"You heard me. Eat it." His voice was cold, unwavering.
Anna swallowed hard, sweat forming on her forehead.
"B-but you told me to get this for you on my way back—"
"And now, I want you to eat it. That shouldn't be a problem, right?" His gaze bore into her, unrelenting.
She bit her plump, pink lips, hesitation flickering in her peach-colored eyes.
"N-no, but I've already eaten… I'm full," she said, voice barely above a whisper.
"Then just one bite." He brought the piece of food closer to her lips. "Open up, Anna."
"Please… I don't want to." Her voice trembled as tears welled up, spilling over.
"What's the matter, my dear Anna?" he murmured, his free hand tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"I… Please… don't." Her stammering plea was almost inaudible.
His grip tightened. "Open. Your. Mouth."
Against her will, her lips parted. The next thing she knew, the piece of meat was pushed into her mouth.
"Now chew," he ordered.
Tears streamed down her face as she obeyed.
"See? That wasn't so hard." He cupped her face with a deceptive gentleness. And then—
PAK!
The sound of the slap echoed through the room.
A red imprint bloomed on her pale, porcelain skin.
"AHHH!" The tray clattered to the floor as she stumbled back, clutching her face. Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
He caught her by the jaw, forcing her to look at him.
"You don't tell me what to do." His fingers dug into her skin, tightening like a vice. "I own you. One word from me, and you'll kill both him and yourself without hesitation. Do you understand?"
There was no amusement in his tone, only cold, suffocating authority.
Anna gasped, her body trembling. And then—
Her eyes widened in sheer agony.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
A guttural scream ripped from her throat as her body convulsed violently. The whites of her eyes turned crimson, her veins bulging beneath her skin.
She was dying.
He chuckled, the sound devoid of warmth. "How foolish of you to think you could poison me."
Turning away from her writhing form, he strode toward the wine rack in the corner of the dimly lit room. Selecting a bottle, he poured himself a glass, the deep red liquid swirling lazily as he moved back to the bed.
"How does it feel?" he mused, taking a slow sip. "To be helpless? To be chained? Stripped of your free will? Used?"
Setting his mask beside him, he leaned back, watching as she clutched her throat, her skin turning a sickly, burning red.
"It must feel suffocating. Frustrating." His laughter was low, almost distant. "I've lived nineteen years like this."
His expression shifted—calm, detached.
"I had no future. No hope. Just a pawn. Just a stepping stone." He exhaled softly, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips.
"But none of that matters anymore." He refilled his glass, swirling the wine absently. "A happy life? I don't care for such things. In fact… the thought bores me."
His gaze darkened, his lips curling into something far more sinister.
"What would truly satisfy me…" He took another sip, savoring the taste. "…is tormenting Jason until his very last breath." His voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "Even better—making that bitch watch as I do it."