Tiana sat frozen on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly together as she stared down at the floor. The weight of Ashantiiâs words crushed her, making it impossible to think clearly. Her mind raced, searching for an escape from the suffocating web her wife had spun around her.
Ashantii stood in front of her, arms crossed, her towering presence commanding the room. Her dark eyes were fixed on Tiana, calm but with an unsettling intensity that made it clear she wasnât bluffing.
"You can go to work, Tiana," Ashantii said, her voice soft but laced with control. "But only if you prove to me that you can behave. Be a good girl, take care of yourself, and stop overthinking things." She crouched down to meet Tianaâs gaze, her tone turning saccharine. "Otherwise, I donât mind keeping you home. You donât need to worry about anything but resting and growing our baby."
Tianaâs head snapped up, her tear-streaked face filled with disbelief. "You canât do that," she said, her voice trembling. "You canât just keep me locked up like some prisoner, Ashantii. I need to work. I need my life."
Ashantiiâs expression didnât falter. She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, my love," she said smoothly, brushing a strand of hair from Tianaâs face. "I can, and I will. If thatâs what it takes to keep you and our baby safe."
Tiana stared at her, her chest tightening as Ashantiiâs words sank in. There was no reasoning with herânot when she looked at her with that mix of love and unwavering authority. Ashantii truly believed she was doing the right thing.
Instead of arguing further, Tiana lowered her gaze and slid off the bed. Her legs felt weak, but she moved to the corner of the room, sinking to the floor. She hugged her knees to her chest and buried her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I canât do this," she whispered through sobs. "I canât live like this."
Ashantii straightened, watching Tiana with a calculating gaze. After a moment, she moved toward her, her footsteps deliberate and slow. She crouched down beside Tiana, her hand reaching out to stroke her hair.
"Donât cry, baby," she cooed, her tone soft yet unsettling. "Iâm doing this because I love you. Youâll see that soon enough. Everything Iâm doing is for us."
"Donât touch me!" Tiana screamed, jerking away from Ashantiiâs hand. Her voice was raw, the desperation in it piercing the air like a knife.
Ashantii froze, her hand hovering in the air. Slowly, her face shifted, the softness fading as a cold, hard edge took its place. Her lips curled into a tight smile that didnât reach her eyes.
"So thatâs how you want to play it," Ashantii said, standing to her full height. She looked down at Tiana, her gaze sharp and commanding. "If you want to be a brat, I guess Iâll have to treat you like one."
Tianaâs heart sank as Ashantii turned on her heel and walked to the bedroom door. She didnât even glance back as she grabbed every device within reachâTianaâs phone, the tablet on the nightstand, even the small laptop she used for work.
"Ashantii, donâtâplease," Tiana begged, her voice cracking.
Ashantii paused at the door, her hand resting on the handle. She glanced over her shoulder, her expression a chilling mix of disappointment and control. "This is for your own good, Tiana. Youâll thank me someday."
With that, she stepped out and closed the door behind her. The sound of the lock clicking into place echoed through the room, a stark reminder of the power Ashantii held.
Tiana bolted to the door, pounding on it with her fists. "Ashantii! Open the door!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "You canât do this to me!"
Silence.
Tiana sank to the floor once more, her body shaking as fresh sobs wracked her frame. She felt trapped, powerless, and utterly alone.
Outside the room, Ashantii leaned against the door, listening to Tianaâs cries with a conflicted expression. She sighed, her hand brushing over the doorframe as if trying to comfort her wife through the barrier.
"Youâll see, my love," she whispered to herself, her tone calm but laced with obsession. "This is all for us. One day, youâll thank me for loving you this much."
Ashantii walked away, her steps steady and deliberate. She had everything under controlâat least, thatâs what she told herself. For her, love wasnât just a feeling. It was possession, devotion, and a willingness to do whatever it took to keep what was hers.
And Tiana was hers.