Chapter 4

Liam' s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. His grip was tight, a silent assertion of ownership. "I asked, who are you?" he repeated, his cold gaze fixed on Marcus.

I tried to pull my arm away, but his hold was like iron. "Let go of me, Liam."

Marcus Thorne looked from Liam' s harsh grip to my face, his own expression shifting from confusion to concern. "I' m just a neighbor," he said calmly, his voice a stark contrast to Liam' s aggression. "I heard about Mrs. Vance' s granddaughter being here and wanted to offer my support."

Liam' s grip tightened for a second before he let go, pushing me gently behind him as if protecting me from a threat. He was creating a scene, establishing his dominance. "Her family appreciates the concern, but we have everything under control. You can leave now." His words were polite, but the dismissal was absolute.

He turned and guided me back into the room, closing the door firmly on Marcus. He didn' t look at me, instead walking over to the window and staring out at the rain-soaked city. The silence was heavy, filled with unspoken anger.

"What was that?" I finally asked, rubbing my wrist where his fingers had dug into my skin.

"A simple farmer trying to get close to you," he said, his voice flat. "Now that you' re about to be single, you' ll have to get used to men like that. They smell money and opportunity."

I flinched. His words were cruel, designed to make me feel small and vulnerable. "He was being kind. Something you know nothing about."

He turned to face me, a bitter smile on his lips. "Kindness doesn' t build empires, Ava. It doesn' t protect what' s yours. I' m protecting you, whether you see it or not."

"Protecting me? Or protecting your assets?" I shot back, my voice shaking with rage. "I am not one of your possessions, Liam. The divorce is happening. I' m leaving with my mother tonight."

His smile vanished. "No, you' re not." He walked over and picked up my bag, emptying its contents onto the bed. "You' re not going anywhere. Your mother isn' t stable enough to travel, and you' re in no condition to make decisions. I' ve already spoken to the doctors. You' re both staying here, under my care."

It was then that Chloe walked in, a triumphant smirk on her face. She was holding a file. "Liam, dear, the transfer papers are ready for your signature." She glanced at me, her eyes filled with pitying contempt. "Ava, you look terrible. You should really get some rest. Liam and I will handle everything."

The two of them stood there, a united front, deciding my fate as if I weren't even in the room. He had manipulated the doctors, used his power to trap me. Despair washed over me, cold and suffocating. I was his prisoner, and Chloe was my warden. The vineyard felt further away than ever.