The Predator’s Contract Partner

Chapter 255

Elisha was leaning on the bed in a daze. Lucerne put the shackles on her ankles again as he went out in the morning.

"You want me to live wearing something like this?"

The shackles didn't hurt, for they were made with several layers of silk inside and even had engraved decorations on the surface.

But with the bonds on, she could only walk in tiny strides. He did it to Elisha on purpose. So she would feel shame every time she walked. To tame her like her cattle.

Besides, he held her and carried her around last night. Elisha was going crazy.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

"Ma'am, here's your meal. Please eat."

Sophie noticed her feelings and brought a tray. Elisha was curled up on the settee.

Indeed, it seemed like Lucerne really put a lot of effort into creating this space. Since there were no windows, she figured it was an underground space. But surprisingly, it was well-ventilated; the air flowed so her head didn't hurt. There were a couple of rooms, but the largest was the bedroom.

Oil paintings were hung in the room, living room, and hallway. Elisha recognized them all as real, expensive works of art. Additionally, there was a small study and a smaller powder room. The maid's room was attached there.

There was even a dining room and living room. But she found nothing luxurious about this arrangement. The only thing better than the attic she was stuck in in her previous life was that it was more spacious and livable. Elisha felt insulted here, too.

"I'm done."

"But he told me to make sure you eat."

"Do you think I would be able to eat in this situation?"

“But. . . . . . .”

Sophie's words trailed off, and she raised her eyebrows. She placed a covered silver tray on the table next to the bed.

"What? Did he say you could hit and discipline me if I didn't listen?"

"He said something similar.."

Elisha was at her wit's end. If she had been a little more aggressive, she would have started throwing whatever she could put her hands on.

"Then what did that noble man order you to do?"

"He told me to put you in restraints. In the bedroom. . . . . . ."

Elisha looked at her ankles. She closed her eyes.

"Besides, he said that if the lady skips a meal, I should skip it too. . . . . . . But don't worry about that. This Sophie is very good at starving. There were many times when I was young and lived on less than this."

“. . . . . . Why are all of his subordinates as crazy as him?"

Sophie blinked her eyes. Elisha was curious about what kind of training Lucerne's subordinates received. Sophie seemed like a hollow actor who could only imitate emotions. That made Elisha feel even more insane.

"Madam, I'm sorry. Please come this way,"

Sophie said. And Elisha was really tied up in the bedroom like an animal. Sophie was ridiculously strong.

*

"Don't you feel sorry for Sophie?"

Lucerne didn't arrive until a day later. By then, she was feeling hungry. In her previous life, Elisha did not eat well, and she was weak from hunger. With chronic stress, anxiety, and mental illness, she rarely had the capacity to cook for herself and eat properly. She was currently in good health and felt hungry and fatigued.

"I feel more sorry for myself,"

Elisha said without even turning her head.

"I'm painfully paying the price for marrying a crazy man."

"That's a promising development. Self-pity isn't bad either. People like that are easy to handle,"

Lucerne said.

"Come along. You have to eat in the dining room."

"No, I refuse."

"Do you think I will pay attention to each and every single thing and patiently correct your eating habits? Do you want me to discipline you by spanking you with the cane next to the table?"

Elisha glared at him. Even as she gritted her teeth, she realized this was all a useless war of attrition.

"Come here."

Lucerne picked her up and hugged her. Her ankles were still shackled. The restraints clashed and made a clanging sound. When Elisha heard that sound, she felt even more ashamed. And Lucerne noticed her feelings.

"If you continue not to listen, you will continue to wear these. And I will continue to pick you up like this and carry you around."

“. . . . . . .”

"If you want that, keep on acting like this."

Elisha wondered how far he would go to treat her like a fool.

He took Elisha into the living room. Sophie was quickly preparing a meal.

"Go ahead. My wife will eat now, so you can go and rest. And no matter what you hear, don't come down,"

Lucerne ordered. Sophie bid her farewell with a serene countenance and left the room.

"If you don't want to eat with your mouth, should I feed your lower mouth?"

"You. . . . . . .”

Elisha gritted her teeth.