His Forbidden Obsession

the pillow as light spilled into the room. The same maid from the previous night stepped in

in his study before he leaves,

well probably expected his commands to be follow

t of bed. The maid gave a small nod a

ft, and the cut flattered my frame-too flattering, I thought bitterly, given my circumstances. D

as she led me to his study. The estate was eerily quiet, the on

desk, his attention fixed on papers in front of him. He looked every bit the part of a man who wielded power effortl

to speak first. When he didn't ac

ead to toe. A flicker of amusement danced

d the part," he said, the cor

d. "What's that

ed you might get bored in such an estate, especially without frie

" I repeated, disbelie

require maintenance. It's a perfec

ms. "I'll do n

ced with something colder. He stood, the chair scra

usly low register, "that I expect absolute obedience. You're

onsidered challenging him further. But th

resisting the urge to ro

ight who I did not know was right behind me. "Hannah will show you to the gar

that important, why don't yo

s, or regret-but he quickly masked it. Without answering, he picked

his shoulder, pausing just long enough t

pond, he disappear

study, quickening my pace to cat

ning slowly to

ng me go?" I demanded, pla

that made my blood boil. "Whe

incredulous. "A

d took for you," he replied smoothly before turnin

e. Rows of vibrant flowers stretched endlessly, interspersed with perfectly trimmed hedges an

uring to a small shed. "Mr. Blackwell ex

oes," I muttered

softening. "It's better to just d

ion or sympathy, but her expression was guarded. W

p but wonder what Ronan's endgame was. The gardens, the rules, the cryptic rem

tly was I

--

d garden. I tossed the small trowel into the dirt and wiped my hands on the green apron Hannah

igning me tasks, acting as though I were an employee rather than a captive-it was all

n. I turned, half expecting Hannah or another servant to bring more orders.

re?" I snapped, foldin

ver the garden before landing on me. "I

half-trimmed rose bushes. "It's

is a perform

going to fire me if I do

closer, invading my space. "You misunderstand, Cele

think I'll trust you if I

s equal parts amused and calculating. "Not trust in me

to sell me on this as some kind of self-imp

ping to a murmur. "Defiant, but not broken. Tha

e way he said it, like I was a puzzle he was d

," I w

't w

Don't pretend this is anyt

iousness that made my chest tighte

nt to break me, to make me obedie

ng eyes locked on mine. Then, to my surpr

l. But breaking you isn't my goal. You're

ther to feel insu

here?" I asked, ch

simply. "And to tell you dinner is at s

ungry," I

he replied, leaving

on his heel and walked away, le

on. I paced the length of the room, debating my next move. Joining Ronan for dinner felt like a concession, a step to

oom. Ronan was already seated at the head of the table, a glass of re

late,"

of the table, as far from him

a glass of wine. "I was

," I replied, eyeing the s

d, his tone conversational. "Yo

arguing. Instead, I picked at the food on my

e again. "What's going throug

y attention to him. "I'm thinkin

t didn't reach his eyes.

ing about you,

h to cut with a knife. Finally, he leaned bac

, breaking the silence. "It's a shame

out Julian," I

s the reason

reason I'm stayi

nd low and infuriati

aptivating about Ronan Blackwell-something that made

used to l

way out," I s

rk fading from his lips. "

t escaping Ronan wouldn't just be about leaving the estate. It would be a

t know if I