Karl opened the car door for me himself.
I sat inside, smoothing my dress, and the moment he took the driver’s seat, I laughed softly.
He glanced at me. “What?”
I shook my head, still smiling.
“I thought I’d lock the car from inside… drive away and run,” I said casually. Then I shrugged.
“And then I realized—I don’t even have the keys. Lol.”
For a second, the car went completely silent.
Then suddenly—
His hand came up, gripping my face firmly. Not hurting me. Not gentle either. Just… claiming.
“Don’t joke about running from me,” he said quietly.
His eyes weren’t angry. They were dangerous in a calm, terrifying way.
“I’d find you before you even finished your first turn.”
My smile faded.
“I was joking,” I whispered.
He stared at me for a long second, then slowly released my face and started the car.
“Good,” he said. “Because I don’t joke about you.”
The party venue was huge. Lights everywhere. Expensive cars. People dressed like power itself flowed through their veins.
The moment we entered, heads turned.
Whispers followed.
That’s karl.
That’s his wife.
He placed his hand on my lower back—not tight, not loose. Just enough to remind everyone: I was his.
We met his friends. All powerful. All dangerous in their own way. They laughed, talked business, clinked glasses.
Then one of them—damon gilbert—looked at me a little too openly.
He smiled.
“karl,” he said casually, “your wife is looking absolutely gorgeous. I wonder how you even control yourself. If it were me, I’d have broken the bed every night.”
My face burned instantly.
I felt exposed. Embarrassed. Every word felt too loud.
The air changed.
Karl’s hand tightened at my waist.
He smiled—but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Damon’s smile slowly faded.
Karl leaned slightly forward, his voice low, calm, and sharp enough to cut.
“You’re wondering about things that don’t concern you.”
Silence.
He continued, still composed.
“And you’re forgetting one thing.”
Damon swallowed.
“She’s not a topic,” karl said. “She’s my wife.”
The room felt colder.
Damon quickly laughed, nervous now.
“Hey—no offense meant, brother.”
Karl didn’t laugh back.
“Good,” he replied. “Because I don’t forgive offense when it comes to her.”
I stood frozen beside him.
Then—unexpectedly—he leaned down and whispered only for me:
“Look at me.”
I did.
“You don’t need to be embarrassed,” he said softly.
“They should be ashamed for speaking about you.”
My heart thumped.
He straightened and addressed everyone again, calm, powerful, untouchable.
And for the first time since this forced marriage began, I realized something terrifying and confusing at the same time—
In this dangerous world…
Karl wasn’t just my cage.
He was my shield.
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