Chapter 34 Chapter 35
Valerie POV
I was gradually losing hope.
No matter how hard I tried, no matter how carefully I planned, every attempt to escape this place ended in failure. Each plan collapsed right before my eyes, mocking me, reminding me of how powerless I had become. At some point, I stopped counting how many times I had tried. The more I struggled, the more trapped I felt, and the exhaustion that followed was unbearable. It drained me, physically, mentally, emotionally until I felt hollow.
There were moments when I questioned myself. Moments when I wondered if I had already lost before this fight even began.
Somewhere along the line, loneliness crept in. Not the kind that fades when people are around, but the kind that settles deep in your chest, heavy and suffocating. I could be surrounded by walls, guards, luxury yet feel completely alone, stranded in the middle of nowhere with no one to reach out to,And him.
Why was it that I always felt so vulnerable in front of him?
The realization hit me harder than any blow I had endured so far: no matter how desperately I tried to escape, I couldn’t escape him. It was as if I were bound by invisible chains, wrapped tightly around his fingers, no matter how much I struggled. I hated myself for it. Hated the weakness. Hated the way my heart reacted when it shouldn’t.
Most of all, I blamed myself. Signing that contract had been the moment I sealed my fate. I had willingly handed myself over, unaware of just how deep the consequences would cut. And now, here I was paying for it.
I was still lost in my thoughts when the door suddenly pulled open,My heart jumped.
I looked up instantly, and there he was.
Luciano.
He walked in calmly, as though he owned not just the room but the air inside it. In his hands was a tray of food, steam still rising from it. The sight confused me more than it should have. My gaze darted from his face to the tray and back again, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Without saying much, he walked toward me and gently placed the tray on the table in front of me.
“You need to eat something,” he said in a low voice. “It’s not good to sleep on an empty stomach.”
I didn’t respond immediately. I just stared at him, my confusion slowly twisting into suspicion. When he uncovered the food, the smell filling the room, a bitter smirk tugged at my lips.
“Are you trying to poison me, Luciano?” I asked coldly. “Why do you suddenly care enough to bring me food? If I’m hungry, I know where to find something to eat. So stop acting like you’re kind and considerate. You and I both know we can’t stand the sight of each other.”
I pulled away from him and quickly stood up, creating distance between us.
He didn’t look offended. If anything, he looked amused.
A smirk spread across his lips as his gaze shifted from the food back to me. “You should stop overthinking things, Valerie. If I wanted you dead, I would’ve done it while you were still unconscious in the hospital. Or better yet, I could have ended you long before now.”My fingers curled into fists.
“So stop imagining things,” he continued calmly. “The only thing I want right now is for you to take care of your health and finish the contract. After that…” his lips curved slightly, “…maybe I’ll reconsider killing you.”
A scoff escaped my lips as I shook my head, stepping even farther away from him.
“In your dreams,” I muttered,He sighed softly, as though dealing with a stubborn child. “You have to eat. That way you can take your medication and relax your muscles.”
I shook my head again, this time pointing directly at him. “You don’t seem to understand. I’m not hungry. I don’t want to eat. And even if I were starving, it definitely wouldn’t be from you.”
I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze without flinching.
“You made your decision when you chose to keep me here. So don’t blame me for what happens next, because I will make your life a living nightmare while I’m under your roof.”
The room went quiet, Luciano didn’t move. He didn’t raise his voice or react the way I expected. Instead, he studied me, slowly, carefully as though I were some kind of puzzle he hadn’t quite solved yet.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then, unexpectedly, he stepped closer.
“You’re stronger than you think,” he said quietly. “But strength doesn’t mean refusing help just to prove a point.”
I laughed bitterly. “Help? Is that what you call this? Keeping me locked up? Watching my every move? Controlling my life?”
His jaw tightened. “You’re alive, aren’t you?”
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on me. Alive but at what cost?
“You think survival is enough?” I whispered. “You think that makes this right?”
His eyes darkened, something unreadable flickering behind them. “Eat,” he said firmly, sliding the tray slightly closer to me. “Or I’ll make sure you do.”
Anger flared inside me, hot and sharp. “Try it,” I challenged.
For a split second, I thought he might actually force me. But then he straightened, exhaling slowly.
“Rest,” he said instead. “We’ll talk again.”
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door. Just before leaving, he paused.
“This isn’t a war you can win by starving yourself, Valerie.”The door closed behind him, leaving me alone once more.
I stared at the tray for a long time, my chest rising and falling rapidly. My body trembled,not from fear, but from the storm of emotions raging inside me, I hated him. Hated the fact that he ruined my plans, hated the fact that he was starting to make me vulnerable.
And yet, deep down, I hated myself even more for how much power he still had over me.