Possessive InLove

Chapter 22: The Sweetest Trap

Chapter 22: The Sweetest Trap

Rena's POV

The night air was warm, and the sky was a sea of stars as I stepped out onto the balcony of the luxurious villa where Filip had arranged our wedding night. The soft glow of candlelight illuminated the space, casting a romantic ambiance over the elaborate dinner set for two. Everything looked perfect—too perfect. It was Filip's version of romance, filled with extravagance but laced with control.

He stood by the edge of the balcony, dressed in a crisp white shirt that contrasted with the night around him. His eyes followed my every move as I approached the table. A smile touched his lips, but it was the kind of smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was possessive, a reminder that I was his now, no matter how beautiful the setting was.

“Tonight is for us, Rena,” he said softly, pulling out a chair for me to sit. “I’ve made sure everything is perfect. Just how you deserve it.”

I lowered myself into the chair, my heart heavy with unease. The moonlight reflected off the crystal glasses and delicate china on the table. A bouquet of white roses, my wedding flowers, sat in the center, a reminder of the day I couldn’t forget.

He poured champagne into my glass, the bubbles rising quickly to the top. I hesitated for a moment, glancing up at him as he took his seat across from me. His eyes were fixed on me, waiting for my reaction.

“It’s… beautiful, Filip,” I said, forcing a smile. “You’ve outdone yourself.”

“I wanted to make tonight special. After all, it’s the beginning of our forever,” he said, reaching for my hand across the table. His grip was firm, his thumb brushing over my knuckles as if to remind me that I wasn’t going anywhere.

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. He had everything planned, down to the smallest detail. But something inside me felt wrong. It wasn’t just the weight of the day or the suffocating control Filip held over me—it was something deeper, a sense of impending doom I couldn’t shake.

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Filip's POV

Rena looked radiant tonight, the candlelight making her glow as if she were made of stardust. My wife. My possession. I watched her closely, noting the tension in her shoulders, the way she glanced toward the edge of the balcony as if she were searching for a way out. But she wouldn’t escape. Not now. Not ever.

I’d made tonight perfect for her—lavish, romantic, everything she could ever dream of. But there was a part of her that still resisted, still longed for something beyond me. It didn’t matter. In time, she’d learn to accept that we were meant to be together, that this was her life now.

I leaned forward, raising my glass toward her. “To us, Rena. To the start of our new life together.”

She lifted her glass, the clink of crystal echoing in the night air. Her smile was soft, but I could sense the war raging inside her. She still didn’t fully understand, but she would. She had no choice.

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Rena’s POV

As the night went on, I couldn’t shake the growing sense of dread that hung over me like a dark cloud. Every word Filip spoke, every touch of his hand, only seemed to tighten the invisible chains that bound me to him. I played my part, smiling when necessary, but inside, I was unraveling.

Suddenly, there was a rustle behind us, so faint I almost missed it. I glanced around, my heart skipping a beat. The villa was secluded, miles away from any other houses or roads. There shouldn’t have been anyone else here. Filip didn’t seem to notice, too wrapped up in his possessive adoration of me.

I excused myself, standing to step away from the table, pretending to admire the view. My mind was racing. Was I imagining things?

But before I could dismiss the sound, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into the shadows. I gasped, trying to scream, but a hand clamped over my mouth, silencing me.

“Rena, it’s me,” a voice whispered urgently. “Jason.”

Jason?

I struggled to turn, but I couldn’t move, his grip too tight. My mind was spinning. Jason. After all this time, he had found me. But why now? Why tonight?

“Don’t make a sound,” he hissed in my ear, pulling me further into the shadows where Filip wouldn’t see. “I’m getting you out of here. You’re not safe with him.”

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Filip’s POV

I turned from the table, expecting to see Rena gazing out over the garden, but she wasn’t there. The chair where she had been seated was empty, and the air suddenly felt cold. My eyes darted around the balcony, but she was gone.

A flicker of panic shot through me. Where is she?

I strode toward the edge of the balcony, scanning the grounds below, but the night seemed too quiet. My heart began to pound. She wouldn’t have just left. She couldn’t.

My possessiveness flared as I searched the darkness for any sign of her, a knot tightening in my gut. I clenched my fists, the thought of her slipping through my fingers making my blood boil.

“She can’t escape me,” I muttered, my mind racing. “Not tonight. Not ever.”

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Rena’s POV

My heart pounded in my chest as Jason pulled me deeper into the villa’s gardens, away from Filip’s sight. I struggled to keep up, fear and confusion clouding my mind. Why was Jason here? How had he found me? And what did he want?

“We need to move fast,” Jason whispered, his grip tightening on my wrist. “He’ll come looking for you soon.”

“Jason, what are you doing?” I finally managed to ask, my voice shaky. “Why are you here?”

“I told you I wouldn’t let him keep you,” Jason said, his voice low but filled with urgency. “I know what kind of man Filip is. He’ll never let you go, Rena. You’re not safe with him.”

I wanted to believe him, but fear gnawed at me. Jason had always been there, lurking in the background, but could I really trust him now? And what would Filip do when he realized I was gone?

But before I could think any further, Jason tugged me forward again, his pace quickening. The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance—Filip’s footsteps, heavy and determined. He was coming for me.