The marble kitchen feels like a prison. I'm sitting at the island, staring into a cold cup of coffee when he appears in the doorway.

Zi Yu. My husband. Or rather, my captor.

His delicate features are set in a hard expression that sends a shiver down my spine. "What's missing?" His voice is low, dangerous - a predator sensing its prey has strayed.

I freeze, knowing exactly what he means. The ring. His ring. The one he forced onto my finger as a symbol of my supposed belonging to him.

I'd taken it off in a moment of rebellion, leaving it hidden in my jewelry box. A small act of defiance that now hangs in the air between us like a death sentence.

He takes three steps forward, each one echoing on the marble floor. Before I can react, he's gripping my wrist so tightly I'm sure it will bruise. "Did I give you permission to remove it?" His face is inches from mine, his breath hot against my skin.

I try to pull away but his grip only tightens. "I'm not your property, Zi Yu," I whisper, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.

His lips curl into a dangerous smile. "Oh, but you are. Body, soul, and every breath you take. That's what you agreed to when you became mine." He yanks my hand closer, pressing his thumb against my bare ring finger as if branding me.

The message is clear: resistance will only make him more determined to break me.