I had tried hard not to be emotionally scarred, but it seemed that 20 days in the basement had left a subtle trauma after all. I had fallen asleep waiting for Theo, unable to resist the pull of exhaustion. In my dreams, I could feel someone gently brushing the hair from my face, but I couldn’t open my eyes. The sudden change in my circumstances had left me completely drained.

I was just as tense, anxious, and conflicted as the first day I woke up after being abducted. If I had come here as Theo’s guest instead of being abducted, it could have been a magical experience. I might even have spent my whole summer holiday here. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. I cursed Theo in my dreams and the tears I hadn’t allowed myself to cry began to well up and slowly roll down my cheeks.

***

Morning.

I awoke early out of habit. My body wasn’t fully awake yet, but I knew it would soon begin to heat up, longing for that moment of connection when I would be deeply intertwined with him.

As I sat up I suddenly realised something – I was no longer bound by the chains that had bound my wrists! I almost screamed with joy.

I got up and walked around the room a few times, feeling the softness of the carpet under my feet. The intricate decorations carved into the walls were beautiful, but the wardrobe was still empty.

Curious, I opened the wardrobe and my jaw dropped in surprise. It was stuffed with all sorts of clothes. The first time I came into this room, I had thrown away my plain white T-shirt and shorts and put on a purple nightdress because I couldn’t bear to wear those plain white clothes any longer.

I never imagined that the wardrobe would be filled with so many everyday outfits. Judging by the sizes and styles, they were meant for me.

I took out a simple light purple dress. It was calf-length and had no particular pattern, just an ordinary dress. I took off the nightgown and changed into it. The drawers under the wardrobe were neatly organized and filled with all kinds of underwear.

Who could have organized all this so neatly?

It was hard to imagine that Noel had meticulously arranged every piece of underwear so neatly. There must be someone else in this mansion besides the three men.

It wouldn’t be a man – it would have to be a woman. Someone who would handle my underwear, wash and dry the sheets stained with the traces of my and Theo’s (a fitting term to refer to the three men) intimate moments, manage the clothes I wore, my items, and the other little things. A woman would be best suited for such a task.

I wasn’t wearing a bra. Cane would no doubt grumble when he took it off later anyway. Instead, I slipped into a pair of white panties. It felt like… it had been so long since I had worn underwear.

I looked at myself in the mirror and saw a small, make-up-free woman staring back at me. Pale and thin, with long brown hair cascading down just below her chest.

“This feels so strange.”

I murmured, rubbing my wrists. It still felt as if the shackles were wrapped around them.

Could I leave the room?

The door to the basement had a fingerprint recognition system, so even if I tried to open it, I couldn’t.

With a trembling heart, I walked towards the entrance of the room. I wouldn’t be too disappointed if the door didn’t open. It was to be expected.

If they allowed me to roam freely around the villa, it meant the risk to them was higher.

The doorknob felt cold. I turned it slowly.

The door opened with a heavy thud. I stood speechless, staring at the open door in disbelief. Did the three men have some other source of confidence? Were they certain that I could never escape from here? Or did they believe that I was already so completely bound to them, both physically and mentally, that I had no desire to escape? I couldn’t tell.

As I cautiously stepped out of the room, I was greeted by the faint early morning light flooding the living room. The natural light streaming in from the ceiling was more refreshing than any artificial light could ever be.

I took my time exploring the living room, something I hadn’t done yesterday. There was the main hall, which could be called the main living room, and this room felt like a smaller living room, although it was by no means small.

Apart from the door that led to my room, there were several other doors, but I hesitated to examine them too closely just yet. To one side of the room was a large bookshelf filled with various books. All the books I had written were neatly arranged among them.

“How meticulous…”

I wasn’t surprised.

If anything, I would have been puzzled if none of my books had been there. As far as I knew, Theo had read every one of my works without missing a single volume.

I picked up the latest book I had written on ego psychology and glanced through it quickly before putting it back on the shelf. I wanted to see the glass corridor I had seen yesterday. Just a few steps down from one side of the living room was the entrance to the glass corridor.

Inside, the corridor was filled with the shimmering blue hues of rippling water, as I had expected when I had passed through it last night, thanks to the dense forest behind it.

“Huh…”

Nature never ceases to amaze.

I spent a long time admiring the scenery around me, but then I noticed that my breath was getting slightly warmer. The time for pleasure was approaching. I knew I should go back to my room, but I didn’t want to. Stubbornly, I continued walking towards the main hall.

The huge hall was empty. I had no idea where Theo’s room was, or where Noel and Cane’s might be. I walked into the kitchen, ran my hand along the worktop, and looked at the large fridge that dominated one corner of the wall.

“Maybe I’ll have some coffee.”

It was a leisurely thought. Still, I wanted to enjoy the freedom I’d been given as much as possible. As long as I didn’t rush into the main living room, grab the phone, and frantically dial Dr Leoton’s number, I doubted Cane would get angry over a simple cup of coffee.

In one corner of the counter stood a shiny, almost new espresso machine. I placed a small cup under it and pressed the button. I watched as the beans were ground and the rich liquid poured out. The smell of coffee filled the kitchen.

I began to open cupboards and drawers one by one. Elegant dishes were neatly arranged inside. In the far right cupboard, I finally found a kettle.

I added the espresso to the hot water and stirred it with a small spoon. I wished I could have added some cream, but I was content with that. I took my cup, walked slowly into the lounge, and sat down on the sofa. As I savored the coffee I had brewed (or rather the machine had brewed for me), I looked out through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the garden.

It was fragrant. How long had it been since I had enjoyed a cup of coffee?

Of course, if I’d asked Noel, he would have gone out of his way to bring me coffee every morning, but when I was locked in the basement, the craving for coffee hadn’t been strong. Each day felt like a silent war, leaving little room for such indulgences.

Even now, the war hadn’t ended, but I couldn’t help thinking: “Maybe this is as good as it gets?

The view outside was breathtaking and the rich aroma of coffee filled the air, comforting and inviting. Despite the warmth, I felt a pleasant drowsiness settle over me, and my core felt warm and relaxed.

I let out a soft laugh to myself. It felt like the real test was about to begin. I really believed it. I was content with this beautiful mansion, this lifestyle, and my own choice to stay here.

The three men who once held the whips now offered me sweet rewards – so tempting that if I took the wrong bite, everything I had worked for could crumble.

“You’re up early, aren’t you, Yuel?”

A soft voice came from behind me. I turned to see Theo approaching in his pajamas and slippers. From his demeanor, his accent, and the way he addressed me, it was easy to tell that this man was Theo.

The dark navy silk pajamas suited Theo exceptionally well. I wondered where they had come from. Where was his room?

“Would you like some coffee?”

I instinctively lifted the coffee cup, keeping a sharp eye on him. Suddenly, memories of the countless nights we had spent together and the mornings that followed came flooding back. Theo seemed to remember them too, because he looked at me with a strange expression on his face.

“I found a machine in the kitchen.”

I turned my eyes back to the garden, pretending to be lost in the view. I knew that my calm and relaxed demeanor would have a positive effect on Theo; he would surely feel that I was adapting well to this place. The truth was that I liked this villa.

So this was Seyon, a place from which escape seemed unlikely, and I had to stay here for an unknown length of time, next to that terrible basement. It felt incredibly bleak, but at the same time, I found some comfort in the beautiful scenery and architecture around me.