chapter 14

Aaron's heart pounded as he was suddenly pinned against the wall,

his back slamming hard enough to knock the air from his lungs. His eyes widened in shock,

and his fingers tightened around the nickel he was holding, feeling completely trapped, his mind racing frantically for an escape.

He looked up, meeting Kris's intense blue eyes, which burned with an icy fire.

Aaronbcheeks flushed as panic surged through him, his body involuntarily leaning back to create distance.

What's Kris doing here? he wondered, fear tightening his chest, every nerve in his body screaming in alarm.

The thought that Kris might have discovered his secret sent his mind spinning, panic layering over his thoughts like a dense fog.

He can't know about my new friends. Please, don't let him find out anything, he begged silently,

his heart hammering faster, his hands trembling as he tried desperately to stay in control, though the weight of Kris's presence made that nearly impossible.

Kris's gaze, cold and stormy, bored into him as if he were already suspicious, and the silence between them was utterly unbearable.

The intensity of it made Aaron body tremble, his legs weak beneath him, threatening to give way.

Kris's scent...cedarwood mixed with lilies...seemed oddly comforting in contrast to the fear coursing through Aaron, pulling at memories of better times.

He tried to push it out of his mind, focusing on the fact that Kris,

his distant and cold husband, was now standing far too close, suffocating him with his nearness.

I have to stay strong. I won't let him control me,Aaron reminded himself, his inner voice faltering against the growing fear.

But as soon as Kris spoke, his confidence crumbled like a fragile house of cards.

"Where have you been, Cinderella?" Kris asked, his voice calm but carrying a weight that made Aaron shiver, his breath hitching in his throat.

"I told you not to wander off," Kris continued, his tone soft, but the underlying concern was unmistakable.

Kris's eyes were cold and sharp, making Aaron feel small under their gaze, like prey caught in a predator's sights.

It felt like Kris could see right through him, see every secret he was trying to hide, and the vulnerability made Aaron's stomach churn with dread.

"I... I was just getting water," Aaron whispered, barely able to speak, his throat dry as fear coiled tighter around him.

Please, let him believe me. Let this be over, he pleaded internally, but the doubt creeping into his voice betrayed him.

But Kris didn't budge; his stance was unyielding. He stared down at Aaron, unblinking, like he was waiting for Aaron to unravel.

"Say it. Tell me the truth," Kris demanded in a voice that sent a wave of dread through Aaron, the command laced with a firmness that paralyzed him.

Aaron's heart raced even faster, tears threatening to spill over as his body shook. Kris's eyes,

dark and intense, held no warmth, only cold calculation, as if dissecting Aaron's every move, every breath.

"I hate liars," Kris said, his voice low but steady, an edge of seriousness beneath his calm exterior.

"And you're lying to me," he added, leaning in closer, making Aaron feel the weight of his words.

Aaron felt his breath catch, panic crashing over him like a tidal wave. Kris's hand moved to his neck,

not tightly, but just enough to make him feel trapped, every instinct telling him to run, though his body refused to move.

Kris's warm breath brushed against his skin as he leaned closer, every nerve in Aaron's body on high alert, his pulse throbbing in his ears.

"You're mine," Kris whispered softly, his fingers tracing the line of Aaron's jaw with a delicate touch that made his skin crawl.

"And you will obey me," he added, the possessiveness in his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Aaron couldn't hold back the tears anymore, fear taking over completely, his body trembling beneath Kris's overwhelming presence.

"Please... let me go," he begged, his voice shaking uncontrollably, his desperation bleeding through every word.

"I promise I won't disobey you again," he whimpered, hoping that would be enough to satisfy Kris.

Kris smiled, but it wasn't a kind smile; it was the smile of someone who held all the power,

a smile that chilled Aaron to his core. "My little senirips... you can go wherever you want, but if you disobey me, there will be consequences," Kris said, his words firm but lacking any real malice, as if he were trying to guide Aaron back to safety.

The word "consequences" echoed in Aaron's mind, and a chill ran down his spine as he realized there was no escaping what was coming.