The following morning, Isla woke with a renewed sense of purpose. The tension from her encounter with Ethan still lingered, but now it fueled her. The game had begun, and this time, she wasn’t going to play by his rules. She was determined to carve out her own path, one step at a time.
Dressing in a sleek black dress that matched her mood, Isla glanced at herself in the mirror, her eyes hardened with resolve. She knew the man she had married was ruthless, but he had underestimated her strength. It was time to change the dynamics of their relationship—whether he liked it or not.
Isla made her way down to the dining room, where Ethan sat, already engrossed in his morning routine. His phone was in one hand, while the other casually held a cup of coffee. He barely glanced at her as she entered, the tension from last night still hanging in the air.
“Good morning,” Isla said, her voice light but with a sharp undertone. She moved toward the table, taking her seat across from him.
Ethan didn’t look up from his phone. “Morning,” he replied curtly, his attention fully focused on whatever business deal he was reviewing.
Isla studied him for a moment, a small smirk forming on her lips. The cold, distant Ethan who thrived on power and control—the man she had married—was exactly the man she needed to disarm. And she knew just how to do it.
“You know, Ethan,” Isla started, her voice casual but deliberate. “I’ve been thinking. You’ve built this empire by playing it safe, keeping everyone in check. But don’t you ever get tired of it? The constant vigilance, the endless need to maintain control?”
He finally looked up from his phone, his eyes narrowing. “What are you getting at?”
She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “I’m just saying, maybe there’s more to life than winning every game. Maybe... there’s a different way to get what you want. One that doesn’t involve treating people like pawns.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
Isla tilted her head slightly, her gaze unwavering. “What if we stopped fighting for control? What if we started working together instead of trying to outmaneuver each other?”
A flicker of something passed over his face—interest, perhaps—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. “And what exactly do you propose, Isla? That I just hand over control to you? That’s not how this works.”
"You said you want me to be your slave. I'm already doing it," Isla replied smoothly, her tone unruffled.
Ethan’s gaze darkened, the familiar mask of indifference slipping into place. He leaned back in his chair, studying her with an unreadable expression. For a moment, there was silence between them, the air thick with tension. Finally, Ethan spoke, his voice low and measured.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, huh. Okay,”
For the first time, Isla saw something shift in Ethan’s eyes—a flicker of acknowledgment, of respect. It was brief, but it was enough to tell her that she was on the right path. He wasn’t invincible, and she wasn’t powerless. Not anymore.
“I have a meeting in an hour,” Ethan said, standing up from the table, his tone returning to its usual clipped efficiency. “But we’ll continue this conversation later.”
As he walked past her, Isla felt a surge of adrenaline. She was getting through to him, little by little. She still had a long way to go, but for the first time, she felt like she had a real chance. A chance to reclaim her life, her dignity, and maybe even reshape the dynamic of their marriage.
“Looking forward to it,” she called after him, her voice carrying a hint of challenge.
Ethan paused at the doorway, glancing back at her with a sharp, calculating look. “Don’t push your luck, Isla.”
She smiled, her heart pounding in her chest. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it.”
With that, Ethan disappeared down the hall, leaving Isla alone at the breakfast table. She exhaled slowly, the tension in her body easing, but her mind was still racing. The battle for control was far from over, but now, it was her move.
And Isla was ready to play.
Isla paced in her room, the weight of the previous night's encounter with Ethan still fresh in her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped, of being powerless in this twisted game he had created. But if there was one thing she was certain of, it was that she couldn’t involve her friends in this. Not Ava, especially. Ethan’s wrath could easily turn towards anyone who helped her, and Isla refused to let that happen.
She glanced at her phone, hesitant. Ava had always been her safe space, her confidante, but this time, Isla had to be careful. Ethan's eyes and ears were everywhere, and if he found out about their meeting, he wouldn’t hesitate to use it against her.
She tapped a quick message to Ava, her fingers shaking slightly.
“Let’s meet. No questions. I need to see you, but don’t tell anyone. Not even a hint.”
After hitting send, Isla felt her pulse quicken. She had no idea if this was the right move, but she couldn’t afford to sit around and wait for Ethan to tighten his grip any further. Ava would understand. She always did.
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed with a reply: “Got it. Usual spot in an hour.”
Isla breathed a sigh of relief. Their usual meeting spot was a quaint café tucked away from the busier parts of the city—discreet enough for a quiet conversation and far enough from Ethan’s watchful eye. She quickly grabbed her bag and slipped out of her room, careful to avoid the areas where Ethan might be lurking.
As she exited the estate, the morning sun shone down, momentarily lifting the weight from her chest. She was finally taking action, no longer waiting for Ethan to dictate her every move.
The drive to the café felt longer than usual, her mind racing with what she would say to Ava. She had to be careful with how much she revealed, but she needed help, advice—anything to keep her sanity intact.
When Isla arrived at the café, Ava was already waiting at their usual table by the window, sipping a cup of coffee. Her friend’s face lit up when she saw Isla approach, but her smile quickly faded when she saw the strain in Isla’s expression.
“Isla, what’s going on?” Ava asked softly as Isla sat down across from her. “You look like you haven’t slept in days.”
Isla forced a smile, but her voice trembled as she replied, “I’m fine. I just needed to talk.”
Ava frowned, her eyes filled with concern. “You’re not fine, Isla. I can see it. What’s going on with Ethan?”
Isla’s stomach twisted at the mention of his name, but she kept her voice steady. “Things have been... complicated. More than I can explain right now. I just needed to see you, to remind myself that there’s still a part of my life that isn’t under his control.”
Ava reached across the table, taking Isla’s hand in hers. “You know I’m always here for you. Whatever you need.”
Isla swallowed hard, her eyes beginning to sting with the threat of tears. “I know. That’s why I didn’t want to drag you into this. But Ava, I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”
Ava’s grip on her hand tightened. “Do what? What’s he done?”
Isla hesitated. She couldn’t tell Ava everything, not with the risk of Ethan finding out. But she needed her friend to understand the gravity of the situation. “He’s controlling everything, Ava. Every part of my life. I feel like I’m suffocating.”
Ava’s eyes flashed with anger. “Then leave. Isla, you don’t have to stay in this—”
“I can’t,” Isla cut her off, her voice cracking. “It’s not that simple. He’s... powerful. If I try to leave, he’ll find a way to destroy me, or worse, come after the people I care about.”
Ava’s face paled, her expression softening. “Isla, you can’t stay trapped in this forever. There has to be a way out.”
Isla shook her head, her heart heavy with the truth she couldn’t fully speak. “There isn’t. Not right now. But I’ll figure something out. I just need time.”
Ava leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m worried about you. This doesn’t sound like a marriage, Isla. It sounds like a prison.”
Isla’s breath hitched at Ava’s words. She knew her friend was right, but the reality of her situation made it hard to accept. She was trapped, and until she could find a way to outsmart Ethan, there was no escaping it.
“I just need you to be careful,” Isla said, her voice low. “Please. Don’t get involved. If Ethan suspects anything, he won’t hesitate to come after you.”
Ava’s eyes widened with concern. “I’ll be careful, but I’m not just going to sit back and watch you suffer. There’s got to be something we can do.”
Isla shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. “For now, just keep this between us. I’ll handle it.”
Ava looked like she wanted to protest, but she nodded. “Okay, but if things get worse, you promise you’ll tell me?”
“I promise,” Isla said, though she wasn’t sure how much of that promise she could keep.
As they parted ways, Isla felt a mix of relief and fear. Seeing Ava had given her the strength to keep going, but it also reminded her of the stakes. Ethan wasn’t someone she could take lightly, and now that she had reached out to Ava, the risks were even greater.
As she drove back to the estate, Isla steeled herself. The game had begun, and she was willing to play. But the cost of losing was higher than she had ever imagined.
As Isla returned to the estate, the familiar suffocating air of control wrapped around her again, though this time, she felt a flicker of resistance burning deep inside. Meeting Ava had reminded her that there was still a world beyond Ethan’s grasp, even if it felt distant and unreachable at times. The game was beginning, and she had to tread carefully—one wrong move could spell disaster, not just for her, but for those she cared about.
Isla parked the car and took a deep breath, preparing herself to walk back into the lion’s den. She opened the door quietly, her eyes scanning the estate for any signs of Ethan. Thankfully, the house was silent, a rare moment of reprieve. Still, Isla couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, as if Ethan’s presence was embedded in the very walls of the home.
She headed toward her room, keeping her movements quick and light. The last thing she wanted was to run into him right now—especially not after her secret meeting with Ava. But as soon as she turned the corner near the staircase, a figure emerged from the shadows.
It was Ethan.
He stood there, his tall frame looming at the base of the staircase, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze locked on her. His expression was unreadable, but there was a dangerous calm in his eyes that sent a shiver down Isla’s spine.
“Where have you been?” he asked, his voice low, steady. Too steady.
Isla’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly composed herself, trying to act casual. “I just went for a drive. I needed some fresh air.”
Ethan didn’t move, his eyes boring into her. “You’ve been gone for a while. Fresh air shouldn’t take that long.”
Her pulse quickened. Did he know? Was this his way of letting her know he had been watching her all along? Isla forced a small smile, keeping her voice as calm as possible. “I lost track of time. It won’t happen again.”
He took a slow step forward, his eyes never leaving hers. “I told you before, Isla. I don’t like it when you lie to me.”
Her breath caught in her throat. She could feel the walls closing in around her, the trap tightening. “I’m not lying, Ethan,” she said, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
Ethan’s lips curled into a cold smile as he stepped closer, closing the distance between them. “Really? Because I have a different version of what happened. Do you want to hear it?”
Isla’s chest tightened with fear. He knew. Of course, he knew. Ethan always knew. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. “What are you talking about?”
He tilted his head, studying her face. “Don’t play dumb, Isla. I know you met with someone. I know you’ve been sneaking around behind my back.”
Her blood ran cold. Ava. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts—how much did he know? How long had he been watching? But most importantly, how could she protect Ava from the storm that was about to hit?
“I wasn’t sneaking around,” Isla managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just needed to clear my head.”
Ethan’s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch cold and possessive. “You think I’m stupid, don’t you? That you can go behind my back and get away with it.”
“I wasn’t—” Isla started to protest, but he cut her off.
“You met with Ava,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You thought I wouldn’t notice? You thought I wouldn’t care?”
Isla’s heart pounded in her chest. This was the moment she had feared—Ethan turning his attention to Ava. She had dragged her friend into this, despite her best intentions.
“I just needed someone to talk to,” Isla said softly, her voice pleading. “I didn’t tell her anything. I swear.”
Ethan’s grip tightened on her arm, his eyes dark with anger. “You’re lying again, Isla. I can see it in your eyes. But you’ll learn soon enough that lying to me has consequences.”
Panic surged through her as Ethan’s words sank in. “Ethan, please. Ava has nothing to do with this. Don’t drag her into it.”
He leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear. “Oh, she’s already involved. You made sure of that the moment you met with her. And now, you’ll have to face the consequences.”
Isla’s blood ran cold. She had to think fast, to do something before Ethan’s wrath extended to Ava. “What do you want from me, Ethan? I’ll do anything, just leave her out of this.”
He pulled back slightly, his gaze locking onto hers with a calculating intensity. “Anything?”
She nodded quickly, desperation lacing her voice. “Yes. Anything.”
Ethan’s smile returned, but it was laced with cruelty. “Good. Then you’ll stop fighting me. You’ll stop trying to act like you have any control in this marriage. From now on, you do exactly what I say, without question.”
Isla’s stomach churned, the weight of his demands crashing down on her. But she didn’t have a choice—not if she wanted to keep Ava safe. Slowly, she nodded.
“Fine,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’ll do what you want.”
Ethan released her arm, stepping back with a look of satisfaction. “Good. I’m glad we’re finally on the same page.” He turned and started to walk away but paused before exiting. “Oh, and Isla?”
She looked up, dread filling her chest.
“If I ever find out you’ve lied to me again, Ava won’t be the only one who pays the price.”
With that, Ethan disappeared into the shadows, leaving Isla standing alone, her body trembling from the encounter. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had made her choice—Ava’s safety over her own freedom.
But deep down, Isla knew this wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning of a much darker game.