Bound by the Betrayer

“No, no. Rafael… where are you…”

My voice trembled. My breathing turned ragged as panic crushed my chest tighter and tighter. I rummaged through my bag in a frenzy, my fingers shaking as I searched for my phone.

“Damn it, my phone is in-”

A violent crash against the door nearly stopped my heart. My body jerked in shock, my breath caught painfully in my throat.

I knew I was being hunted. The enemy my father had made had finally found me.

My gaze swept frantically around the restroom, my eyes darting everywhere, hoping to find something, anything, I could use to defend myself. But there was nothing. I was alone and trapped.

The restroom door was forced open.

A large man wearing a black mask stood in the doorway. His massive frame filled the space, making me feel even smaller, even more helpless.

The masked man strode toward me with long, steady steps. I struggled the moment his hand clamped roughly around my arm.

I let out a muffled scream, fighting to break free, but the difference in our strength was far too great. I collapsed into his grip, wincing in pain, still struggling with whatever strength I had left.

“Lady.”

My body froze.

My eyes widened completely when I heard that voice. A voice I knew all too well. A voice that had always made me feel safe.

“Y-You…”

“Thank you for cooperating so calmly all this time, Lady Adeline.”

I did not even have time to react when a needle pierced my arm. A cold sensation spread rapidly through my body. The man removed his mask.

My vision blurred, the world around me spinning. But at that close distance, I was certain. The man hunting me was the man who had always been there for me. The man I had trusted without a shred of doubt.

“You…”

My sentence broke apart. Darkness swallowed me whole.

**

My consciousness returned slowly, as if being dragged up from the bottom of an endless void. My head felt heavy, my vision unfocused.

A cloth gagged my mouth. My hands were bound tightly, as were my legs. I forced my eyes open, my brown irises scanning the unfamiliar room I was in. Then my memory crashed back into me.

Rafael… it was Rafael. But why-

My thoughts stopped abruptly when the door opened. That familiar figure entered the room with calm, unhurried steps.

A growl of rage rose from my chest. My entire body tensed, the ropes digging painfully into my skin. Hatred burned in my stare as he stood before me.

Rafael.

My bodyguard.

I screamed and cursed through the gag. Anger, frustration, and betrayal twisted together, gnawing at my heart.

He only snorted.

“No need to waste your energy, Lady.”

I did not care. I kept struggling until my arms ached, my skin burning where the ropes cut too tightly. The pain was nothing compared to the agony in my chest.

“Tsk, stubborn.”

Rafael removed the cloth from my mouth.

“You bastard! What do you want, huh? Why are you doing this to me!”

He gave a faint smirk, then stepped closer until his face was inches from mine. I could feel his breath.

“Calm down, Lady. You are perfectly fine here. Do not scream and glare at me like that. It serves no purpose.”

He stepped back and leaned casually against the table, looking at me as if I were nothing more than an interesting spectacle.

“You want money? Power? Or what? Just say it! There was no need to kidnap me, you damn bastard!”

He chuckled softly. “Such a pretty mouth, now so foul. You are not like this usually. You used to look at me with longing and desire. Now you look at me as if you want to kill me.”

“Are you insane? You know exactly why I am like this! This is all because of you! Why did you kidnap me? What do you actually want?”

He straightened and stepped closer, then bent down to look at me sharply.

“What I want is simple. I only want to take back what should have been mine.”

I frowned. What did he mean?

Seeing my confusion, Rafael smirked.

“Do not worry. It is not you. Once I get what I want, I will release you. Well… that is if your father is willing to give it back.”

“Give back what? What are you talking about?”

“A little princess like you does not need to know.” His hand reached out, smoothing my disheveled hair. “We will see… whether your father loves you more, or what he is holding onto now.”

I clenched my teeth, staring after him as he left, fury blazing in my chest. His words were vague. And somehow… I hesitated.

I doubted my father would save me.

One of his subordinates brought food and placed it in front of me. I scoffed.

“Trying to bribe me?”

He did not answer and left immediately. I clicked my tongue, glaring at the food in disgust.

“Need some help, Lady?”

I turned toward the door. Rafael entered and sat down in front of me.

He picked up the plate. “Doing this reminds me of old memories. Do you remember when you were sick? I was the one who fed you.”

I turned my face away, refusing to open my mouth.

“Do not be stubborn, Lady.”

I still did not turn back. That made him yank my chair closer roughly, forcing me to face him.

Our eyes met. My gaze dropped to the spoon in front of my face. I spat onto the food. “How can I trust that this is not poisoned?”

He fell silent for a moment, then put the spoon into his own mouth.

I stared at him in shock. “You are insane.”

“How is it?” he asked after swallowing. “Is there poison in it?”

Another spoonful was held out toward me. “Eat, Lady.”

With a surge of resentment, I finally ate.

Who are you, really? Why do it like this? Was everything… a lie?

My chest throbbed painfully. I could not accept the reality that all of Rafael’s attention and care had been nothing but deception.

I had fallen for my own bodyguard. I knew it was wrong. But feelings were not something I could control at will.

I only wanted to be noticed. To be loved. To feel safe.

And damn it, I had given that sense of safety to the wrong man.

“If everything goes smoothly, I will release you,” Rafael said quietly. “But if he refuses…” He took a step closer. “Then you will no longer be just bait.”

My breath caught in my throat. “Then… what will I be?”

Rafael stared at me for a long moment. Too long. That gaze made my fear grow deeper.

“Collateral.”

I swallowed hard, my eyes dropping to my wrists, still tightly bound.

If my father chose that power… then I would be the one who disappeared.

And the most terrifying part was this, I no longer knew whether Rafael was the enemy I should fear, or the only person who might still be able to save me.