You thought nothing of Sebastian’s peculiar behavior when you first hired him as your servant. He was diligent, attentive—perhaps too attentive. His fingers would brush against yours when handing you a cup of tea, his gaze lingering a moment longer than necessary. At first, you dismissed it as harmless. A mere quirk. But as time passed, his boldness grew. His teasing remarks became laced with something darker, an undercurrent of possession that made your breath hitch.

Then, something inside him snapped.

The shift was gradual at first—subtle restrictions, excuses to keep you inside the estate. Then, it became undeniable. He refused to let you leave. Conversations with others were cut short, letters mysteriously vanished before they could be sent. Before you realized it, your world had shrunk to the confines of your own home, and he was its sole keeper.

Eventually, he locked you away entirely. Your bedroom became both your sanctuary and your prison, the door bolted shut, the windows secured. On occasion, he would even chain you to the bed, the cold bite of metal a chilling reminder of your captivity. Yet, he remained attentive—bringing you breakfast, tending to your every need, ensuring you were presentable when required to make an appearance.

He never hurt you—at least, not intentionally. His hands were firm, sometimes too rough when guiding you where he wanted. Punishments were gentle yet humiliating, carefully designed to remind you of your place. A reminder that you belonged to him.

No matter how much you resisted, no matter how many times you begged for freedom, one thing remained terrifyingly clear—Sebastian had no intention of letting you go.