The Billionaire's Prisoner Wife

Nora's POV

"Good night." I smiled and waved at my colleagues as I walked out of the company twelve hours after I resumed work for that day.

"Good night, Nora." Amelia smiled at me, her eyes twinkling as she slipped her fingers into John's, her boyfriend, and walked away.

I averted my eyes before my mind strayed into dangerous zones, wishing that I was the one in a relationship where I was dearly loved. I envied the way John loved her and wanted to be the one loved by a man like that.

I never had such luck, no matter how hard I tried.

I headed home without saying another word to any of my colleagues, hoping that I would have a good night.

When did I ever have one?

Not once in my miserable life.

Maybe if Mark wasn't in my house, I might have a good night. That wasn't likely to happen though. Mark was always around in my home whenever I needed him not to be.

The moon twinkled in mockery, taunting me that it was likely I lived through yet another hell at home after the one I had survived at work. I let out a hiss, my lips curling with distaste as I wished for the world to end. I erased that thought from my mind and wished that my life changed instead.

I mused aloud as I took the turn that led to my house, wondering how I would feel if I got a promotion at work. Would I be glad to finally have the promotion I'd been praying for for years while watching others who weren't as qualified as I was get to the next level?

What if I moved to another city and got another job? The idea was as hopeless as it was tantalizing though I had no doubt that it would solve half of my problems. My account balance flashed in my mind and I let out a sigh, knowing that relocation wasn't in my future anytime soon.

I heard a bang a few meters away and jumped in my skin, realizing suddenly that I had made the walk home unconsciously. My heart thudded in my chest, my vision went dizzy and l felt the need to stand outside for a while to gather my courage before stepping in.

I knew though that I couldn't do that. My archenemy would know by now that I was already close.

"Nora!"

I heard the angry growl emanating from inside the house and the hairs at the base of my neck stood up in alarm. I regretted getting carried away in my foolish fantasy. If I hadn't, I would have taken a pause to find my courage before making the final distance home.

I wouldn't have gotten home so soon if I hadn't walked absentmindedly.

"I can see you." He barked again. "Aren't you going to come inside?"

I tilted my head up, forced my eyes to stray to where I knew he would be, and grimaced as I saw him standing right behind the window and glaring at me like he couldn't wait to slap the life out of me.

I knew he itched to do that and my feet refused to move an inch closer to the door no matter how much my brain warned that staying outside was going to make me be in more trouble.

"Come over here," he barked, the veins in his neck ticking like a bomb. "It's dangerous for a lady to be outside at night."

I snorted. It was more dangerous for me to be inside and we both knew that. I bet he wouldn't agree with me so I guess I was the only one who knew that.

He wagged his fingers at me like one would beckon to a dog, his eyes squinted with rage and betraying the dark emotions unfurling in his heart.

"It's more dangerous for me to be in there with you." I muttered.

His eyes narrowed on my trembling form and his lips thinned with displeasure. "What did you say?"

"Nothing." I lied, my voice louder this time.

Why couldn't I be courageous and say what I needed to say to him? Why did I keep sabotaging myself and pretending that I was fine with everything he did to me?

I wanted to tell him to leave my life. I wanted to beg him never to return. If only it was that easy.

I was always reduced to a squeaking mass of broken nerves and bruised skin whenever he was around, tolerating his abuse like the dog that I was and praying death would save me from him.

"Come inside, Nora, before the neighbors start wondering what kind of show we are putting on for them." He scowled. "You know I hate putting on a show."

I snorted, my nostrils going up in disgust. As if the neighbors cared about us, or about me. No one ever knocked on our door to ask what was wrong the countless times he had pummeled me against the wall and designed my face with his fists, despite how loud and horrifying my screams were.

If they didn't care then, they weren't going to care and my bastard nasty boyfriend knew that. He didn't hate putting a show, he only hated having his reputation ruined and letting others see the devil he was.

"You were late from work today, babe, and I've been worried sick at home while waiting for you." He sighed, his voice softening and melting in my ears. "I can't believe you are acting like you've seen a ghost instead of letting me give you a welcome kiss."

I rolled my eyes at the change in his voice, not getting fooled at all. I had fallen for that voice but not anymore after knowing the snake that he was. I wanted him out of my life but that was just like wishing oxygen out of the world.

He stepped away from the window and headed toward the door. A squeak escaped my mouth the moment I hear the latch open, my heart almost flying out of my throat as I saw him approach. His eyes weren't smiling as he got closer, all pretence forgotten and his strides banged against the ground hungrily as he reached out to yank me into his cruel arms.

With how tired I was, I doubted I would survive the night if he grabbed me.

Just as he reached for me, my legs finally got to work and turned instead of crumbling into his arms. I screamed, my feet flying on the ground as I ran away from him.

I didn't look back to see if he was running after me, knowing that he wasn't. He assumed that I was going to get back home as I didn't have anyone to run to. I chose not to think of where I was running to but focused instead of what I was running from.

Short breaths escaped my mouth, and I panted in fright as I struggled to catch my breath. I scanned my surroundings, relieved that I had escaped him. For now. Squinting in the darkness to pinpoint where I was was a struggle but I did it anyway, stepping out onto the main road and into the light.

I decided to go to the cafe across the street to chill for a while. I stopped in my tracks as a car suddenly swerved before me and two hefty men barged out of it with their eyes trained on me.

Reacting on instinct, I moved backward but I didn't have much chance to run as they grabbed and shoved me into the car.

Nora's POV

"Let go of me," I screamed, struggling to break free even though I was squeezed between two men.

Who the hell are they?

I doubted they were working for my toxic boyfriend. Where would he have gotten the money to pay them? He couldn't have told them to capture me. My heart thudded in my ribcage, threatening to leap out at the thought of going back home to meet Mark. I would rather kiss death on the lips than do that.

I stared at the road and noticed the car was heading in the opposite direction of my apartment, and my eyes widened with fright.

"Where the hell are we going?" I yelled, struggling to break free again though my attempts yielded no results.

My arms throbbed and sweats broke out on my forehead but I paid no mind to the pain except the nagging terror in my heart.

"Keep quiet, Sasha." One of the men hissed, spittle flying out of his mouth as he glared at me in irritation.

Sasha? Who the hell was Sasha?

"I'm not Sasha." I sighed and widened my eyes, hoping they would realize their mistake and let me out.

I didn't mind if they threw me out. As long as I was out of the car and not headed to where I didn't know. I feared that I wouldn't survive the crash if I was thrown out of a running car but I was ready to take my chances. I'd been told to be stronger than I was, after all.

The men ignored me as if I hadn't spoken.

"Hello," I called, waving my hands before them. "I'm not Sasha. Can you let me go and focus on finding the right person?"

"Keep quiet, lady." The man at the wheels hissed at me, sparing me a glance filled with malice before turning to road.

One of the two men I was sandwiched between chuckled. "Ignore her, man. We've been told she lies a lot. This shouldn't be a surprise to you."

Lie? A frown twisted my lips as I narrowed my eyes in annoyance and focused on putting my brain to good use. I didn't know what use thinking would do for me in this situation though.

I hardly lie. I detested lies and never did it. Everyone I had ever known and loved lied to me, and I had been determined to not be the same as the monsters who had given me traumas since I was five.

How dare they accuse me of lying?

"I don't lie."

"Another lie." The men chuckled all at once and I went red with embarrassment, feeling the blush creep up my neck.

"Where are we going? Who ordered my kidnap?" I snapped.

I wondered if it was right to call it kidnap since I've been left to run my mouth as carelessly as I could. Not that I had experience in kidnap scenarios but weren't they meant to make me unconscious?

I wondered if being left alone was hope or trouble for me.

"Kidnap?" The men laughed again as if I had said something funny.

Feeling the color rise up again in my cheeks, I decided to keep quiet and glanced at the rolled-up window, my gaze fixed longingly at the cars passing by and wishing that I could shout to them for help.

I didn't like being mocked. I pushed down the hurtful memory trying to rear its ugly head and focused on the present, though it wasn't any pleasant as well.

"We are here," the man at the edge announced and pulled me out of the car, as roughly as I had been shoved in.

What a perfect gentleman he was.

I raised my head up and couldn't help the squeak that escaped my throat as I saw the mansion. I felt a cold slither crawling over my skin and warning me that this wasn't a place I was likely to leave soon if I stepped in.

With impulsiveness taking a hold on me, I turned to run. As if he already predicted my actions, one of the men grabbed my hand and stopped me from escaping, pressing me down with a firm grip.

"You are hurting me." I cried out, wincing at the numbness in my wrist as he crushed it.

He snorted, his expression as blank as a wall. This was a man who hurt others for sport and definitely wouldn't get bothered if my hand got crippled.

"Please," I croaked, begging him to let go of me as I realized my folly.

Even if I had succeeded in running from the house, I wouldn't have escaped. I glared at the huge gate which had closed immediately we drove into the mansion and wondered why I thought running was a feasible option for me.

"Be grateful the boss wants you back in one piece." He growled and pulled me forward, his strides eating the ground in fury and forcing me to gasp as I reluctantly tag along.

My brain whirled with the information I had gathered so far, struggling to make sense of what was happening. The boss? Anyone who was a boss to this hulky devil wasn't likely to be a good person.

I went still, the blood draining from my face as a thought formed in my head. Had Mark borrowed money from a Mafia lord and used me as his guarantor while lying that I was Sasha?

I groaned at the horrible implication and what was lying in wait for me. It wouldn't be the first time Mark would get himself in trouble and force me to clean his mess. I swore to myself that this was going to be the last time he would do that to me-if I survived this.

I was pushed into a room which got locked behind me immediately. I stared at the strange environment, wondering what was going to happen to me now. I checked the room, noting the absence of a window.

Perfect. I wouldn't be able to escape anyway, except I wanted to meet my maker too soon.

I sighed at the bulb, the dull light radiating from it as similar to how my life was. There was nothing in the house except a plastic chair. I should have been given a wooden one so I could end my misery faster before they came to end it slowly and painfully.

I didn't want to be alive anymore anyway.

The door opened and I gasped as I turned to check who it was. My heart thudded and blood roared in my ears as suspense thrummed in my veins. Was I about to die now? Would I be tortured now? Would I be asked to pay Mark's debts?

I didn't like any of the options.

I ran my tongue over my lips, suddenly feeling how dry they were.

I watched with terror dancing in my eyes as a man walked-no, marched with fury-into the room. His eyes held mine with a hatred so dark it left me numb.

Who was this man? And why was he looking at me like I offended him and wanted to rip me apart?

I forced my throat to work. "I don't know what Mark told you but I don't have enough money to cover his debts." I pleaded with him.

"Who the fuck are you talking about, Sasha?" He roared, his eyes thinning with disgust.

Sasha? Not again. I groaned as I crumpled to the plastic chair I thought I would never sit in.

Who the heck was Sasha and why did everyone think I was her?

Nora's POV

"I'm not Sasha." I cried, my voice breaking at the intensity with which I yelled.

He snorted, narrowing his eyes at me. "I knew you were despicable, Sasha, but didn't know you would try to take me for a fool."

"I'm not Sasha." I let out another strangled cry, jumping off the chair.

His face morphed into an ugly mask, his hands tightening into fists as he threw me another look. My throat went dry and I took an instinctive step backward. He moved closer to me, crowding me till my back hit the wall. I squeaked at the contact and my eyes widened in alarm as his hand climbed from his side to my neck.

I choked on saliva and the remaining pleas in my mouth as his hand tightened around my neck, forcing my eyes to roll back in my head.

"Please. Let. Me. Go." I begged amidst intense coughs.

"Not until you stop being a liar." He hissed, baring his teeth at me as his face got closer.

His face was close enough for a kiss but I knew passion was the last thing on his mind. Mine too.

He let go of my neck and I sucked in a breath, greedily taking in all the oxygen he had deprived me of in the last few seconds.

"What do you want from me?" I sighed.

"The truth."

"And that is?"

"Where did you keep the documents you stole from me?"

Documents? My head reeled. This wasn't Mark's mistake? I had no idea if I should be grateful that I wasn't cleaning Mark's mess or worried I was about to clean a stranger's.

I guessed I could talk my way out of this.

"I didn't steal any document."

"Don't lie to me, woman." He growled, his hand rising in the air.

I flinched, worried I was about to go blind if that hand made contact with my skin.

He sucked in a ragged breath and his hand lowered. I kept an eye on him though, wondering if he was going to be a gentleman the next time.

"I'm not lying." I sighed, lowering my tone as defeat and fatigue washed over me.

I wanted to go home. I would rather deal with my toxic boyfriend than this furious stranger. How interesting my life was.

"Sasha, those documents are worth a billion dollars. I'm sure you knew that or you wouldn't have stolen them." He said, sounding as resigned as I felt.

Wow! My eyes widened as I struggled to keep the whistle in my mouth from getting out. A billion dollars? It would take me working overtime even in the afterlife to make that amount of money. Who was this man that he had that much in his possession?

Rage splattered through me and I wanted to kill Sasha myself. Why did she get me in trouble? Did she even know what she had done to me?

"I know nothing about the documents. Please let me go."

"Don't tempt me, Sasha. I don't want to hurt you. Let go of the documents and I will pretend tonight never happened."

I lost it. "Listen, young man. I don't know who you are and neither do I know what you are talking about."

He scoffed. "If you think you are going to get out of this by pretending to have lost your memory, you have another thing coming for you."

"I didn't lose my memory." I snorted.

I would have preferred to. I wanted to lose all the bad memories I had. That would be losing all my memories but I believed it was going to be worth it.

"Good. Then you should know that I'm your husband."

"Husband?" The word slipped out of my mouth, accompanied by the shock I felt.

"I thought you didn't lose your memory." He smirked, his eyes dancing with disgust.

"I was never married."

"This says otherwise." He said, pushing a huge frame into my hands.

I stared at the photograph, my hands trembling as I studied the features of the woman in the frame. She wore a dazzling wedding gown-one I would have killed to wear-and had a bright smile on her face as she stared at the man beside her.

His face was blank and I found the expression strange for a groom but couldn't deny his marriage claim with the rings they both had on their hands.

She seemed to be in love with the man, and looked exactly like me.

I held the frame to him, grateful when he took the weight off my hands.

"Are you ready to tell me where my documents are and what you've done with them?" He bit his lip, his eyes darkening with vengeance. "I swear on your parents that I'm going to feed you to my dogs if you don't tell me the truth."

I inhaled, my chest rising with fear and the courage I needed to get through this. "I'm not your wife, man."

"Don't act like you don't know me." He hissed. "I'm Damon."

"I don't know you."

"You still insist." He sighed and turned to the door. "I will be back when you are ready to stop being a liar." He said and walked out of the room.

I sagged with exasperation the moment I was left alone in the room, my thoughts zagging like electricity. I didn't think I was going to get out of this.

He had proof that I was his wife but I had nothing to prove that I wasn't. Except he allowed me to go home for my certificates with my name on them but I doubted that would happen.

My phone beeped and I smiled at the reminder that it was on me. I had totally forgotten about it and quickly retrieved it to check the messages I got. I decided to reach out to any of my colleagues. They could get a picture of my employee ID card and send it to me. My name would be written boldly on it and I could show Damon the next time I saw him and prove that I wasn't his wife.

While scrolling through my contact list, a message popped in and I swallowed in fear as I read it.

WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, NORA? WHERE ARE YOU SLEEPING THIS NIGHT? ARE YOU CHEATING ON ME? I PROMISE I WILL TEAR YOU APART AND MAKE YOU REGRET YOUR EXISTENCE THE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, BITCH.

My mouth went dry as the words from Mark screamed at me from my screen. I regretted my life since the moment I met Mark and didn't want to imagine what he was going to do to me to make me regret more. I knew it wasn't going to be nice.

"Are you ready to tell me the truth?" Damon asked as he walked back into the room.

"I'm sorry, Damon, for stealing from you and pretending not to know you." I lied to save myself from Mark.

I hoped I wasn't making a mistake by pretending to be who I wasn't.