Chapter 22: Forced to Feel

Chapter 22: Forced to Feel

There was no peace in this house.

No mercy.

Even when I gave them nothing—no words, no tears, no resistance—they still weren't satisfied.

They had broken me, but it wasn't enough. They didn't just want me broken.

They wanted me to feel it.

Leo's Fury

Leo was the first to snap.

I heard his footsteps long before I saw him, each one measured, deliberate. When the door swung open, he filled the space with his presence, his icy-blue eyes locked onto me with cold intensity.

I didn't flinch.

I didn't even look at him.

"Enough," he growled, crossing the room in two quick strides. His hand wrapped around my arm, yanking me up from the bed with ease. My body swayed, my legs barely holding me up.

Leo's grip tightened. "Look at me."

I didn't.

His jaw clenched, his fingers digging into my skin. "Sophia."

Nothing.

His other hand shot up, gripping my jaw tightly, forcing my face toward him. "You think this is winning?" he demanded, his voice sharp. "You think if you stay like this, we'll stop?"

I barely felt the sting when his fingers pressed harder.

"You're making a mistake," he said. "Because we don't stop."

Still, I gave him nothing.

A muscle in Leo's jaw twitched. His breath came slow and controlled, but I could feel the storm building beneath his calm exterior.

His grip on my jaw shifted—one second firm, the next unbearably soft. His thumb brushed against my lips, his touch light, almost tender.

It was a trick. A test.

I didn't react.

Leo exhaled sharply, then suddenly, his hand cracked across my face. The force of it snapped my head to the side, pain blooming across my cheek.

I staggered, but he didn't let me fall.

"Still nothing?" Leo muttered, his voice dark. "Fine."

Without another word, he let me go, shoving me back onto the bed. He stood over me for a moment, his gaze unreadable. Then he turned and walked out, leaving the door wide open behind him.

Adrian's Cruelty

It didn't take long for Adrian to step through the doorway.

"Well," he said, his storm-gray eyes flicking over me with amusement. "That was fun."

I didn't move.

Adrian tsked under his breath, strolling toward me, his hands in his pockets. "Come on, sweetheart," he said. "You're really going to keep this up?"

I kept my gaze fixed on the wall.

Adrian crouched in front of me, studying my face. His fingers trailed up my arm, barely touching, his touch featherlight as he traced over the bruises Leo had left.

"You used to be so much more fun," he murmured, his voice almost gentle. "Now, you're just empty."

His fingers slid up to my jaw, tilting my face toward him. His grip wasn't rough—it was slow, deliberate, testing.

"I bet I could still make you react," Adrian said, his lips curling into a smirk.

I didn't blink.

His thumb brushed over my bottom lip, lingering there for just a second too long.

I didn't pull away.

Adrian's smirk faltered. He let out a slow breath, leaning in slightly, closing the distance between us. "Nothing?" he whispered. "Not even a flinch?"

I stayed still.

Adrian exhaled sharply, then suddenly, his palm struck my other cheek. The force of it sent my head snapping to the side.

I barely felt it.

Adrian stood, running a hand through his hair. "This is getting boring," he muttered. Then, as if on impulse, he grabbed my chin again and kissed me.

It wasn't gentle. It wasn't soft. It was forceful, demanding, meant to break through the emptiness.

But I didn't kiss him back.

Adrian pulled away, his storm-gray eyes flashing with frustration. "Tch," he muttered, standing abruptly. "You're really no fun like this."

He turned and walked out.

Nico's Precision

Hours passed. Maybe more.

Then Nico arrived.

He didn't speak right away. He just walked in, closing the door quietly behind him. When I finally looked up, he was sitting across from me, watching.

Waiting.

"You're not fooling me," Nico finally said.

I blinked slowly.

He tilted his head slightly, his emerald-green eyes calm, unreadable. "You're waiting, aren't you?"

I didn't answer.

Nico leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "You're not fighting. You're not begging. You're just... waiting." His voice was soft, almost thoughtful.

Nothing.

Nico sighed. "You think you're in control," he murmured, his fingers trailing over his wrist. "That if you refuse to react, you win."

His hand suddenly shot out, grabbing my wrist, his grip firm. He pulled me forward slightly, testing.

I let him.

Nico's expression didn't change, but his grip tightened. "Your pulse is steady," he observed. "You're not afraid. Not angry."

His fingers traced up my arm, ghosting over my bruised skin.

"You're still in there," Nico whispered, his voice barely above a breath.

I blinked again.

Nico's hand slid up to my jaw, tilting my face up toward him. His emerald eyes burned into mine, searching, dissecting.

Then, suddenly, he kissed me.

It wasn't like Adrian's. It wasn't violent, wasn't rushed. It was slow, calculated. A test, not an attack.

I didn't kiss him back.

But I didn't pull away either.

Nico pulled back just slightly, his lips barely an inch from mine. His breath fanned against my skin as he whispered, "There she is."

A single tear slipped down my cheek.

I hadn't meant to.

But Nico saw.

And he smiled.

The Reaction They Wanted

Leo returned the moment Nico stepped out.

Adrian followed, his smirk widening when he saw my tear-streaked face.

"Well, look at that," Adrian mused. "Did we finally wake her up?"

Leo crouched down, his cold blue gaze scanning my face. His thumb brushed over my cheek, smearing the tear across my skin.

"Good," he murmured. "That's better."

Nico leaned against the doorway, his expression unreadable. "She's back," he said simply.

Leo exhaled, satisfied. "Then let's remind her what happens next."