Chapter 30

**ALINA**

I don’t think I’ve ever fought so hard to hold back tears. Every part of me screamed to let go, to break—but I forced it down, burying it deep where no one could see. I’ve learned how to do that, how to lock away every emotion, every weakness. I had to, ever since my mother walked away without so much as a glance back.

Today, though, I came dangerously close to breaking. Everything was unraveling too fast, crashing down around me with no way out. Being taken by force. My own father trying to sell me off like a piece of property. Robert. Alexander and his arrogant, insufferable attitude and his stupid, controlling rules.

The weight of it all hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the breath from my lungs. My survival instinct screamed at me to run, to fight, to claw my way out of this nightmare. But I’d already tried that. I didn’t even make it past the damn balcony.

The memory of their hands grabbing me, dragging me back inside like I was nothing, burned in my mind.

They overpowered me, and through it all, that bastard Alexander just stood there. Watching. As though it was all a damn game to him.

My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms. I hated this. Hated him.

Hated the way my own father had tossed me away like I was worthless.

And worst of all, I hated that a part of me was still holding on to the hope that someone—anyone—would come save me.

But no matter how much I scream in my head, how much I want to lash out—I’m stuck.

*Alexander*.

Just the thought of his name sent a shiver down my spine, my skin prickling with unease. How the hell had my life come to this? My own father had handed me over like I was nothing more than a bargaining chip. He knew exactly what kind of man Alexander was, and yet he’d done nothing to stop him from taking me.

I paced back and forth across the room—his room—

My eyes flicked to the door again and again, dreading the moment when Alexander would come for me. Would he force me to have sex with him? The thought made my stomach churn. I had no way of protecting myself, no way of escaping. I was trapped.

But no matter what, I would fight tooth and nail. I would claw, kick, scream—anything—to make sure he knew he couldn’t touch me without a fight.

"Idiot, moron... nincompoop..." I muttered to myself, rolling my eyes.

"Rules... he said I had to follow his rules... ha, yeah right. What were they again?" I scoffed, shaking my head, trying to remember the ridiculous things he’d said as if they actually mattered.

"Rule number one: You mean nothing to me. Nor does your father." I spat the words, tossing the pillow across the room.

"Yeah, well boohoo. Like I care."

I grabbed another pillow, ripping it open with a vengeance.

"Rule number two: You belong to me, Princess. No one else."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes as feathers flew in every direction.

"Self-centered jerk," I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You must really think you're something special, don’t you? I belong to me... I'd rather belong to a rabid raccoon than to you."

I let out an exasperated sigh and grabbed the last pillow, ripping it open like it was the last shred of my patience.

"Rule number three... You will do exactly as I say. If I tell you to sit, you sit. If I tell you to strip, you strip." I tossed the pillow into the air, watching feathers float around me like they were part of some absurd show.

"Ha... really?" I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief. "Well, newsflash, buddy—I’ll do the complete opposite of whatever you say. You say sit, I’ll stand. You say strip, I’ll put on something else, just to piss you off. And if you even think about asking me to kiss you, I’ll bite that damn tongue off."

Alexander thinks he owns me, like I’m some possession to be tossed around. Well, those rules he’s so fond of? He can shove them up his ass. I won’t bow to them. I won’t bow to him.

My chest heaved as I stomped around the room, the chaos I’d created matching the frustration building inside me. I couldn’t control the mess, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him think I would just follow those ridiculous demands.

I stopped pacing and stood still for a moment, listening intently. At first, there was only silence. But then, faintly, I heard it. A woman's voice, screaming in ecstasy.

"Alexander!" she cried out loder, her voice rising to a fever pitch.

My heart sank as I realized what was happening next door. That bastard was having sex with someone else while keeping me locked up in this room like some kind of prisoner.

I felt sick to my stomach as I crept closer to the door and pressed my ear against it. The sounds were unmistakable - the thumping of a bed against the wall next door, the woman's cries of pleasure growing louder and more intense.

I stepped away from the door, a wave of disgust and humiliation crashing over me. How could he be so vile? Didn’t it bother him that I could hear everything?

But then it hit me. Of course, he didn’t care. To him, I was nothing more than an object in his space, part of the furniture in his sick little world—nothing more, nothing less.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I turned away from the door. But this time, it wasn’t just fear twisting inside me—it was pure, unfiltered rage.

"That arrogant, insufferable, controlling bastard," I hissed under my breath, pacing furiously. "Who the hell does he think he is?"

I let out a frustrated groan, throwing my hands in the air. "I hope he chokes on his overpriced whiskey. I hope his stupid suit gets caught in an elevator door. I hope he stubs his toe so hard he sees his pathetic life flash before his eyes! And while we’re at it, I really hope his damn dick falls off mid-thrust with whatever desperate woman he’s screwing next door!"

As if on cue, another moan echoed through the thin walls, followed by the unmistakable sound of the bed slamming against the wall.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms.

My father had put me in this hellhole. Alexander was playing his sick games. And here I was, trapped, listening to him get his needs met while I paced like some caged animal.

I stopped, breathing heavily, my whole body tense.

No.

I might be stuck here, but I wasn’t weak.