Chapter 3 The Rules of his Control

The first few days of her new life passed in a blur. The mansion became her cage, and she was the prisoner of its cold, unwelcoming walls. Every inch of the luxurious home screamed wealth, power, and dominance, but it also served as a constant reminder that Elena had no place here except as Killian's possession. She was not his wife. She was his property.

The first morning after the wedding, Elena was woken by the sound of her bedroom door opening abruptly. She hadn't heard him approach. Killian had a way of moving through the house that made him seem like a shadow always watching, always present, even when he wasn't. "You're late," his voice sliced through the morning air like a blade, sending a sharp chill down her spine. She sat up in bed, her heart pounding in her chest, as she turned to face him. He stood in the doorway, dressed in a crisp, tailored suit that spoke of power, wealth, and control. His cold, calculating eyes locked onto her as if she was nothing more than a piece of furniture in his house, and in that moment, she knew.

She was nothing to him."I wasn't aware I had a schedule," Elena replied, her voice shaky but defiant, despite the fear that gripped her. She was trying to maintain some semblance of control, but every word she spoke felt like it was slipping further from her grasp.

Killian's lips curled into a slight, mocking smile. "You will from now on. Every moment of your day is mine to control. You will follow the rules, Elena. There will be no exceptions."With that, he turned on his heel, his footsteps echoing in the empty space. She watched him walk toward the door, his presence looming like a dark storm cloud that threatened to consume her.

"Elena," he called over his shoulder, pausing in the doorway. "You will be downstairs in fifteen minutes. Do not keep me waiting."And with that, he was gone. Her heart raced as she hurriedly scrambled out of bed, trying to get dressed. But her body felt like it was moving in slow motion. She couldn't stop her hands from shaking. This was it. This was her life now a life dictated by his every whim. There was no room for mistakes, no space for freedom. She was a prisoner, bound by rules she hadn't agreed to, yet she had no choice but to obey.

By the time Elena reached the grand dining hall, Killian was already seated at the head of the long, marble table, his dark eyes flicking up to meet hers as she entered. There was no warmth, no tenderness in his gaze only the icy fire of control. She felt herself shrink under his gaze, a part of her instinctively wanting to run, to flee, but she knew she couldn't. Not anymore.

"Elena," he said in a voice that was both commanding and cold, "sit."His words were simple, but there was no mistaking the authority behind them. She hesitated for a moment, her feet frozen in place, before she moved forward and took the seat across from him, her movements stiff and mechanical.The silence between them was oppressive. It filled the room like a thick fog, suffocating any semblance of comfort or normalcy. Elena tried to focus on the food in front of her, the sumptuous spread laid out on the table, but she had no appetite. Everything tasted bitter. Every bite felt like an insult to her very being.

"You will eat," Killian said, his voice cutting through her thoughts. He didn't look at her as he spoke, his focus on the newspaper in front of him, as if she were nothing more than a piece of background scenery.Elena hesitated, then picked up her fork, trying to eat without showing the disgust rising within her. She didn't dare challenge him. He had made it clear from the moment they had signed the contract that she was beneath him, and any form of resistance would only make her position more precarious."Elena," Killian's voice interrupted her again. "I expect you to be at the office at 9:00 AM sharp every morning, beginning tomorrow. The company needs your full attention. Your father's business will be in my hands now, and I will not tolerate incompetence."

Her throat tightened as his words hit her like a blow. She had known this was coming he would take control of everything, including her father's company. It was what the marriage had always been about: control. She had no say in the matter. No choice. "I understand," she whispered, lowering her eyes to the plate in front of her.

"You will understand," he replied coldly, his gaze narrowing as he looked at her with disdain. "I do not want excuses, Elena. If you fail to meet my expectations, there will be consequences. Do not forget that."His words hung in the air, a heavy threat that made her stomach churn. She was living in a world where every step she took could lead to punishment, where she could never relax, never make a mistake. He controlled every aspect of her life her movements, her thoughts, her very existence.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of rigid schedules and unspoken rules. Elena moved through the mansion like a ghost, always aware of his watchful eyes. He had put her to work, overseeing parts of the business her father had once controlled, though it was clear that Killian was really just giving her a few tasks to keep her occupied keeping up appearances. By evening, she was exhausted, mentally drained, and the weight of her existence felt heavier than ever. She couldn't escape it, couldn't escape him. When she finally returned to their bedroom, she was expecting solitude a moment of peace before another day of torture. But there, standing by the door, was Killian. His eyes dark, unreadable.

"Elena," he said in a low voice. "Come here."She froze, her heart pounding. She had learned by now that when Killian used that tone, there was no room for refusal. She walked slowly toward him, each step filled with a growing sense of dread.

As she reached him, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer. His grip was firm, unyielding. She looked up at him, meeting his cold eyes, but there was no sign of warmth, no flicker of compassion."You failed me today," he said quietly, his voice deceptively calm. "You were late to your meeting, you failed to manage your responsibilities, and worst of all, you failed to act like a proper wife. Do you understand what that means?"

Her breath caught in her throat. The weight of his words pressed down on her chest. "I'm sorry," she whispered, though she wasn't sure what she was apologizing for."You will be sorry, Elena," he said, his grip tightening. "But you will learn."

Before she could react, he shoved her onto the bed. Elena gasped, her body jerking in shock. She hadn't expected this brutal, humiliating punishment. She had been so careful, so compliant, and yet it wasn't enough. Nothing would ever be enough for him.As Killian loomed over her, his gaze seething with disdain, Elena felt a deep, overwhelming sense of helplessness flood through her veins. She was his possession, his to control, and nothing could change that. She could fight, she could struggle, but in the end, it would never matter.

She would always be trapped."I'll make sure you remember your place," Killian whispered, his voice low and venomous, before turning on his heel and leaving her alone in the cold, empty room.

Elena lay there, trembling, her body bruised not just from the physical force, but from the crushing reality that no matter what she did, no matter how much she fought against it, she was nothing more than his possession. And that was a fate worse than any punishment.