Chapter 151

I had screamed the whole way in the car, and now my voice was hoarse. Jonathan didn't care; he carried me straight into the elevator. It rose directly to a penthouse entrance. Still holding me, he stepped out.

I looked around the unfamiliar space, shaking uncontrollably. “What are you trying to do? Jonathan! Say something!” Only then did he put me down.

I stood at the doorway, staring at the strange apartment, and stepped back. “Where are we?”

“Willowcreek.”

He finally spoke—just one word. No explanation, no emotion. He kept me near the entryway, then pulled out slippers from a cabinet and set them by my feet. “Put them on.”

I didn’t respond or move. He frowned. After changing his own shoes, he saw me frozen. He raised an eyebrow. “Want me to put them on for you?”

I shook my head. “I want to leave…”

As I turned to go, he slammed the door shut. His eyes were cold as he stared. “You’re not going anywhere unless I say so.”

I took a deep breath, instinctively stepping back. Jonathan moved toward me, closing the distance quickly. Just as my back hit the wall, he crouched, grabbed me forcefully, and pulled me onto his knee.

“What are you doing?” I struggled.

He cut me off, clearly impatient. “Shut up, Elise. I’ve heard you say that same thing over and over tonight.”

“So what if I have? Have you ever listened?” I shot back, unafraid to fight him.

Jonathan just looked at me, said nothing, and calmly reached down to take off my shoes.

“What are you doing?”

My feet left the ground; I nearly lost my balance, only staying upright by sitting on Jonathan’s knee. He steadied me with a hand on my shoulder, then removed my other shoe.

I took a deep breath, watching as he set my shoes aside and replaced them with soft, cotton slippers. Then he patted my backside firmly. “Stand up.”

Chapter 151 2/2

Furious and humiliated, I jumped to my feet and glared at him. “What the hell are you trying to do?”

Jonathan lifted his eyes slightly and looked at me. “Go inside. We’re living here from now on.”

My eyes widened. “What are you talking about? Why would I live here?”

His voice was cold and flat. “I’m not repeating myself.” The threat in his tone was unmistakable.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “I know you’re angry about tonight, but—”

Before I could finish, he pushed me onto the couch. The room was decorated in cold shades of black, white, and gray—just like him, distant, aloof, and unapproachable.

I looked into his dark, unreadable eyes, and finally saw a flash of something real—a flicker of anger. He’d hidden it well, but I saw it clearly—he was furious.

“Elise, don’t push me.”

He leaned in close, his voice biting at my ear. “Don’t bring up what happened tonight again. Or else—”

“Or else what?” My voice trembled.

“Or else—” His hand suddenly wrapped around my neck. The other slid over my body, slow and tightening. “Or else I honestly don’t know what I might do.”

Chapter 152