Chapter 3 A Cage Built of Gold

Valentina had never known what it felt like to be truly powerless, until now.

The mansion was lavish, an empire of wealth and power, but to her, it was nothing more than a beautifully decorated prison. She paced the length of her room, mind racing. She had spent hours testing doors, windows, and hallways, searching for an exit, but Adrian Costa had thought of everything.

No way out. Not yet.

She clenched her fists. She wouldn't let him win.

A knock at the door made her stiffen. Before she could respond, the door swung open, and Adrian stepped inside, exuding an air of effortless control. He was dressed in black, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a hint of inked skin.

"Settling in, bambolina?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.

Valentina narrowed her eyes. "If this is your idea of hospitality, I'd rather take my chances elsewhere."

Adrian chuckled, stepping closer. "Your chances elsewhere would've ended with you in a ditch."

She refused to be intimidated. "And what? I should be grateful that you're keeping me locked up instead?"

His smirk faded. "I'm keeping you alive."

Valentina scoffed. "I don't need your protection."

Adrian's gaze darkened. "You don't get a choice."

He took a slow step toward her, closing the distance between them. Valentina's pulse quickened, but she forced herself to meet his stare without flinching. She would not let him see her fear.

"Do you know how many men would pay to get their hands on you right now?" he murmured. "Men who don't play by any rules."

Valentina lifted her chin. "And you do?"

His lips twitched, but there was no humor in his expression. "No, bambolina. But I do have my own set of rules. And right now, you live by them."

Her stomach tightened. "What do you want from me?"

Adrian reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch was surprisingly gentle, but it only made her skin crawl. "For now? Compliance."

Valentina slapped his hand away, her defiance burning bright. "I'll never bow to you."

Adrian laughed, but there was a dangerous edge to it. "Then this will be fun."

A Test of Will

Valentina refused to eat the dinner placed in front of her that night. The long dining table stretched between her and Adrian, the candlelight casting flickering shadows across his face.

"You're playing a dangerous game," he said, swirling his wine in his glass.

She stabbed her fork into the plate but didn't take a bite. "You can't starve me into submission."

Adrian smirked. "Who said I would?"

Before she could respond, a side door opened, and Rosa entered, her expression unreadable. The older woman set a fresh dish in front of Valentina, her favorite meal. The smell alone made her stomach clench in betrayal.

Her eyes snapped to Adrian. "How do you......"

"I make it a habit to know everything about the people under my roof," he said smoothly. "Eat."

Valentina gritted her teeth. She wanted to refuse, to maintain even the smallest piece of control, but her body was weak. She hadn't eaten since she was taken.

Her fingers tightened around the fork. She took a slow, deliberate bite, locking eyes with Adrian as she chewed. If he thought he had won some small battle, she would make sure he knew otherwise.

"You may have caged me," she said, voice steady. "But I'm not broken."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, studying her. "No. You're not."

A silence stretched between them. Then, without another word, he rose from his chair and walked away, leaving Valentina alone with a plate that suddenly felt heavier than before.

A Key in the Darkness

That night, sleep evaded her. The walls of her room felt suffocating, the air too thick with unspoken threats. Valentina sat by the window, staring at the iron gates of the estate.

She needed to get out. But how?

A soft knock startled her. The door cracked open, and Rosa stepped inside, her eyes flickering with something unreadable.

"You shouldn't push him too far," Rosa warned, her voice low.

Valentina frowned. "Why do you care?"

Rosa hesitated before sighing. "Because I've seen what happens when people cross him."

Valentina studied the older woman. There was something in her tone, a weight of past regrets.

"Why do you stay?" Valentina asked softly.

Rosa's lips pressed into a thin line. "Because for some, there is no leaving."

A chill ran down Valentina's spine. Was that to be her fate as well? A life spent trapped in a world she wanted no part of?

No.

She wouldn't accept that.

Rosa took a step closer, slipping something into Valentina's palm, a small key. Valentina's eyes widened, her breath catching.

"Be careful," Rosa whispered. "Freedom isn't always what it seems."

Then she turned and left, the door closing behind her.

Valentina stared at the key in her palm, her heart pounding.

A way out.

But what would Adrian do when he found out?