The mansion breathed.
Selene noticed it before she fully opened her eyes. A low, almost imperceptible hum vibrated through the walls, steady and controlled, like a giant machine quietly alive. The air felt colder than it had the night before, sharper against her skin. She lay still, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, watching faint lines of light creep through the tall windows as morning claimed the room.
She did not remember falling asleep.
Her body ached with exhaustion, yet her mind had refused to rest. Every time she closed her eyes, Adrien's voice returned, calm and unyielding, repeating the same truth until it branded itself into her thoughts.
No escape.
She pushed herself upright slowly, the heavy sheets sliding off her legs. The bed was massive, designed for comfort, yet it felt like a display piece rather than something meant to be used. Nothing here felt personal. Not the furniture. Not the art. Not even the silence.
Especially not the silence.
As Selene swung her feet onto the floor, the door unlocked with a quiet click.
She froze.
The sound was small, polite even, but it sent a sharp jolt through her chest. A reminder that privacy here was not hers to control.
A woman stepped inside, dressed in a simple black uniform. Her hair was pulled back tightly, her expression blank and professional.
"Good morning, Mrs. Moreau," she said.
The title felt wrong. Heavy. Like clothing that did not fit.
"Breakfast is ready," the woman continued. "You are expected downstairs in fifteen minutes."
Expected. Not invited.
Before Selene could respond, the woman gestured toward the adjoining bathroom and left, the door closing softly behind her.
Selene exhaled shakily.
The bathroom looked like something pulled from a magazine. Marble surfaces. Gold fixtures. Mirrors large enough to reflect every angle of her unease. She turned on the faucet and watched the water spill out, clear and controlled, as if even the plumbing obeyed strict rules.
She splashed water on her face, gripping the edge of the sink.
This is real, she told herself. This is happening.
When she dressed, she chose the simplest option offered in the wardrobe. A soft cream blouse and dark trousers. Nothing flashy. Nothing that invited attention. She wanted to disappear as much as possible.
The hallway outside her room looked different in daylight. Less shadowed, but no less intimidating. Sunlight filtered in through high windows, casting pale reflections on the polished floor. The artwork along the walls seemed to watch her as she passed, distorted faces frozen mid emotion.
She sensed movement before she saw it.
Guards stood at intervals along the corridor, positioned with deliberate symmetry. They did not look at her directly, but she felt their awareness all the same. Every step she took was observed, measured.
The staircase opened into the main dining hall, and her heart sank when she saw Adrien already seated.
He was dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, crisp and unwrinkled, as if he had not slept at all. A cup of coffee rested at his side, untouched. He was reading something on his tablet, expression unreadable.
"Sit," he said, without looking up.
Selene obeyed.
The chair across from him felt too large, swallowing her frame. The table between them stretched longer than necessary, a physical reminder of the distance he maintained even while controlling every inch of her world.
"You slept," he said.
It was not a question.
"Barely," she replied.
His eyes lifted to hers. Dark. Focused. Assessing. "You will adjust."
She glanced at the food set before her. Perfectly arranged. Too perfect. "I do not feel hungry."
"You will eat anyway."
She forced herself to pick up her fork. Each bite felt like swallowing obligation rather than nourishment.
Adrien set his tablet aside. "After breakfast, you will be shown the house. Understanding your environment is essential."
Her fingers tightened. "So I can see how trapped I am?"
A faint flicker of amusement crossed his face. "So you do not make foolish mistakes."
They walked after breakfast, his stride unhurried, hers cautious. The mansion revealed itself piece by piece, like a puzzle she was not meant to solve fully.
There were sitting rooms no one sat in, pristine and untouched. A library that smelled of old paper and authority. A hallway lined with locked doors Adrien did not acknowledge.
"What are those rooms?" she asked.
"Private," he replied.
Every answer he gave felt like a closed door.
They entered a glass enclosed space overlooking the grounds. Outside, manicured gardens stretched toward high iron gates. Beyond them, the city loomed, distant and unreachable.
"That is as close as you get," Adrien said. "The gates do not open without my approval."
Selene pressed her palm lightly against the glass. It was cold. Solid. Unforgiving.
"Does anyone ever leave?" she asked.
"Yes."
Her heart lifted briefly. "When?"
"When I allow it."
The hope died instantly.
As they continued, Selene noticed cameras everywhere. Corners. Ceilings. Hidden behind decorative fixtures. The mansion was not just a home. It was a surveillance system disguised as luxury.
Finally, Adrien stopped outside a narrow corridor.
"You will not enter this wing," he said.
"What is here?" she asked.
He looked at her then, really looked at her, as if weighing the cost of honesty. "People who thought rules did not apply to them."
A chill slid down her spine.
Voices echoed from below. Low. Male. Laced with humor that did not reach the eyes. Adrien changed direction, leading her toward the sound.
They descended into a lower level that smelled faintly of metal and smoke. The room they entered was wide and dim, lit by overhead lights that cast harsh shadows. Men stood around a table cluttered with maps, documents, and weapons.
The talking stopped.
Every gaze shifted to her.
Selene felt stripped bare under their scrutiny. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to thinly veiled interest. One of them smiled slowly, and her stomach twisted.
Adrien stepped slightly in front of her.
"She is under my protection," he said.
The smile vanished.
"She belongs to me."
The words settled heavily in the air.
As they left, Selene's legs trembled. She did not realize how close she was to panic until they were safely back upstairs.
Back at her door, Adrien paused.
"You will remain here today," he said. "Staff will bring what you need."
"What if I need air?" she asked quietly.
"You have windows."
"What if I need space?"
"You have this room."
She swallowed. "And if I need freedom?"
His gaze hardened. "You gave that up."
The door closed behind her with finality.
Selene slid down against it, pressing her forehead to the wood. Her chest felt tight, her thoughts spiraling.
The mansion was beautiful. Immaculate. A masterpiece of wealth and control.
And it was alive.
She felt it watching her, listening, waiting.
She rose slowly and moved to the window. Clouds gathered over the city, dark and heavy, casting long shadows over the streets below.
Somewhere out there, life continued as normal.
Inside these walls, Selene understood one undeniable truth.
The mansion had eyes.
And Adrien was always watching.