Trapped in the Shadow

In the darkness of the room, Jasmine’s body was thrown onto the bed as if cast into a nightmarish dream world. She quickly sat up and edged backward, keeping a wary eye on one direction—Mr. Hawthorne, the man who was a threat to her.

“P—please... don’t...!” Jasmine pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.

Mr. Hawthorne loosened his tie and then stepped onto the bed. “Thomas must understand the consequences of his actions. He will lose the happiness of the daughter he fought so hard for.”

“My father will come! He will come and bring you the money, we just need to wait a little longer—“

Jasmine’s words stopped as Mr. Hawthorne gripped her shoulders, making her lose contact with the bed she had just sat on. The man’s body loomed over her, his sadistic gaze growing closer and shaking her very existence.

“Stop saying impossible things. Your father will not escape my grasp when he returns!”

“I will do anything, except become your mistress. Housework or whatever you want. Mr. Hawthorne, please...”

Mr. Hawthorne smirked with a sharp intelligence. “Why? Is it because you don’t want your virginity taken?”

Jasmine shook her head quickly. “No! I don’t even have it anymore, so there’s nothing valuable to gain from touching me.”

Mr. Hawthorne’s face showed doubt, then his anger flared. “Nice try, Miss Everhart. You’re lying just to make me want to release you. Unfortunately, you didn’t succeed in deceiving me.”

“I’m not lying!”

“Oh, really? Then let’s prove it.”

Feeling that her bargaining had failed, Jasmine bit hard on the hand gripping her. She didn’t hesitate to leave the room and head toward the exit. With her heart pounding, she tried to find a way to open the door. It was then she realized that access to the penthouse required Mr. Hawthorne.

Jasmine looked around, hoping to find an alternative escape route. She saw a door near the kitchen and rushed toward it. From that door, she discovered a lush courtyard with a view of the city lights. A waist-high fence surrounded the area, and the soft moonlight touched the calm water of the swimming pool. She paused for a moment, captivated by the sudden beauty amidst her escape.

“Don’t think about jumping off this building,” Mr. Hawthorne’s voice interrupted the beauty.

Jasmine quickly turned to the source of the sound, Mr. Hawthorne standing before her. Slowly, she backed away until her waist touched the fence.

Mr. Hawthorne continued to advance, his gaze unwavering as he inspected the bite marks on his hand. “Feels like being attacked by a wild animal.”

Jasmine’s gaze fixed on the iron fence she was holding. The building was too high, she couldn’t imagine how severe the injuries would be from a free fall. Honestly, she still wanted to live, to see her father even though she didn’t know his condition. However, she couldn’t ignore the reality that Mr. Hawthorne wanted to make her his mistress.

“Please, let me go...”

“You’re just wasting energy, Miss Everhart,” Mr. Hawthorne hissed coldly.

Refusing to give up, Jasmine shook her head vigorously. Her desperate attempt led her to climb the fence, but soon her body fell back into Mr. Hawthorne’s strong grip.

Mr. Hawthorne pushed Jasmine away from the fence and said firmly, “There’s no place for your escape.”

Jasmine resisted the rescue, her mind in turmoil, and the desire to flee guided her steps. Determined, she tried to climb again for a chance at freedom, unaware that Mr. Hawthorne was prepared to take drastic measures. With a sudden move, he lifted Jasmine and threw her into the pool. The sound of the water breaking the silence of the night marked the end of Jasmine’s desperate attempt to jump from the tall building.

Gasping for breath as she reached the surface, Jasmine struggled to pull herself to the edge of the pool, trying to clear her blurred vision. Mr. Hawthorne watched impassively—the struggle of Jasmine to get to dry land, ending up huddled in a corner, hugging her shivering body. The strong wind on the high night added to Jasmine’s discomfort as she emerged from the pool with her wet clothes.

Mr. Hawthorne approached Jasmine, extending his hand and saying, “Do you still want to die?”

A look of hatred flashed in Jasmine’s eyes. She couldn’t believe Mr. Hawthorne’s words.

“Turns out Thomas has a stubborn daughter,” Mr. Hawthorne said as he pulled Jasmine back into the room.

“Let me go!”

Mr. Hawthorne immediately turned Jasmine around once they were in the enclosed room, gripping her shoulders tightly and saying firmly, “I don’t have much time to deal with such trivial matters, Miss Everhart. If you still want your father to live, you better mind your behavior!”

Despite her hatred, Jasmine couldn’t argue if it was about her father’s safety. She could only remain silent, her expression unchanged.

Mr. Hawthorne released his grip, looking at Jasmine with an evaluative gaze. “You’ve made the situation complicated and troublesome.” He crossed his arms and continued, “You can dry yourself off in my room.”

Jasmine was indeed cold, but she had no intention of accepting the kindness from the man who had treated her harshly.

Understanding Jasmine’s stubborn nature, Mr. Hawthorne offered another suggestion, “Would you like me to dry you off? But I can’t guarantee my self-control if I see you without clothes.”

Jasmine moved backward, realizing Mr. Hawthorne’s awareness, which sparked a sly smile on his face.

Mr. Hawthorne touched Jasmine’s neck, his intense gaze tracing her body. “The pool water has made your clothes wet, so I can clearly see the contours of your beautiful body.”

Jasmine widened her eyes, quickly stepping away while covering her body with her hands. However, Mr. Hawthorne’s eyes continued to watch her. With no other option, Jasmine reluctantly agreed to Mr. Hawthorne’s suggestion to dry herself in his room.

Mr. Hawthorne watched Jasmine leave, then lit a cigarette with a calm gesture. He enjoyed the wait while gazing at the New York City skyline outside the penthouse window.

***

Mr. Hawthorne felt he had waited a long time. He went to his room, entering without knocking, only to find something that exceeded his expectations.

Jasmine was not attempting to escape this time. Instead, she was found asleep on the floor, hugging her knees with her head resting on the nightstand. Mr. Hawthorne laid Jasmine on the bed. As he was about to pull the blanket over her, he realized that the clothes she was wearing were his shirt. A thin smile appeared on Mr. Hawthorne’s lips, amused by how he forgot about spare clothes and Jasmine boldly took his shirt from the wardrobe.

After covering her, Mr. Hawthorne did not leave immediately. He watched Jasmine sleeping soundly. "A little resistance has exhausted a stubborn princess. Let’s see what else you will do tomorrow to reject your fate."