In the days following the incident with Peter Davies, Ava's life within the Blackwood mansion grew even more isolated. Ryder kept his word. She was no longer permitted to step beyond the iron gates; even strolls in the garden were restricted, under the stricter supervision of Hawkins and the bodyguards. The vast mansion had suddenly become a true prison, albeit a lavish, gilded one. Her choice to stay, even if for Lam An's sake, had stripped away her last shred of freedom.
She spent most of her time in the library, sometimes just gazing out the window, watching the blue sky, longing to feel the wind in her hair once more without the sensation of being watched. Her yearning for Lam An gnawed at her. She knew her brother was stable, but not being able to see him, to touch him, twisted her heart. Hawkins still regularly brought brief updates on Lam An's condition, always emphasizing that all expenses were covered by Ryder, and all progress was under his control.
Ryder maintained his habit of returning late, or sometimes not at all. But when he did appear, his presence always enveloped the space. He no longer questioned her about what had happened, for he already knew the answer, and her submission seemed to satisfy him.
One evening, Ryder returned earlier than usual. He walked into the living room where Ava was reading. His gaze swept over her, then settled on the book in her hands. It was an old, well-worn romantic novel.
"Why do you read such nonsense?" Ryder asked, his voice devoid of anger, yet still cold and contemptuous. "Dreaming of a life that doesn't exist?"
Ava startled, closing the book. "It's the only way for me to escape reality," she blurted out, without thinking.
Ryder smirked, a barely perceptible, sarcastic half-smile. He approached, sitting in the chair opposite Ava. "Your reality is here. With me." He stared at her, his deep blue eyes like two frozen crystals. "Do you think you'd gain freedom by leaving here? Do you think you'd survive without me?"
Ava lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze. She knew he was right. Without Ryder's money, Lam An wouldn't have been saved.
"I... I'm grateful you saved my brother," Ava whispered, barely audible.
Ryder scoffed. "Grateful? Empty words hold no value." He stood up, went to the liquor cabinet, and poured himself a glass of whiskey. "You gave up your chance. Don't regret it now."
Ava looked up at him. "I don't regret it." She tried to keep her voice steady. "It's just... I want to know if Lam An is truly okay. Can I... can I see him just once?"
Ryder turned, his eyes as sharp as razors. "No." His voice was definitive. "Don't test my limits."
He took a sip of whiskey, then approached Ava. He reached out, his rough fingers touching her hair, gently stroking a soft lock. It was an unexpectedly gentle gesture that made Ava shiver.
"You are mine," Ryder said, his voice deepening, full of possession. "Even your thoughts are mine." He leaned down, kissing her forehead, a dry, emotionless kiss, yet it held absolute power. "I will show you that."
He pulled her to her feet, giving her no chance to resist. Ryder led Ava to his study, a place Ava had never been allowed to enter. The large room, dimly lit, filled with books and documents, exuded a strong scent of leather and old paper. Ryder pushed Ava down onto the large leather chair in front of his desk.
He walked to a hidden filing cabinet, opening it. Inside were hundreds of folders, neatly organized. Ryder pulled one out, tossing it onto the desk in front of Ava.
"Read it," he commanded.
Ava looked down at the folder. It was Lam An's medical record. Every detail, every test result, every treatment plan, every hospital bill. It was all clear, detailed, to the point where Ava felt dizzy. Not only the medical records, but also her family's financial records, their debts, their usurious loans. Ryder had investigated everything. He knew everything about her, about her family.
Ryder sat opposite her, his eyes never leaving Ava's face. "Do you see clearly now? Without me, what would become of your family? What would become of your brother?" His voice was full of power and dominance. "Do you think you can escape me? Do you think you can take care of yourself without me?"
Ava felt her entire body freeze. She looked at the enormous figures on the bills, at the lines describing Lam An's illness. Tears welled up. She realized that she was not only bound by the contract, but by her brother's very life. Ryder held everything.
"I... I understand," Ava sobbed.
Ryder stood up, pulling Ava closer. He lifted her chin, forcing her to face him. "You should understand that your submission is not just an obligation. It is the only thing that saves those you love."
He kissed her, a deep kiss, unemotional but full of power. He wanted her to feel that she was completely in his hands. Ryder pushed her onto the desk, scattering documents onto the floor. The desk was cold, the papers messy beneath Ava's back.
Ryder pulled up Ava's silk shirt, exposing her smooth skin under the dim light. His fingers, rough and cold, traced her skin, sweeping from her waist up to her ribs, then stopping at her breasts. Ava trembled, every hair on her skin standing on end. Ryder was not rushed; he wanted her to distinctly feel every moment of her submission. He leaned down, his wet kisses trailing along her neck, down to her collarbone, then to the hollow of her chest, each kiss a cruel mark of ownership.
Ava squeezed her eyes shut, hot tears streaming down her temples, soaking her hair. She bit her lip hard, trying to swallow back the sobs that threatened to escape. She felt his hot breath on her skin, his rough hands sliding lower, pushing her underwear aside. She shivered, feeling the cold air touch her most sensitive areas, and then immediately the warm, threatening pressure of his fingers. Ryder held her hips tightly with one hand, his other hand caressing down her thigh, making her let out a soft moan.
When Ryder entered, he was not gentle. The sudden, forceful penetration made Ava burst into choked sobs, her cries shattering in her throat. He didn't stop; he only tightened his grip on her, his eyes fixed on her face, as if wanting to memorize every painful expression, every tear. Ryder leaned down, whispering in her ear, his voice hoarse, full of lust and absolute possession: "Don't forget... you belong to me... entirely. Every inch of your flesh, every breath you take... is mine."
Every one of Ryder's thrusts was powerful, decisive, as if to assert his undeniable dominance. Ava felt as if she was being crushed beneath his strength, her body stretched to its limit. She bit her lip until it bled, trying not to utter another sound. Physical pain mingled with ultimate humiliation, piercing her to the bone. She felt nothing but emptiness and brokenness, as if her soul was being torn in two. Her last resistance crumbled; she could only surrender, abandoning herself to his brutality.
When Ryder finally released her, he moved off Ava, without a word. He adjusted his clothes, then calmly picked up the scattered documents. He looked at Ava lying there, naked, her eyes empty, lifeless.
"Don't forget this lesson," Ryder said, his voice as cold as before, with no trace of desire. "And never lie to me again."
He left, leaving Ava alone in his study, where the scent of old paper, leather, and Ryder's cologne mingled with her humiliation and tears. Ava lay there, staring into space, feeling utterly annihilated. She had become a part of Ryder, an inseparable possession. And that was more terrifying than anything else.