Chapter 80

He walked toward me with his usual proud, unhurried gait and sat right across from me. Without saying a word at first, he dragged my wheelchair closer until I was right in front of him. His piercing eyes locked onto mine, and I could feel the weight of his gaze. “Is that the kind of life you want again?” he asked in a low, sharp tone. “That shallow lifestyle you used to live—showing off, parading yourself like some trophy?” He laughed then, a hard, rough sound that made my stomach twist. “Have you ever wondered why I’ve kept you locked up all this time? Why I even bought you?” His words sliced through me. I gasped, even though part of me didn’t want to hear the truth. “I’ll tell you,” he continued darkly. “I’ll tell you why I didn’t kill you and why I’ve let you live all these years.” And as he spoke, I saw it clearly this time, the anger, the resentment, the hatred, and the disgust in his eyes. It made me swallow hard. “If it weren’t for this damn mating bond,” he went on, his voice r