A Happy Never Ending.(GXG)

33.

Tiana sat frozen on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly together as she stared down at the floor. The weight of Ashantii’s words crushed her, making it impossible to think clearly. Her mind raced, searching for an escape from the suffocating web her wife had spun around her. 

Ashantii stood in front of her, arms crossed, her towering presence commanding the room. Her dark eyes were fixed on Tiana, calm but with an unsettling intensity that made it clear she wasn’t bluffing. 

"You can go to work, Tiana," Ashantii said, her voice soft but laced with control. "But only if you prove to me that you can behave. Be a good girl, take care of yourself, and stop overthinking things." She crouched down to meet Tiana’s gaze, her tone turning saccharine. "Otherwise, I don’t mind keeping you home. You don’t need to worry about anything but resting and growing our baby." 

Tiana’s head snapped up, her tear-streaked face filled with disbelief. "You can’t do that," she said, her voice trembling. "You can’t just keep me locked up like some prisoner, Ashantii. I need to work. I need my life." 

Ashantii’s expression didn’t falter. She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, my love," she said smoothly, brushing a strand of hair from Tiana’s face. "I can, and I will. If that’s what it takes to keep you and our baby safe." 

Tiana stared at her, her chest tightening as Ashantii’s words sank in. There was no reasoning with her—not when she looked at her with that mix of love and unwavering authority. Ashantii truly believed she was doing the right thing. 

Instead of arguing further, Tiana lowered her gaze and slid off the bed. Her legs felt weak, but she moved to the corner of the room, sinking to the floor. She hugged her knees to her chest and buried her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. 

"I can’t do this," she whispered through sobs. "I can’t live like this." 

Ashantii straightened, watching Tiana with a calculating gaze. After a moment, she moved toward her, her footsteps deliberate and slow. She crouched down beside Tiana, her hand reaching out to stroke her hair. 

"Don’t cry, baby," she cooed, her tone soft yet unsettling. "I’m doing this because I love you. You’ll see that soon enough. Everything I’m doing is for us." 

"Don’t touch me!" Tiana screamed, jerking away from Ashantii’s hand. Her voice was raw, the desperation in it piercing the air like a knife. 

Ashantii froze, her hand hovering in the air. Slowly, her face shifted, the softness fading as a cold, hard edge took its place. Her lips curled into a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. 

"So that’s how you want to play it," Ashantii said, standing to her full height. She looked down at Tiana, her gaze sharp and commanding. "If you want to be a brat, I guess I’ll have to treat you like one." 

Tiana’s heart sank as Ashantii turned on her heel and walked to the bedroom door. She didn’t even glance back as she grabbed every device within reach—Tiana’s phone, the tablet on the nightstand, even the small laptop she used for work. 

"Ashantii, don’t—please," Tiana begged, her voice cracking. 

Ashantii paused at the door, her hand resting on the handle. She glanced over her shoulder, her expression a chilling mix of disappointment and control. "This is for your own good, Tiana. You’ll thank me someday." 

With that, she stepped out and closed the door behind her. The sound of the lock clicking into place echoed through the room, a stark reminder of the power Ashantii held. 

Tiana bolted to the door, pounding on it with her fists. "Ashantii! Open the door!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "You can’t do this to me!" 

Silence. 

Tiana sank to the floor once more, her body shaking as fresh sobs wracked her frame. She felt trapped, powerless, and utterly alone. 

Outside the room, Ashantii leaned against the door, listening to Tiana’s cries with a conflicted expression. She sighed, her hand brushing over the doorframe as if trying to comfort her wife through the barrier. 

"You’ll see, my love," she whispered to herself, her tone calm but laced with obsession. "This is all for us. One day, you’ll thank me for loving you this much." 

Ashantii walked away, her steps steady and deliberate. She had everything under control—at least, that’s what she told herself. For her, love wasn’t just a feeling. It was possession, devotion, and a willingness to do whatever it took to keep what was hers. 

And Tiana was hers.