Chapter 14- For Lilly

Anna woke with a start, her heart racing. The night had been long, filled with restless thoughts and the constant echo of Jaden’s words. It wasn’t the kind of rest she had hoped for.

She rubbed her face, trying to push the thoughts away, but they lingered. It had been one night, yet everything felt different now. She had gone to bed with a sense of dread, unsure of what the morning would bring, and now, she woke to find herself in a strange bed in a strange house, her life no longer her own.

The room was luxurious—too luxurious for someone like her. Silk sheets, velvet curtains, and furniture that looked like it belonged in a museum. Yet, it felt cold, sterile, as if it wasn’t meant for anyone to live in, just to be looked at.

Her fingers brushed over the soft fabric of the duvet, and she sighed. Jaden’s command echoed in her mind. ‘Wherever you want to go, you’ll have to ask me first.’ The words had been sharp, his tone cold, and it had made her feel smaller than she had ever felt before.

This wasn’t what she had signed up for.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking her from her thoughts. A message from Emily, her best friend. The treatment was working. Lilly was getting better. That thought was the only thing keeping her going, the only thing making this whole situation bearable. Lilly’s smile, the hope that was finally flickering in her sister’s eyes—it made everything worth it. She had to endure this. For Lilly.

She rolled out of bed, her legs weak beneath her as she stood. The world felt different now, and she wasn’t sure how to navigate it. She moved to the window, pulling back the curtains slightly. The mansion sprawled out before her, a place of wealth and power, and yet she couldn’t shake the sense that she didn't fit in here.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and before she could answer, Jaden’s voice called from the other side.

“Anna, we’re leaving in twenty minutes. Be ready.”

Her face took on a frown, but she had to remind herself that there was no room for disobedience. She had learned that much last night.

Jaden wasn’t asking; he was commanding.

She quickly dressed, her mind racing. She was nervous. How could she not be? She had no idea what he had planned for the day. All she knew was that whatever it was, it would come with his rules, his control.

When she made her way downstairs, she found Jaden waiting for her in the grand foyer. He stood tall, his posture impeccable, his eyes scanning her as she descended the stairs. His gaze was cold, calculating. He didn’t smile—he never did.

“We’re going shopping,” Jaden announced, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Anna’s stomach turned. Shopping?

Before she could respond, he added, “The media will be watching. We need to play the part of the perfect couple. Smile. Don’t make a scene. And for God’s sake, don’t piss me off.”

Anna nodded quietly, although she wanted to give him a piece of her mind, she held back. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but it wasn’t this. Shopping? Playing the role of his fiancée? This wasn’t a life she was prepared for, but she had no choice but to go along with it.

As they arrived at the shopping center, Jaden’s presence seemed to swallow the air around them. People turned to stare, whispers following them wherever they went. Anna did her best to keep her head high, to smile when Jaden did, to act as though everything was normal, even though it felt like everything was spiraling out of control.

But then she saw him.

Lucas.

The kind man she had met during her engagement party. He was standing near a high-end boutique, talking to someone, and he spotted her almost immediately. His face lit up when he saw her, and he excused himself from the conversation before heading in her direction.

“Anna,” Lucas said with a warm smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here today.”

Anna smiled back, relieved to see a friendly face. She had been so focused on Jaden and the chaos that had come with him that she had almost forgotten there could be friendly people.

Before she could respond, she heard Jaden’s voice, low and controlled, but there was a flicker of something darker behind it.

“Anna,” he said, stepping closer, his eyes narrowing as he watched her interaction with Lucas. “I hope you’re not forgetting who you belong to.” he tried to make it sound romantic, but she knew better, it was a warning.

She was so focused on him that she didn't notice Lucas walk away.

Anna’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced up at Jaden, his face beaming with a smile but there was something dangerous in his eyes, something that made her stomach twist in unease.

“Jaden, I was just talking to Lucas—”

“I don’t care who you’re talking to,” Jaden cut her off, his voice growing colder. “You’re my fiancée, Anna, not some cheap woman who laughs at every word some other man says. You’re supposed to be mine. And you need to act like it.”

Anna’s fist clenched beside her. “There’s nothing wrong with being polite,” she argued, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to sound confident. “He’s just being friendly. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Jaden’s eyes flashed with a warning that sent a shiver down her spine. “There is everything wrong with it, Anna. Do you think the media won’t notice? Do you think they won’t see what’s going on here? We’re supposed to be a power couple, a perfect image for the world to admire. And you’re out here laughing with another man like it doesn’t matter.”

Her pulse quickened as he stepped closer, his body radiating a coldness that made her want to shrink away, but she didn't want to show fear.

“You need to remember who you are, Anna,” Jaden continued, his voice hard, each word deliberate. “You’re not just some girl anymore. You’re my fiancée. You’ll act like it. And if you can’t, if you can’t stay in your place, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Anna’s mouth went dry as his words sunk in. He was serious. He wasn’t playing games. This was a warning, and one she couldn’t afford to ignore.

“I'm sorry, Jaden,” she whispered, although she wasn't. She just didn’t know what else to say.

Jaden’s gaze softened just a fraction, but the chill never left his eyes. “We’re getting married soon, Anna. And that means you need to be more careful with your actions. Smile, play the part, or this will be the last time I take you out in public.”

Anna stood there, feeling like she was being suffocated by his control. The walls were closing in on her, but there was no escape. She had to endure this—just a little longer—for Lilly.

But she knew deep within her that she had a plan, a plan to destroy him.