Chapter 17 – The Library of Chains

Lina sat on the couch, arms crossed, her jaw set in defiance.

"I want to go back to school," she said firmly.

Ethan stood across from her, unmoved, unfazed.

His gray eyes watched her like a predator studying prey that had just stepped out of line.

"You're not going anywhere, love," he replied, voice calm but final.

Lina's hands clenched into fists. "I need to learn. I need my education."

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his dark hair.

"You don't need school," he said smoothly. "You have everything here."

Lina's heartbeat spiked in frustration.

"I have nothing here," she snapped.

Ethan's expression darkened. "Nothing?"

Lina swallowed. She had said too much.

But she couldn't back down now.

"I can't live like this," she whispered. "I need to study, Ethan. I need to do something for myself."

Ethan's jaw tightened.

She knew he didn't like this.

He had spent so long making sure she only needed him.

And now, she was asking for a life outside of him.

His silence told her everything.

He wasn't going to allow it.

Lina's heart sank.

But she had one last weapon.

And she was going to use it.

The next morning, Lina didn't eat.

She didn't move.

She didn't speak to him.

She simply curled up on the couch, her face blank, refusing to engage with him at all.

Ethan noticed.

Of course, he did.

By the afternoon, he had tried everything to get her attention.

He made her favorite tea.

He cooked for her himself.

He kissed her, touched her, whispered against her ear—but she didn't react.

She was shutting down.

And Ethan hated it.

By the evening, he had enough.

Lina sat in silence as he dropped to his knees in front of her, gripping her chin firmly.

His gray eyes burned with frustration and something deeper—something desperate.

"You're punishing me, love," he murmured darkly.

Lina stared back, unblinking.

Ethan exhaled sharply, then pulled away.

"You want an education?" he said. "Fine. But on my terms."

Lina's heart leapt with hope.

But she wasn't foolish enough to believe it was that easy.

The next day, Ethan led her to a car blindfolded.

Lina's pulse raced.

She hadn't been outside in weeks.

She didn't even know if she could trust herself not to run.

But when the car finally stopped and Ethan removed her blindfold, her breath caught.

She stood in front of a massive, stunning building.

A library.

A private one.

"Why are we here?" she whispered.

Ethan smirked, stepping behind her, his hands resting possessively on her waist.

"Because it's yours now," he murmured. "I bought it for you."

Lina's stomach twisted violently.

Her heart should have soared.

But instead, she felt suffocated.

Because this wasn't freedom.

This was his way of controlling her again.

Before she could speak, Ethan leaned in. "You want knowledge, love? I'll give it to you. But you will never set foot in a school again."

Lina's breath hitched.

She turned sharply, her eyes flashing with defiance.

"That's not the same," she spat.

Ethan chuckled, brushing his fingers through her hair.

"Oh, but it is," he whispered. "Everything you need is here. Books. Resources. Professors. I even arranged online classes for you."

Lina's body locked up.

"Online classes?" she repeated.

Ethan nodded.

"Starting tomorrow," he murmured. "You'll study from home. Under my watch."

Lina's stomach churned.

He was still controlling her.

Still making sure she could never escape.

Her fingers clenched into fists. "You're still keeping me prisoner."

Ethan's smirk was slow, dangerous.

"I'm keeping you safe," he corrected. "There's a difference."

Lina took a deep breath. "And if I don't agree?"

Ethan's expression darkened.

"Then you'll never learn anything again," he murmured.

Lina bit her lip.

She had no choice.

So she nodded.

And Ethan smiled victoriously.

Later that night, Lina sat in front of the brand-new laptop Ethan had given her.

Her online class was already set up.

Her favorite subjects.

The best professors.

A structured schedule.

It was perfect.

Too perfect.

Her fingers hesitated over the keyboard.

Her email was open.

This was it.

This was her chance to contact her family.

Her breath hitched.

But the second she tried to type—the screen froze.

A security warning popped up.

"Restricted access. Unauthorized contact detected."

Lina's heart sank.

She wasn't stupid.

She knew what this meant.

Ethan had installed security.

She wasn't just studying under his watch—she was trapped even here.

Her eyes burned with helpless frustration.

Of course.

Of course, he wouldn't give her true freedom.

Her fists clenched as the door opened.

Ethan walked in, his expression smug.

"Having trouble, love?" he murmured.

Lina slowly turned to face him.

"You're monitoring me," she accused.

Ethan didn't deny it.

"Of course," he said smoothly. "You belong to me. Did you think I'd let you slip away that easily?"

Lina's chest tightened.

She had thought she had won.

That she had gotten something back.

But now, she realized—

She was still in his cage.

It was just a prettier one.

Ethan knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his.

"You don't need them," he whispered. "You don't need anyone but me."

Lina swallowed hard.

Because a part of her—a small, broken part of her—

Almost believed him.

That night, Lina lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

Her plan to go back to school had failed.

Her attempt to reach out to her family had failed.

And worst of all—Ethan had given her exactly what she asked for.

Yet it still felt like she had lost everything.

Because the truth was clear now.

She could learn.

She could read.

She could study.

But she could never leave.

She belonged to Ethan now.

And there was no escape.

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