Kidnapped to love

chapter 55

Dimitri stared at the red marks on Crystal’s arm from where he had gripped her. His jaw tightened, but he forced himself to take a deep breath, trying to regain control. “Why, Crystal?” he asked, his voice low but strained. “Why won’t you fall in love with me?”

Crystal took a step back, her arms instinctively wrapping around herself as if to protect her heart from his gaze. She said nothing, her silence thickening the tension in the air.

“Answer me!” he shouted, his voice reverberating through the room.

A voice echoed from the doorway. “What’s going on here?” Dimitri’s mother rushed in, her face pale with concern.

Crystal flinched at the interruption but looked up, her eyes locking onto Dimitri’s with a mixture of anger and sorrow. She steadied herself. “You want to know why I won’t fall in love with you?” Her voice shook, but her gaze held steady. “How could I ever love someone who… who kidnapped me?”

Dimitri’s face hardened, but there was a flash of hurt in his eyes. “Kidnapped? Is that all you see when you look at me?”

“Yes,” she shot back, her voice a mixture of pain and fury. “You stole my life, Dimitri. You caged me. Took away every bit of freedom I had left. Do you think I could ever want this kind of life?”

Dimitri’s face twisted in frustration. “That  drunken night! You talked about wanting someone to take you away, to give you the world!” His voice cracked, but he pressed on. “I thought I could be that for you. To take you to… to heaven, Crystal. Doesn’t that mean anything?”

Crystal shook her head, her voice soft but firm. “No. That doesn’t mean tearing my life apart, Dimitri.”

He clenched his fists, his tone laced with desperation. “Enough of this, Crystal. Stop lying to me.” He moved closer, eyes narrowing. “Why can’t you just admit the truth?”

She stared at him, feeling the weight of his words but unable to give him what he wanted. “Admit what?” she asked, genuinely confused.

Dimitri’s eyes darkened. He let out a frustrated sigh, stepping back. “Fine.” His voice was low, almost a whisper, but his disappointment cut through her. “You don’t love me. I understand that now.”

Crystal froze, feeling a pang in her chest, but she forced herself to respond. “You’re right, Dimitri,” she said, her voice barely steady. “I don’t.”

He took another step back, a cold, distant look settling on his face. “Then I don’t love you either.” His voice was steely, final. “From now on, I won’t waste my time on someone who doesn’t appreciate my love.”

“Dimitri!” His mother’s voice held a warning, but he ignored her, his gaze fixed on Crystal. She felt her heart shatter at his words, the bitterness in them piercing her like a blade.

He turned on his heel, heading for the door. Before he could leave, she found herself shouting, her voice shaking, “Then let me go!”

He stopped in his tracks, slowly turning back to face her. Crystal’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her chin held high despite the hurt in her expression. “You said you don’t love me anymore,” she continued, her voice breaking. “So there’s no reason for me to stay here.”

Dimitri’s jaw clenched. “I told you already, Crystal. I have plans for you. You’re not going anywhere.”

And with that, he stormed out, leaving her standing alone, her heart heavy with confusion and pain. His mother came forward, watching Crystal’s broken expression as a single tear slipped down her cheek.

“What happened, Crystal?” she asked gently.

But Crystal couldn’t find the words. She hugged herself tightly, feeling as though everything she knew had been torn apart.