasped for breath, the shock and suffocating darkness making it hard to think.

"Who... who are you?" I stammered, my voice trembling.

He chuckled-a low, dangerous sound. "Too desperate, huh?" he mocked, straightening up. He turned away, pacing leisurely before stopping at a distance.

"Don't worry, love. You'll get to know everything," he said, his tone dripping with a mixture of amusement and malice.

Before I could ask more, the door opened again. Another man entered, carrying a plate of food. The tall figure gestured toward me, taking the plate and walking back.

"Eat, babygirl," he said, holding it out. "It's all your favorite."

My stomach churned, both from fear and hunger. The aroma was tantalizing, and I realized how weak I felt. But I clenched my jaw. My pride wouldn't let me give in to him.

"I don't need your food," I spat, mustering as much defiance as I could. "Just untie me and let me go!"

He laughed, dark and menacing, setting the plate down on a nearby table. "Oh, my baby doesn't get it yet," he said, his voice laced with mockery.

"Get what?" I snapped, desperation creeping into my tone.

He didn't answer, instead turning to leave. His boots clicked against the floor, each sound ringing in the heavy silence. As he opened the door, he paused, flicking a switch.

The room was bathed in a red light. The shadows deepened, and the eerie glow transformed the space into something straight out of a nightmare.

"Tell me!" I shouted, my voice trembling despite my resolve.

He turned back, his smirk darker than before, and strode toward me. He leaned in close, so close I could feel his breath.

"You can never go back to them," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

My blood ran cold. The weight of his words settled over me like a crushing tide. Who was he talking about? My family?My friends?My fiancé?

I stared at him, shock rendering me speechless.

He stood back, the smirk still playing on his lips. At the door, he stopped and muttered one last word, just loud enough for me to hear:

"Mine."

The door slammed shut, leaving me in the red-lit room, my mind reeling, fear gripping me like a vice.

How could he do this? Who was he? And why me? My chest heaved as I struggled to make sense of it all. One thing was clear: I wasn't safe. Not here, and not with him.