Chapter 10
I woke to dawn's first light as faint rays seeped through my room's curtains, leaving the halls wrapped in absolute silence.
Beyond the window, waves crashed softly a restless, rhythmic sound.
The bedside clock showed 5:30 a.m. I wanted a moment alone, a bit of peace before the day started.
Slipping from bed, I felt the cool sheets give way as I pulled a cream cashmere sweater over my cotton pajamas.
Its softness felt like a shield against the morning chill. The hardwood floor made me shiver as I walked down the villa's stairs, leaving my sandals by the door.
I wanted to feel the earth unfiltered.
The morning air hit me, sharp and salty, thick with the scent of seaweed and brine.
I breathed in deep and stepped onto the pale sand that curved before the villa, framed by jagged cliffs. The ocean churned endlessly beneath a sunrise that was a blaze of colors pink, orange, and molten gold. It painted the sky in fire and took my breath away.
I walked to the water's edge, my toes sinking into the damp sand while the tide's murmur played a quiet song. I sat down, hugging my knees to my chest as gulls cried sharply overhead.
The crunch of footsteps broke my peace, heavy and clear on the sand. I turned to see Alexander walking toward me.
His presence was a storm cutting through the calm dawn. His dark hair was messy, his jaw hard and set, and his gray eyes burned with an anger that made my stomach drop.
"Elena," he barked. His voice was low and rough, slicing through the morning sharp enough to stop the waves.
I quickly got up and brushed the sand from my pajama pants, my heart pounding as he loomed closer. "Alexander," I said, forcing a lightness I didn't feel. "I didn't think anyone was awake. I just wanted to see the sunrise."
He closed the distance in three steps and stood over me, his eyes narrowing to steel slits. His broad frame radiated power, holding me in place.
"Clearly," he snapped, his tone a whip full of scorn mixed with a rage that felt like fear. "Do you know how careless this is? Walking off without a word again? This isn't the first time, Elena. I am done with it."
Anger flared hot and sharp. I crossed my arms and lifted my chin, despite the shake in my legs. "I just wanted a moment to myself," I shot back, my voice steady but edged with defiance. "It's not a big deal. I'm not a prisoner here."
His face darkened as a storm broke, and he stepped closer until his shadow completely covered the dawn's light. His voice dropped to a low, threatening growl.
"You do not talk back to me," he snarled.
His hand shot out and gripped my arm, his fingers like iron, making my breath catch.
"This is not some charming little trip. It's my place, and you are under my protection.
That means my rules, Elena. You don't get to decide what is a big deal.
Not after the toy store. Not after sneaking off to the park with Sophia.
You do this again, and I will lock you in that villa until you learn. "
My temper surged at his words, which felt like a strike against my pride. But the fury in his eyes raw and unyielding held a hint of something deeper, a crack of fear in his armor.
"I am not a child you can cage, Alexander," I said, my voice trembling with defiance as I pulled my arm free. My skin tingled where he had held me. "I needed air. I didn't think—"
"That's the problem," he cut in, his voice a low, wild rumble.
He loomed closer, his breath hot against my cheek.
"You don't think. You act. You go against me, and it stops here.
This world is not safe. Not the beach, not the sunrise, not any step you take without my approval.
There are people who would hurt me through you. I will not have it."
The weight of his words hit me, and I realized his rage was a shield for the worry in his gaze. My anger softened.
"I'm sorry," I said, my voice quieter now, but steady despite the sting of his grip on my arm.
"I didn't mean to worry you. I just needed a second to breathe."
His shoulders stiffened and his jaw clenched before he ran a hand through his hair—a sharp, restless move that revealed a rare crack in his control.
"Next time, you tell me," he ordered, his tone clipped and final, like a king restating his power. "Or you leave a note. No exceptions. You do not get to disappear. Not on my watch."
I nodded, my defiance fading under his strong will. I looked out at the horizon where the sun was now a bright circle above the waves. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" I murmured, offering a hesitant bridge over the gap between us.
His gaze flicked to the sea, then back to me, his voice softening to a reluctant, rough murmur. "Yeah. It is."
We stood there as the silence became almost comfortable, the tide's rhythm serving as a quiet truce. For a moment, I saw the man under the tough exterior a protector, fierce and imperfect, whose care was a sharp blade.
As we turned back toward the villa, Victoria stepped out onto the terrace.
Her outline formed a sharp contrast against the dawn, her silk robe fitting her perfectly, her blonde hair swept into a flawless bun.
Her ice-blue eyes gleamed sharply, making me nervous as she crossed her arms tightly, her lips pressed together, watching us come closer.
"There you are," she said, her voice like cold metal cutting through the morning's calm. "I wondered where you had gone. Both of you.
Alexander's demeanor instantly shifted. His guard snapped back into place, his body grew stiff, and he met her gaze with a short, dismissive tone. "We were taking a walk," he said, slamming down a wall.
Her eyes darted between us, her smile thin and brittle a predator judging its prey. "How... cozy," she purred, her words dripping with poison as her gaze stayed on me a moment too long.
I kept my face blank, though my stomach twisted with unease. I walked past her, excusing myself before her cruel words could sink deeper. "I'm going to check on Sophia," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the sting of her stare.
As I slipped into the villa, their voices floated behind me. Alexander's was a low, controlled growl held back, while Victoria's was sharp and probing, a needle seeking a weakness.
The sunrise's brief peace had completely disappeared, replaced by the familiar weight of tension. But I held Sophia's trust close like a shield against the storm in their words. Whatever Victoria's plan was, I would protect that little girl and myself from its harm.