CAGED BEAUTY

Hello, I am Ariana Xin, a 21 year old girl.

I work in a small cafe, and that's enough for me to make a living. And also I'm an orphan.

My life wasn't anything very priceless or privileged but it was beautiful and peaceful. Though I earned a little amount of money but for me it was more than enough.

I had a loving boyfriend, Carter. We had been together for since college. And I love him a lot.

And well people considered me extremely beautiful but for me, beauty was just an illusion to the eye, what actually mattered was the heart.

Everything was going smoothly, but then one day my whole life shattered into pieces right in front of my eyes and if it wasn't enough I met a dangerously attractive man who took me captive or in simple words, he caged me.

So let's begin from the very beginning, from where my life took a complete 360° turn.

It's a very special day today, it was our 3rd anniversary. I completed 3 years with Carter.

I was overjoyed, my heart was fluttering with happiness.

I had saved a 6 months of salary to buy him his favorite perfume.

I was way too excited to see his reaction.

I got dressed and headed out towards Carter's apartment, I wanted to surprise him and luckily he had given his spare key the other day.

After a 25 minute walk, I finnally reached my destination. And by now my excitement aas getting out of control.

I climbed up the stairs to his apartment. And when I reached his apartment, I saw a pair of high heels at the door.

At first I was really confused but I brushed off my confusion as I didn't want anything to distract my mind from surprising him.

I unlocked the door without making any sound and slowly walked inside.

As soon as I entered the apartment, I heard some weird sounds were coming from Carter's bedroom, as if someone was moaning.

But I brushed off all that too as I thought my mind was playing some tricks on me.

So I tiptoed to his room, and shockingly the sounds got louder and louder with each step that I took.

I finally realized that my mind wasn't playing any tricks with me anymore. So I quietly walked up towards his door and looked inside through the narrow gap.

And what I saw, shook me up to the point that my mind went completely blank, my hands went numb, and at that moment my whole world shattered into bits and pieces right in front of my eyes.

I wasn't able to move for a few minutes but somehow I managed to drag myself out of the apartment and to the nearest street.

I sat at a park bench, staring blankly at the trees in front of me.

I wasn't crying, no matter how much I tried tears just won't come out. So I sat there for a few seconds, minutes or hours I don't know.

It slowly started getting dark around me and suddenly it started raining, and with the downpour of the rain came out my tears.

I cried and cried and cried. I cried my heart and soul out, I screamed till my throat hurt and my lungs couldn't find enough air.

My tears got mixed with the rain and screams got mixed with the heavy sound of the downpour.

He cheated on me!

He cheated on me!

He cheated on me!

This was the only thought running through my mind at the moment.

Why did he do that? How could he do that?

Wasn't my love enough? Wasn't I enough?

What did I do wrong? Where did I go wrong to deserve this?

These constant disturbing thoughts were driving me crazy.

I was completely soaked, my clothes were soaked with rain water and my face was soaked with my tears.

I loved him so much, I gave him the 3 years of my life and yet he chose to break me completely.

No no no, he didn't break me, he crushed my heart, my soul.

He was the only person I loved, he taught me how to love and now see, what love has done to me!

After, I guess hours of crying and screaming. I decided to go and confront him.

I started walking but unfortunately I didn't know where, my mind wasn't in the right place at the moment.

I walked and walked and walked but did not reach his apartment and my legs were also giving up beneath me.

After minutes, or hours of walking I find myself standing in the middle of a road.

I started feeling dizzy and my body was going numb.

Then there was a loud sound of a car engine, and i somehow managed to turned around only to see the huge bright head lights of the car and then going blank, completely blank, dark and hitting my head with something hard.

*after hours*

I slowly regain my consciousness, but for some reasons I couldn't open my eyes, my eyelids suddenly felt like they weighed tons.

Then I hear some voices, both man and fortunately I can hear them properly,

"Doctor how's she now?" said the first one

And then came the reply of the second one whom I assume to be the doctor

"she's fine now, she did not get hit by your car but instead she fainted due to extreme pressure, shock and weakness. I assume she hasn't eaten anything since the morning."

"oh so that's the case, so how long until she wakes up?"

"she may wake up anytime now, I gave her the necessary medications she'll be fine after some rest."

"okay thanks."

One thing that caught my attention was the voice of the first man, his voice was deep and matured, I don't know why but I found his voice damn attractive.

I slowly tired to open my eyes again and fortunately, this time a I succeeded.

I opened my eyes to find myself in luxurious room with some medical supplies and judging by all the expensive stuffs around me, I assumed that it was a rich man's place.

As I was slowly taking in the luxury the room was offering me, I hear the door slowly open,

I look up to meet the most beautiful eyes staring at me, his eyes were holding me captive, I felt trapped unable to look away.

I was so lost in his eyes that didn't even realize how numb my body felt or how dry my throat was.

"Are you okay now?" said the man with a pair of magnificent eyes.

I was soo lost that I couldn't even utter a word all that I could do I nod my head in a yes.

"do you want something to eat?"

When he asked me about food, my mind was finally shaken out of all those thoughts and I somehow managed to speak two little words... "yes, please"

And as a reply to that he called out for the butler to prepare some healthy food for me.

I was astonished by his care for me, a total stranger!!! Nobody in my entire life ever cared for me, I always took care of myself on my own. But now it feels good to be taken care of....

I was so absent minded that I didn't even notice the person standing in front of me, asking for my name!

"what's you name?" he repeated

"Ariana" I replied slowly

"okay, then Ariana, you should change your clothes and come down for breakfast..."

"okay...wait breakfast?"

"yes, breakfast, it's morning now!"

"what time is it?"

"8 in the morning"

"oh no, I'll be late for work today.." I tried to get up from the bed but my legs were so numb that they gave up beneath me and I fell into his arms...

This is bad! This is bad!

Was running through my mind continuously, my face was red with embarrassment and dreaded looking up at him.

"hey, you don't have to work today, just get some rest" said the man with a gentle voice.

I finally managed to look up and uttered the work "okay"

I was too weak to argue!!!

He slowly layed me down on the bed. And asked me to freshen up and come down to have breakfast.

"if you have any problems, you can call out for the maids... They're right outside your door" and with that, he left....

I don't know why but, I was disappointed.

But well, nothing was more important for me at that moment then food, so I carefully got up and went to the bathroom and got freshen up.

The clothes were extremely expensive, those dresses were worth of my 2 years of salary...

But shaking away all those thoughts, I slowly walked down to fill my tummy up with some food.

Well, of course I didn't know the way to dining room,

oh sorry to the dining hall,

so the maids helped me get there without getting lost in this maze of a house

oh sorry a castle....

I saw a numerous numbers of dishes placed on the table and at the very end.....

he was seated at the very end.

I found myself in a very awkward position, I'm a girl who only haves a slice of bread with some milk as breakfast and now seeing such luxurious dishes, I felt out of place.

The man, whom I assume to be the master of this house, said "come and sit near me" pointing to the chair beside him.

Hearing this line leave his mouth my body subconsciously followed his order, or maybe request.

He said that simple line with so much demand that my body became obediently to him suddenly.

I slowly walked up and sat down beside him.

"thank you for all your help" I said

"not a problem" came his reply

He ushered everyone, the maids and the butlers out of the room.

"um, Mr.?"

"Aiden Cole"

My eyes widened in horror, Cole? AIDEN COLE, the world's richest businessman, ruthless and cruel, who's also a very arrogant person.

People say that, if Aiden Cole wants something he'll get it, even if he has to turn the whole world upside down.

I swallowed hard, and mustered up the courage to speak.

"Mr. Cole, thank you so much for saving my life the other day and taking care of me for all these time.."

"i already said, it wasn't a big deal"

"yes but now I would like to leave, don't wanna bother you all much"

*clank* his spoon fell on his plate with a loud sound!!!

He slowly looked up towards me with a cold expression, plastered on his face and said, "leave? Don't even think about it"

A shiver ran down my spine but I wasn't going to let anyone push me down so I said "why shouldn't I think about it? I want to go back home, I want to work, I have my own life Mr. COLE"

"noo, you aren't going anywhere, you'll stay here" was his reply. "is this how you repay your savior?"

"look Mr. Cole, I'm really grateful that you saved my life and for everything that you did, but you need to understand that I also have a life"

He said "I don't care" with a sharp tone in his voice.

"but why can't I leave?" I asked with frustration.

"because, from now onwards you'll be my woman!"

I couldn't believe my ears, the way he said those words so nonchalantly disgusted me.

"I don't agree to that" I replied angrily

"so what? I did not ask for your permission!"

"listen to me love, you're really very beautiful and I Aiden Cole deserve all the beautiful things in this whole world"

"you can say that, all the beautiful things in this world has my name written on them"

"how can you even think like this?" I replied annoyed by his arrogance.

"that's the point sweetheart, I can" he said with a mocking tone in his voice.

he leisuresly got up from his seat and left.

I was left, stunned.. not able to move, not able to think.

but then, I finally decided that no matter what, I will leave this place.

so i went back to my room and started thinking of ways i could run away...

then I spotted the balcony in my room, and I realized that it wasn't very high...so I patiently waited for him to leave the house.

and then I made my move, at first I just thought about jumping down, but then I realized that I could get hurt, maybe a sprain or something so then,

I thought of using the quilts in the room, and with their help, my feet finally touched the ground.

I stayed low for sometime, and when I got the chance I ran, I ran towards the main road, I ran as if my life was at stake.

if you want to read more then visit my profile on mangatoon and get the whole story there, I promise to start writing it😌