A WEB OF DECEIT

chapter 76|FINALE

FINALE

NARRATED

Thelani felt her pulse hammering in her ears as Lucas stood before her

He stood in front of her, unbuttoning his shirt slowly, as if this was just another romantic night. But there was no romance here. Only control. His eyes scanned her like a predator, hungry for something she couldn't give. The cold metal of the handcuffs on her wrists bit into her skin, a cruel reminder of how trapped she was.

"I miss this. I miss us," Lucas muttered, kneeling on the bed beside her. "Do you remember how good it used to be between us?"

His words were distant, meaningless. Thelani's heart pounded with dread, her mind screaming to escape, but there was nowhere to go. She turned her head away, hoping that if she didn't look at him, maybe this would all stop. Maybe it would go away.

"Look at me," he snapped, his hand gripping her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. His touch wasn't tender-it was ownership, a claim on something he believed was his. Tears blurred her vision as she looked up at him, her mind racing, trying to find some way out. But there was none.

When his lips crushed against hers, she froze. She didn't respond. Couldn't. Her body was paralyzed with fear. He kissed her roughly, his hands grabbing at her. Thelani felt a sob rise in her throat, but she held it back. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how terrified she was.

He kissed her neck, his breath hot and oppressive against her skin. She could feel him fumbling with his belt, the sound of the metal buckle scraping, and panic surged through her. She turned her head, trying to escape his touch, but he grabbed her chin again, pulling her back to face him.

"Why are you doing this?" Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling, but it was all she could manage.

"Because you love me, Thelani. I know you do. You just forgot," he whispered back, his breath sickeningly close to her ear. "I'll help you remember."

When she didn't respond, his frustration flared. His hand came down hard across her face, the slap sending a sharp sting through her cheek. The shock of it silenced her sobs, leaving her momentarily numb.

"You will love me again," he growled, his hands now moving down her body. Thelani shut her eyes tightly, trying to block out the sensation, but the weight of him pressed down, suffocating. She could feel his hands pulling at her clothes, stripping away any last barrier she had. She tried to push him off, but the handcuffs held her in place, and he was too strong.

Her heart pounded, a wild rhythm of fear. Each touch, each forceful movement, tore at her. She felt every bit of her dignity, her strength, slipping away. The bed beneath her felt like quicksand, pulling her deeper into a nightmare she couldn't escape.

Lucas whispered to her again, but she didn't hear the words. They were distant, drowned out by the chaos in her mind. She wanted to scream, to cry, to fight, but all she could do was endure. Her body betrayed her, lying motionless beneath him, while inside, she felt like she was crumbling apart. She could feel him against her, forcing himself into her, the violation complete.

The pain was sharp at first, but soon it became something duller-an ache, not just physical, but emotional. Every part of her felt broken. And yet, there was nothing she could do.

Her mind began to retreat, pulling her into herself as a way to survive, shutting down the pain, the shame, the helplessness. She stared at the ceiling, her breath shallow, her body cold. She didn't even flinch anymore when he moved against her, his sick fantasy playing out.