Chapter 2 What I need is freedom

"It's nice to finally meet you, Raisa. Adrian talks about you a lot," Lara said in a tone that was hard to interpret.

Raisa tried to smile again. "Really? I didn't know Adrian talked about me that much."

Lara chuckled, her voice sounding like the soft tinkling of a bell but with a hint of sarcasm behind it. "Oh, he doesn't talk much. But from what he does say, it's clear that you are someone very special to him."

Raisa felt that there was something wrong with Lara's words, but she didn't want to offend her. "I'm just trying to be a good wife," Raisa replied, although deep down, she knew that she felt more like a prisoner than a wife.

Lara studied Raisa with a sharp gaze. "You know, Adrian is a very possessive man. He doesn't like it when what he has is touched by other people."

"Yes, I know," Raisa replied softly, her eyes starting to droop. This conversation was making her even more uncomfortable.

"So, you have to be careful, Raisa," Lara continued, her tone turning serious. "Adrian may seem like a loving man to you, but he has a very scary side. I've known him for a long time, and I know what he's capable of."

Raisa felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean, Lara?"

Lara leaned back on the sofa, her expression turning softer, but there was a clear tension in her movements. "I just want you to know that marrying Adrian means you have to be ready for all the consequences. There is no room for mistakes, Raisa. Once you break your word, Adrian will not hesitate to show you who he really is."

Lara's words hung in the air like a dark, threatening cloud. Raisa knew that there was something more than a warning in Lara's words. Maybe it was a subtle warning, or maybe it was a veiled threat. Raisa couldn't be sure.

"Thank you for the warning, Lara," Raisa finally said, trying to hide her anxiety.

Lara smiled thinly. "Of course, I only care about you. I hope you will be happy with Adrian."

Raisa lowered her head, trying to hide the feeling of suffocation that suddenly came over her. After Lara left, Raisa remained sitting in the living room with her mind racing. Lara's words rang in her head, reinforcing the fear that was already in her heart.

***

That night, Adrian came home earlier than usual. Raisa, who was reading in the living room, was shocked when she saw Adrian enter with a face that looked darker than usual. He walked towards Raisa with firm steps, and without warning, he pulled Raisa to her feet.

"You met Lara earlier," Adrian said, not asking, but rather as a statement.

"Yes," Raisa answered softly, confused by Adrian's sudden change in attitude.

"What did she tell you?" Adrian asked in a demanding tone.

Raisa felt her throat dry up. "Nothing important, she just reminded me to be careful."

Adrian tightened his grip on Raisa's arm, his eyes staring sharply into Raisa's eyes. "Listen, Raisa. Lara is my past. Don't let her make you think badly of me. I don't want any secrets between us, especially ones involving Lara."

Raisa nodded quickly, frightened by the intensity in Adrian's gaze. "I won't do anything, Adrian. I don't want to cause trouble."

Adrian stared at Raisa for a few more seconds before he finally loosened his grip and took a deep breath. "Good. Remember, Raisa, I love you very much. And because of that, I won't let anyone, not even Lara, ruin our relationship."

Raisa could only nod, feeling caught between fear and duty. She knew that in the world Adrian lived in, love and power were two sides of the same coin, and she was just part of a bigger game.

***

In the following days, Raisa began to feel increasing pressure from Adrian. Every time she spoke to someone else, especially a man, Adrian would always want to know who she was talking to, about what, and why. He even began to forbid Raisa from interacting too long with the male servants in their house.

"Why do you have to talk to them more than necessary?" Adrian asked one day, his tone calm but containing a veiled threat.

"I was just asking about dinner," Raisa replied in a small voice, feeling tired of having to be constantly aware of her own feelings.

Adrian approached, holding Raisa's chin gently but with control. "You don't have to talk to them. If you need anything, tell me. I don't want you to get too familiar with them.

anyone in this house."

Raisa could only nod. "Okay, Adrian."

Adrian smiled faintly, and this time he kissed Raisa's lips more gently. However, Raisa knew, behind that gentleness, there was a tight supervision that would never leave her.

***

One cold night, Raisa couldn't sleep. She sat on the bed staring out the window, thinking about her life that felt increasingly suffocating. She had never imagined a life like this-in luxury, but imprisoned by fear and pressure from her own husband.

Adrian, who had just finished with his work, entered the room and saw Raisa who was still awake. He approached his wife and sat beside her, gently touching Raisa's hair.

"You can't sleep?" he asked in a soft voice, different from his usual cold tone.

Raisa shook her head slowly. "I'm just thinking about a lot of things."

Adrian pulled Raisa into his arms, calming her trembling body. "What are you thinking about, Raisa?"

Raisa was silent for a moment before finally answering, "I feel trapped, Adrian. I feel like I have no control over my own life."

Adrian paused, considering Raisa's words before finally saying, "I'm doing all this to protect you, Raisa. The world out there is very dangerous, especially for someone who is related to me. You have to understand that I can't let you get hurt."

Raisa took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. "But does protecting me mean locking me up? Is that really what you want for me?"

Adrian held Raisa's face in both hands, looking at her intensely. "I want you to be safe, Raisa. If that means I have to limit some things, then I will. I won't let anyone hurt you, even if it means you feel uncomfortable with my treatment."

Raisa looked into her husband's eyes, trying to find any remnants of affection in them, but all she found was a fierce determination. She knew that behind all this, Adrian loved her in his own way, but that way made her feel constrained.

"I want to believe in you, Adrian. "I really want to," Raisa said in a trembling voice. "But sometimes, I feel like a prisoner in this marriage."

Adrian sighed softly, then pulled Raisa closer. "You're not a prisoner, Raisa. You're my wife, and I'm just doing what I think is best for both of us."

Raisa didn't know how to answer him. There was love there, but it was love wrapped in a suffocating power and control. In moments like this, Raisa felt increasingly distant from herself, like she was losing who she was before she married Adrian.

***

A few weeks later, Raisa's life became increasingly difficult. Adrian began to show a darker side of himself. He became more irritable, especially when Raisa tried to talk about her feelings. Every time Raisa expressed her discomfort, Adrian would cut her off quickly, as if Raisa's feelings were irrelevant.

"Raisa, I've given you everything you could ever want. A home, money, and protection. What else do you need?" Adrian asked in a tone that was more attacking than asking.

"What I need is freedom, Adrian. "I need space to be myself," Raisa replied, trying to explain her feelings.