6.

The morning light seeped through the cracks in the heavy curtains, bathing the room in a pale, cold glow. Isla stirred awake, her heart racing before she even opened her eyes. Memories of the night before crashed down on her like a wave—Oliver’s looming presence, his harsh words, and the cold, cruel stare that left her feeling stripped bare, even though he hadn’t touched her. Not physically, at least.

The bed beside her was empty, the sheets undisturbed, as if he’d never been there. But his absence wasn’t comforting. It was a reminder that Oliver never needed to be close to have complete control.

Pulling herself from the bed, Isla wrapped a thin robe around her shoulders, the silk feeling like ice against her skin. She moved mechanically, heading toward the bathroom, hoping that the hot water could wash away the lingering fear.

Fifteen minutes later, she stepped out, feeling no better, only rawer. Her mind remained fogged by the events of the night before—his threats, his calm assertion that she belonged to him. The words haunted her, each syllable biting into her like frost.

As she grabbed her phone from the bedside table, two notifications blinked at her. She opened it absentmindedly—until the messages made her heart plummet.

Contacts Deleted. Apps blocked.

Her throat tightened. She checked again, hoping it was a mistake, but it wasn’t. Every contact on her phone was gone. Her access to her social media apps had been blocked as well.

Her pulse quickened as anger flooded her veins. She stormed out of the room, her bare feet silent against the marble floors as she descended the grand staircase. She found Oliver lounging in the living room, legs crossed, scrolling through his phone with the ease of a man who knew he had the world at his feet.

He didn’t look up as she approached, but the corners of his mouth twitched when he heard her sharp intake of breath. He knew.

“Oliver,” she snapped, her voice trembling with rage. “You deleted my contacts and also blocked my social media accounts?

He looked up lazily, as if she’d asked him about the weather. “Good morning, Isla,” he said, voice smooth and disinterested. “Did you sleep well?”

Her fists clenched. “Answer me.”

He set his phone down and leaned back, eyes sparkling with a dangerous amusement. “I did. And yes, I blocked your accounts”

“You had no right—”

“I have every right,” he interrupted, his voice suddenly cold and sharp. “You’re my wife, Isla. It’s my duty to control your every movement. And that includes who you talk to.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. “This is not about being your wife! This is about you trying to control every part of my life,” she said through gritted teeth. “You think you can cage me like this? You think you can break my resolve and force me into being submissive to you and your stupid ego?!”

Oliver stood, slow and deliberate, the room shrinking as he loomed over her. “You need to understand something,” he said softly, but his words were no less terrifying. “This is how it’s going to be. You can scream, you can fight—but in the end, Isla, I own you. And as for your defiance and ego, I promise you sweetheart, I’ll break it”

“You are insane.”She whispered.

“You don’t know what insanity looks like. I spent years thinking about you little dove. I planned this entire thing —just to marry you and have you once again. I own you and I’ll make sure I taint your innocence.”

Her breath hitched, but she refused to back down. “You don’t own me,” she whispered, her voice shaking with both fear and fury. “I will never be yours.”

He stepped closer, his eyes darkening with something that bordered on fury but didn’t quite cross it. “You already are.” His hand brushed her cheek, gentle and possessive, and she recoiled, but he only smirked. “I’ll make sure you need me for every single thing . I will hover over your life like the very air that you breathe. Very soon I’ll freeze your bank accounts.”

“Oliver, why, why do you hate me so much! Why!?” I broke down in tears. “I have never done anything to you. Even down through high school, you tormented me for no reason! Why?”

He stepped back, the cold distance returning to his features as if the moment of intensity had never happened. “You’ll learn, Isla. You think what I did to you in high school was little, you’d see the real control now.”

Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the room, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the empty space. Isla stood frozen, trembling with anger and fear, the shredded remnants of her control scattered around her.