Chapter 20 Belong To Him
I screamed, begging him. "Carlos, please stop.…" I pleaded, voice breaking.
But he only tightened his grip around my hair, yanking it harder, forcing my head back as he dragged me out of the little house. My feet barely kept up with him, stumbling over themselves as I cried out, clawing at his hand, but he didn’t stop. He didn’t speak. He just kept moving forward taking me with him.
The gravel bit into my soles with every step. I twisted and tried to resist, but it only made him pull harder… crueler.
"Let go of me!" I sobbed.
He didn’t. Not even loosen his grip a little bit.
He marched me through the garden, up the steps of the mansion, and straight down the hall like I was a sack of potatoes.
My shoulder slammed into the wall as he took a sharp turn, dragging me toward the back. "Carlos please," I whispered, choking on the word. "Let me go."
The door burst open as he kicked it in and shoved me forward. I fell to my knees. My scalp burned in pain. Turning to him I yelled, "What is the matter with you?" My voice cracked "Are you crazy? Why would you do that? You could have seriously hurt me!"
He didn’t say a thing, he just stood there, staring at me and presumably thinking… of evil thought.
"Are you not going to apologize?" I questioned
Still, he didn’t say a word.
The silence stretched until it wrapped around me like a noose. Then finally, in a low, sharp voice, he asked, "Why did you go there?"
My breath caught. I hesitated. "I was just trying to… I mean, I was looking for—"
"You were snooping, weren’t you?" He cut in, his tone like a blade.
Before I could respond, his voice rose, filled with fury. "You disobeyed me. You went behind my back. Took my keys. Entered the house and tried to do what!" He questioned as he stepped toward me, each word tighter than the last. "Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?"
I backed away instinctively, shaking my head, throat dry. No words came out.
He kept coming, slow and deliberate, eyes burning. The closer he got, the harder it was to breathe.
"You’re so funny, Nala," He sneered, "You want to be tough now? Pretend like some fucking James Bond? Pretend like you’re not mine?"
Stepping backward, my back hit against the wall. My heart thudding so loud it echoed in my ears.
Carlos filled the gap between us as he leaned in, "Let me remind you exactly who you belong to," He growled, his breath brushing against my cheek.
Before I could move, his hand shot out and gripped the collar of my shirt. "Take it off," said coldly.
I looked at him, shocked "What?" My voice is barely above a whisper
"You heard me, take it off!" He growled, his eyes darkening. There was no sign of joke in his eyes.
I shook my head, tears burning behind my eyes. "No, I can’t do that."
"Do it or you’ll regret it and I mean it." He said. I could tell he wasn’t kidding at all but still, I couldn’t.
Carlos must have took my silence as an insult because he scoffed and without warning, he grabbed the hem and yanked roughly, his hand curling in the fabric. I gasped, clutching at my shirt, trying to pull away.
"I said take it off," He snapped, voice rising, fingers curling again in threat.
"Okay… I’ll do it. I’ll take it off." I pleaded. He moved his finger away from my shirt as he stood there looking at me, waiting for me to take my clothes off. But I couldn’t do it.
My heart started to race. I can’t do it…. I just can’t.
I stood frozen, unable to move. My body refused to respond, locked in place by fear and his presence. I couldn’t walk away. Couldn’t speak. I felt stranded—completely numb beneath the weight of his eyes.
Noticing my stillness, he scoffed.
"Fine. I’ll do it myself."
He reached toward me, his fingers were cold making me flinch hard, backing into the wall as his hand brushed my skin.
"No! No please." I cried out. "I’ll do it… I’ll use my hands. Please… just let me do it."
His jaw tightened. He paused for a moment, then took a step back, just enough to give me space. His eyes stayed fixed on me, sharp and watching.
I gulped heavily, my hands trembling as I reached for the buttons of my shirt. My vision blurred with tears as I unfastened each one, the silence between us heavier than anything I’d ever known. I peeled the shirt off slowly, my skin crawling under his gaze.
I couldn’t look him in the eyes. I was scared and my fears only grew when he ordered "Now the pants,"
I looked up, startled. "What?" My voice barely above a whisper
"Don’t make me repeat myself,"
Tears spilled over as I shook my head, voice trembling. "Carlos, no… please."
"Do it!" He barked.
I jumped in fear then slowly obeyed, sliding my pants down inch by inch until I was left standing in only my underwear. I didn’t dare look up. I stood there, trembling, stripped of everything but humiliation.
"Please," I whispered, my voice cracked and raw. "Carlos, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… please don’t make me do more than this."
He said nothing at first.
Then, he stepped closer, close enough for his presence to drown out the air between us. He lifted my chin forcing me to meet his eyes.
"That’s enough," He said, voice low and sharp. "You’ll stay like this. Let the shame settle in. Maybe then, next time, you’ll remember what happens when you disobey me." He let go and turned toward the door.
But just before leaving, he stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"Next time, the punishment will be worse. This?" He scoffed. "This was nothing. You didn’t even entertain me. You have nothing to show." Then he walked out, leaving the door open behind him.
I rushed to gather my clothes, hugging them tightly against my body. Shame crashed over me like a wave, drowning every part of me. I had never been this exposed in front of a man before, and now, the first time I was, it ended like this?
Humiliation burned through me. More tears slipped down my cheeks, silent and bitter.
I hated Carlos. I really hate him.
I have to find a way out of this… I can’t live my life with him anymore.