Chapter 22 : Home

                                    

                                          

The car hummed smoothly beneath them, a quiet lull that mirrored the silence inside the cabin. The city lights blurred in the distance, fading behind them as Nikolai’s sleek black sedan cut through the night. Nastya sat motionless beside him, her hands resting in her lap. The weight of her surrender was heavy, palpable in the way her body had stilled, like she had resigned to her fate, awaiting his next move.
Nikolai’s hand gripped the steering wheel with a calculated ease, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Occasionally, his gaze flickered over to her, a trace of satisfaction curling his lips. He could feel her unease, her reluctance mixed with the acceptance that came after breaking. She had given herself to him completely, and now the game had shifted. He had won.
"You're quiet," he said finally, his voice soft but firm.
She didn’t respond at first, her gaze distant as she looked out the window at the dark landscape rolling by. They had long since left the city, the isolation creeping in with each passing mile. The road ahead was deserted, winding through vast, uninhabited fields that only deepened the sense of separation from the world she once knew.
"I don’t know what to say," she replied after a long pause, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nikolai chuckled, a low sound that filled the silence. "Good. There’s nothing you need to say." His words were a reminder of where they stood now—he the master, she the willing captive. "Just relax. We have a long way to go."
As they drove further into the night, the mansion came into view—an imposing silhouette on the horizon, bathed in the faint glow of moonlight. It was vast, sprawling, almost too large for just one man. But it suited him. The isolation, the grandeur—it was a perfect reflection of Nikolai’s power, his control.
He turned the car down the long driveway, the gravel crunching under the tires as they approached the gates. Nastya’s breath hitched, her pulse quickening despite the calm exterior she tried to maintain. This was it. There was no going back now. She had stepped into his world, and the rules were his to write.
Nikolai parked the car in front of the mansion, the engine cutting off with a sharp click. The air was thick with tension as he turned to her, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Come," he said simply, stepping out of the car.
Nastya followed, her legs shaky as she walked beside him up the grand staircase. The mansion loomed above them, its doors creaking open as though beckoning her into a life she had not fully imagined. She could feel the weight of his presence behind her, guiding her every step.
Inside, the halls were as grand as the exterior, filled with expensive art and cold marble floors. It was beautiful, but there was a certain emptiness to it, a stark reminder that this place belonged to him alone. And now, so did she.
Nikolai paused in the foyer, watching her closely. "This is your home now," he said, his voice calm but laced with authority. "You’ll get used to it."
Her heart raced, but she nodded, knowing there was no other choice. She was here, with him, and the life she knew was far behind her now.
As Nikolai reached out, his fingers brushed lightly against her wrist, a possessive gesture that sent a shiver down her spine. "Follow me," he ordered, turning towards the winding staircase that led to the upper floors. Without a word, she obeyed, her body moving almost on instinct.
The mansion was silent except for the sound of their footsteps echoing through the vast corridors. Nastya couldn’t help but feel like a doll in his hands, moving only when he commanded, existing only within the walls of his world.
And somewhere deep inside, she knew that this was what she had chosen. This was the life she had surrendered to. Now, there was only him—and the quiet, all-consuming power he held over her.