Journey (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 14: The Chains of Luxury

Years had passed since that fateful day when Phuwin's last hope of escape had been crushed by Pond's ruthless control. The passage of time had done little to heal the wounds left by Pond's domination. Instead, they had festered, becoming a part of Phuwin's very being, shaping him into a shadow of the person he had once been.

Both Phuwin and Pond had graduated from university, stepping into the world with the weight of their past hanging heavily over them. For Pond, the future seemed bright—his family's business was thriving, and his connections had only grown stronger. But with success came new challenges, and Pond knew that to secure his position, he needed to make some strategic decisions.

One of those decisions was marriage.

Pond had never been one to believe in love, not in the conventional sense. For him, relationships were transactions, just like everything else in his life. And now, with the need to stabilize his company and secure his position in society, marriage had become another transaction—a way to solidify alliances and protect his empire.

The announcement of Pond's engagement came as a shock to many, but for Phuwin, it was a different kind of blow. He had always known that Pond's life was separate from his own, that the world Pond inhabited was one of wealth, power, and influence—far beyond anything Phuwin could ever hope to touch. But hearing the news of Pond's impending marriage made it painfully clear just how deep the divide between them truly was.

Despite the engagement, Pond's control over Phuwin remained as strong as ever. There was no escaping the web of manipulation and dominance that Pond had spun around him. And now, with Pond's future seemingly secured, he had new plans for Phuwin—plans that would tighten the chains that bound them even further.

One evening, not long after the announcement of Pond's engagement, Phuwin received a message summoning him to Pond's private estate—a lavish house on the outskirts of the city that Pond kept away from prying eyes. It was a place Phuwin had only visited a handful of times, each visit leaving him feeling more trapped, more isolated.

When Phuwin arrived at the estate, he was met with the familiar sense of dread that always accompanied these encounters. The estate was grand, with sprawling gardens and a view that overlooked the city, but to Phuwin, it was nothing more than a gilded cage.

Pond was waiting for him in the living room, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, his expression unreadable. He motioned for Phuwin to sit, and Phuwin did so, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I have something to discuss with you," Pond said, his tone calm, almost businesslike. "Something that will change your life."

Phuwin remained silent, his mind racing with possibilities, none of them good. He had learned long ago that when Pond spoke of changes, it rarely boded well for him.

Pond leaned back in his chair, studying Phuwin with a gaze that was both calculating and possessive. "I want you to quit your job at the agency."

Phuwin blinked, surprised by the request. His work at the agency had been a constant in his life, a way to maintain some semblance of independence, even if it was a hollow one. But the agency was also a source of income, a way for him to feel like he had some control over his life, however small.

"Why?" Phuwin asked cautiously, unsure of what Pond was planning.

Pond's eyes narrowed slightly, as if the question annoyed him. "Because I don't want you there anymore. I don't want you meeting other people, selling yourself to strangers. You're mine, Phuwin. You've always been mine, and I'm tired of sharing you with the world."

The words sent a chill down Phuwin's spine. There was something different in Pond's tone, something that made Phuwin's skin crawl. It wasn't just control anymore—there was something else, something deeper, more twisted.

"You'll live here," Pond continued, gesturing to the opulent surroundings. "In this house. I'll provide everything you need. You won't want for anything. But you'll stay here, out of sight, where you belong."

Phuwin's heart sank as the reality of Pond's words began to sink in. This wasn't an offer—it was a command, one that would strip away the last vestiges of freedom he had left. He would be nothing more than a kept man, hidden away in a house that might as well have been a prison.

"And what about your fiancée?" Phuwin asked, his voice trembling. "What happens when you're married?"

Pond's expression darkened, a flicker of something almost like jealousy crossing his features. "My marriage has nothing to do with you. It's a business arrangement, nothing more. But you—you're different. You're mine, and I don't want anyone else touching you."

Phuwin felt a wave of nausea wash over him. This was worse than anything he had imagined. Pond wasn't just controlling him out of a need for power—there were feelings involved now, twisted and possessive, but feelings nonetheless. And that made the situation even more dangerous.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Phuwin said quietly, already knowing the answer.

Pond's gaze softened slightly, though there was still a hard edge to it. "No, you don't. But think of it this way—you'll have everything you've ever wanted. Luxury, comfort, security. You won't have to sell yourself anymore. You'll just be here, waiting for me when I need you."

The words were like a death sentence, and Phuwin felt the last pieces of his soul shattering. He had spent years trying to break free, trying to find some way to reclaim his life, but now it was all slipping away. Pond's house would be his new world, and there was no escape from it.

"Fine," Phuwin whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'll do it."

Pond's expression relaxed, satisfaction spreading across his features. He reached out, taking Phuwin's hand in his own, his grip firm but not unkind. "Good. You'll see, Phuwin. This is what's best for you. For both of us."

Phuwin nodded numbly, the weight of his decision settling over him like a shroud. He knew there was no fighting this, no way to resist. Pond had him completely, body and soul.

As the days turned into weeks, Phuwin settled into his new life at the estate. The house was luxurious, filled with every comfort he could imagine, but it felt like a gilded cage. Pond visited often, each encounter a reminder of the power he held over Phuwin. There were moments when Pond's touch was almost gentle, as if he were trying to show some semblance of affection, but it was always tinged with possessiveness, with the knowledge that Phuwin was his and his alone.

The outside world faded away, and Phuwin's life became a series of quiet days and lonely nights, waiting for Pond to come and claim him. There was no work, no agency, no interactions with others. Just the empty opulence of the house and the knowledge that he belonged to someone who would never let him go.

As Pond's wedding day approached, Phuwin watched from the shadows, knowing that the life he had once dreamed of was gone forever. Pond's marriage would secure his place in the world, but Phuwin's place would remain the same—hidden away, a secret kept in the dark corners of Pond's life.

In the end, Phuwin realized that Pond's love, if it could be called that, was a twisted thing, born of control and possession. It wasn't love in the way Phuwin had once imagined it could be. It was something darker, something that bound him more tightly than any physical chains ever could.

And so, Phuwin remained in the house, the walls closing in around him, the days stretching out endlessly. He had become exactly what Pond wanted—his to keep, his to control, his to love in the only way Pond knew how. And as the world moved on without him, Phuwin accepted his fate, knowing that there was no escape from the life that had been forced upon him.

He was Pond's, now and forever, and there was nothing left but to live in the shadow of that truth.