Ava’s POV

The silence that followed was suffocating. Orion’s breathing was heavy, his body still pressed against mine. Every part of me tingled—my wrists ached where the restraints bit into my skin, and yet my body buzzed with an unfamiliar satisfaction.

What the hell just happened?

I turned my head away, refusing to look at him. My throat felt tight, the tears I had fought so hard to suppress now threatening to spill. I should feel victorious, shouldn’t I? I’d stood my ground, swore he wouldn’t break me, and yet… I let him have me. Worse, I’d wanted it. Craved it even.

Why am I not regretting this? Maybe, this will be my last gift to him.

“Let me go,” I whispered, my voice hoarse and small, barely audible over the sound of our shared breaths.

He didn't argue or hesitate.

Orion shifted above me. His hands, still warm, untied the fabric around my wrists and ankles with unexpected gentleness. I pulled my arms close to my chest, wincing at the raw skin. I didn’t move, didn’t try to run. My mind was stuck in an endless loop, replaying every moment of the last hour—the way he looked at me, touched me, the way my body betrayed me again and again.

The way I enjoyed every bit of it shamelessly.

“Are you okay?” he asked, dragging me back into his arms and dropping a kiss on my shoulder. His voice broke the quiet, low and rough with concern.

I shot him a glare, the fire in me reigniting as though he’d struck a match to it. “Do I look okay to you?” I snapped, sitting up quickly. My torn dress hung loosely around me, and I clutched at the fabric to keep it from falling further.

“Do you think this fixes anything? That I’ll forget what we really are? Do you think for a second that we will become a real couple after this?” I asked quietly, keeping my voice steady.

Orion’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening as he reached for his trousers. “No. I don’t expect you to forget anything, Ava.”

“Then why?” My voice cracked, the anger unable to mask the rawness beneath it. “Why keep me here? Why move us into this godforsaken wing? Why—” My voice faltered as my chest heaved. “Why won’t you just let me go?”

He turned toward me, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that pinned me in place. “Because you don’t understand what’s at stake,” he said softly. “And I won’t lose you.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Lose me? You never had me and even if you did, you already lost me.”

Orion moved closer to me, and instinctively, I flinched back against the headboard. He noticed, and for a fleeting second, I swore I saw something like hurt in his eyes. But I didn’t care. Whatever this was—whatever game he thought he was playing—it wasn’t love. It wasn’t even forgiveness.

“I’m leaving, Orion. I don’t care what you think is at stake.”

He exhaled sharply, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “Ava, let me make up for the past years. Don’t push me away. You don’t know—”

“I don’t want to know,” I cut him off, forcing my voice to stay steady even as my hands trembled. “You think you can trap me here like a caged bird? Fine. But I promise you, one day, I’ll escape, and I’ll never look back.”

He stared at me for a long moment, something unspoken hanging between us like a storm cloud about to burst. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and firm. “Then hate me for the rest of your life. But at least you’ll be alive.”

Alive? The word snagged in my mind. My brow furrowed. “What are you talking about? What do you mean—” I stopped myself. I didn’t want his lies.

I threw off the sheets and slid off the bed. His hand caught my wrist, gently but firmly. “Where are you going?”

“To the bathroom, Mr. Miller,” I said icily, yanking my arm free. Orion followed me as far as the door, his presence looming like a shadow. I slammed the door in his face and leaned against it, my chest heaving.

My body ached, every part of me raw and overwhelmed. I turned on the water, scrubbing my skin as though I could wash him off me. But no matter how hard I tried, the sensation of his touch lingered, seared into my very being.

And the most painful part? I loved it!

By the time I came out of the bathroom, Orion was gone. Relief mingled with something unsettling—disappointment? No. I refuse to let that thought take root.

He must have gone back to Chloe. Just the thought of that sent a pang of pain straight into my heart. I shouldn’t let myself feel that way. He doesn’t mean anything to me.

I changed into a clean nightgown and shoved the bag I’d packed earlier closer to the bed. I grabbed my phone, sending a quick text to Rose to prepare my suite at the hotel.

Tomorrow, I'll leave this place. For good. At least, until the divorce is finalized and they both leave my mansion.

I sat on the edge of the bed, determined to find sleep, when the door creaked open. Orion walked in, fresh from a shower, smelling faintly of soap and something uniquely him. My heart stuttered as I caught sight of his loose joggers and bare chest.

Ignore him. Ignore him.

I turned away, feigning indifference, but he was already beside me. His gaze flicked to the packed bag, and something dark passed over his face. Before I could react, he lowered himself onto the bed, cupping my chin and forcing me to look at him.

“You’re not leaving me, Ava,” he whispered, the soft menace in his voice sending a chill down my spine.

I opened my mouth to argue, but the click of metal stopped me cold. I looked down.

A handcuff.

He clipped one end to my wrist and the other to his.

My breath caught. I stared at him, disbelief and fury swirling together. “What the hell are you doing?”

Orion leaned in, his voice a low murmur against my ear. “If you want to leave, my dear little wife… you’ll have to take me with you.”