His Property

POV: Daphne

The first rays of pale sunlight crept through the window, slicing across the sterile, unfamiliar bedroom. I woke up with a sharp gasp, my fingers gripping the bedsheets like a lifeline. The terrifying emotional turmoil of last night’s confrontation slammed back into my conscious mind. My chest pulled tight before I even opened my eyes, my heart drumming a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I braced myself for the searing heat of his touch or the suffocating weight of his presence pressing me down into the mattress.

Instead, I found nothing.

I glanced at the expansive space beside me and realized Dominic was not in bed. The expensive linens were undisturbed on his side, devoid of any warmth. His physical absence was unsettling, leaving a cold void in the massive room that made the silence ring in my ears. Yet, a twisted, secret part of my mind flooded with overwhelming relief. He had actually listened. When I begged him to let me go untouched last night, when he stepped back and promised we would take it slow, he meant it. He had walked away and left me to sleep in peace.

Seeking a sliver of normalcy to ground my racing thoughts, I dragged myself out from under the heavy duvet. I headed straight into the massive adjoining bathroom, my bare feet padding softly against the cold tile. I turned on the silver faucet and splashed freezing water onto my face, forcing myself to breathe in steady, measured rhythms. I stared at my pale reflection in the mirror, watching the water drip from my chin. I needed to prepare myself for the day ahead. I needed to figure out how to survive in this sprawling house.

Drying my face with a plush towel, I walked back into the bedroom and picked up my phone from the nightstand. I swiped the screen to check my messages, expecting mundane emails or news alerts.

Instead, a bright red notification flashed across my banking app screen.

*Transaction Declined. Cards Canceled.*

My stomach twisted into a knot of pure disbelief. I stared at the glaring words, blinking my eyes frantically to clear my vision. I tapped the screen, swiping through the app, praying it was some sort of system glitch. It was not. My checking account, my savings, my credit lines—everything flashed the same bleak message. Locked. Frozen. Zero access.

The sheer audacity of the action registered a split second later. He did this. Dominic did this while I was sleeping.

My blood boiled with a newfound, explosive energy. The lingering fear from last night evaporated, consumed by blinding rage. I tossed the phone onto the mattress and stormed out of the bedroom.

I marched down the grand staircase. My feet slapped harshly against the cold marble steps, each sharp sound fueling the inferno burning in my chest. The opulent mansion felt like a glittering cage, and I refused to be a quiet prisoner. I burst into the living room, my eyes frantically scanning the vast, sunlit space.

I found Dominic lounging on the expensive leather couch. He wore a crisp dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to expose his muscular forearms. He was scrolling through his phone with a cup of black coffee resting on his knee. He looked relaxed, entirely at peace, as if he hadn't just crippled my independence with a single, ruthless command. The sight of his effortless calm pushed me right over the edge.

I planted my feet on the thick rug and clenched my fists at my sides, letting my voice echo off the high ceilings. "Dominic! What the hell did you do? You have absolutely no right to do that! You don’t control me!"

He lowered his phone. His handsome face barely registered a fraction of concern. If anything, the slight curve of his lips suggested he was amused by my outrage. He looked me up and down, taking in my furious, disheveled state with a predatory calm that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

"I do control you. You’re my wife, Daphne. Everything you do is under my watch now. Including where you spend your money." He spoke in a low drawl, his voice resonating with a cold, terrifying authority that filled the massive room.

I stepped back as if his words had struck me across the face. The legal reality of my situation slammed into me. "I'm not your property. You don't get to make those decisions for me."

A dark smirk formed on his face. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and fixed me with a dangerous, unblinking intensity. "You are. And you’ll learn that soon enough. I have given you everything you could ever need in this house. You think you can just go around doing whatever you please, using money whenever you want? Not anymore."

I hugged my arms across my chest, trying to shield myself from his piercing gaze. "This is insane."

Hearing my wavering tone, he let out a cold, humorless laugh that grated painfully against my nerves. The sound held no warmth, only a sharp edge designed to cut through my defenses.

"You think this is insane? Wait until you see what I can really do when I’m pissed off." He warned softly, his eyes darkening into twin pits of black.

A creeping, paralyzing helplessness began to seep into my veins. It buried itself deep beneath my shaking anger, chilling me to the bone. I realized he possessed all the financial and legal power, and he knew exactly how to wield it to break me down.

"I am doing this because I care about your well-being, Daphne. You will understand that one day." He stated smoothly, attempting to claim the moral high ground.

Looking into his calculating eyes, I knew the absolute truth. This financial blockade was not about care or protection. It was just another deliberate, cruel pawn move in his twisted game for total dominance and power. He wanted to strip away my autonomy until I had nothing left but him.

I trembled but fought with everything I had to keep my voice steady and defiant. "I don’t need your care, Dominic. I don’t need anything from you. Ever."

His handsome face hardened into stone. The amusement vanished, replaced by a ruthless chill. He stood up from the couch in one fluid motion. His broad, towering frame cast a long shadow that completely eclipsed me. I held my ground, even as my heart hammered violently against my ribs.

He stepped directly into my personal space, forcing me to tilt my head back to look up at him.

"Oh, but you do. Eventually, you’ll see that you need me for absolutely everything. You think you’re in control of your life right now, but you’ll learn what real control looks like."

Without waiting for a response, and without uttering another word, he simply turned on his heel and walked out of the massive living room. His heavy footsteps faded down the long hallway.

The heavy silence of the mansion crashed back down around me. I was left standing alone on the expensive rug. I was breathless, seething with anger, yet more terrified than ever of the invisible chains he was rapidly locking around my wrists.