After Alexander Kane left, the suite once again fell into dead silence,, only that untimely brilliance in the trash can silently recounting the brief yet unsettling confrontation just now, Isabella curled up on the sofa, Lady Lydia's scrutinizing gaze carrying cold assessment and disdain, and Alexander's final indisputable "you only need to obey me," like two icy ropes, intertwined and tightened around her heart, drawing tighter and tighter.
Hope shattered, the family's pressure began to show, and she, still that canary locked firmly in the crystal tower's peak, had not even fully spread her wings before already perceiving the greater dangers outside the cage.
The following two days, calm as still water, yet a suffocating calm,, David's service remained meticulous, yet also carried a more rigorous, silent sense of surveillance, the tablet's internet access strictly limited to that "pure" world of popular science, Isabella no longer even tried to touch it, as if it were a trap that could bite.
Her ankle recovered quickly, already able to walk without limping too much, but this newly gained limited freedom brought no joy, only made her more clearly feel the vastness and emptiness of this prison, she still spent most of her time curled up on the sofa watching those endless documentaries, or standing for long stretches before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the miniature-like city below—Star City, also known as the Glass City of Asgaria, a jungle of steel, glass, and neon.
She saw streams of hovercars gliding soundlessly along the elevated tracks, saw ant-like crowds moving on the streets, saw ships entering and leaving the distant port… that was a living world, a world she once belonged to, now separated by a layer of unbreakable glass, unreachable.
A profound loneliness and despair crept up like vines, almost suffocating her.
On the afternoon of the third day, as Isabella was still staring blankly out the window, the suite's door opened, and Alexander Kane walked in.
Today he seemed not to have such a tightly packed schedule of meetings, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark gray casual suit, making his figure appear even more tall and austere. His face still showed little expression, yet the fatigue from high-intensity work had faded somewhat, replaced by a deep, unfathomable calm.
His gaze landed directly on Isabella standing by the window, she was wearing a soft off-white cashmere long dress, her slender figure outlined by the somewhat pale light filtering through the window, almost as if she might dissolve into the light at any moment, those emerald eyes gazing outside, empty and confused, carrying a fragile beauty.
Kane's steps paused slightly, a subtle ripple flashing in the depths of his gray-blue eyes, he walked to stand behind her, not too near, not too far."What are you looking at?" his low voice suddenly sounded, breaking the silence.
Isabella was startled, turning abruptly like a frightened fawn, her hand instinctively clutching the curtain, seeing it was him, the confusion in her eyes quickly replaced by vigilance and a trace of panic. "No… nothing." she answered softly, lowering her lashes.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then also turned outward, overlooking that brilliant yet cold city. "Asgaria, the Glass City." he commented lightly, tone unreadable, "Very beautiful, isn't it? Order, efficiency, dazzling brilliance."
Isabella remained silent, very beautiful, but also very cold, that was her thought, yet she dared not voice it.
"But no matter how beautiful the view, look at it long enough and one tires of it." his words shifted, his gaze returning to her, carrying a sense of scrutiny, "Your foot is healed."
This was not a question, Isabella nodded lightly.
"Go change your clothes." he suddenly ordered, his tone indisputable, "taking you out."
Out?!
These two words struck like a bolt of lightning, instantly splitting into Isabella's dead silent heart! She abruptly raised her head, emerald eyes filled with unbelievable shock and a faint sudden spark, so weak she herself could not control it! She almost suspected she had misheard.
Out? Leaving this Amber Tower? Leaving this cage?
Kane took in every change of her emotion in that instant, that faint spark seemed to please him, or perhaps confirmed some thought of his, the corner of his mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly, but quickly returned to straight.
"David will bring you suitable clothes, I give you twenty minutes." After speaking, he no longer looked at her, turning to walk toward the living room sofa to sit, picking up an electronic file to browse, as though just now he had merely decided a trivial matter.
Isabella's heart, however, pounded madly in her chest, so loud she suspected he could hear, out! Though it might only be another form of parole, though still under his strict surveillance, but that was outside! Real air, flowing wind, a… phantom of freedom!
She almost used up all her strength to suppress her nearly trembling body, trying her best to walk steadily yet quickly toward the dressing room, David was already waiting there, holding an open clothing box in his hands.
Inside the box was a smoke-gray knee-length dress of excellent texture, design simple and elegant, lines smooth, the neckline adorned with subtle pearl luster, low-key yet luxurious, beside it matched with a cashmere coat of the same tone, a pair of soft lambskin ankle boots, even a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses covering half the face.
Everything had been meticulously designed, needing to match his aesthetic and status, while also minimizing exposure of her face as much as possible, as though a precious item that required proper packaging.
Isabella did not pay attention to these, she almost mechanically, quickly put on the clothes, the size was just right, the fabric softly fitting against her skin, yet making her feel as if she had put on a new shackle—a refined and proper shackle.
David silently helped her straighten her collar and hair, his movements professional and distant, finally, he handed her the hat and sunglasses.
When Isabella put on the sunglasses, the wide brim of the hat cast a shadow that almost covered more than half of her face, she looked at herself in the mirror—strange, exquisite, like a soulless doll, but the heart in her chest beating madly reminded her of the excitement and unease at this moment.
She took a deep breath, walked out of the dressing room.
Kane was already standing in the center of the living room waiting, he glanced at her, his gaze pausing for a moment on her covered face, seemingly still somewhat satisfied, "Let's go." he spoke succinctly, taking the lead to walk toward the door.
Isabella followed behind him, her steps somewhat weak from nervousness and anticipation, passing through that suite door she had not stepped out of for a long time, walking through the silent corridor covered with expensive carpet, entering that exclusive elevator requiring his iris and fingerprint dual verification.
The elevator descended soundlessly, the feeling of weightlessness came, Isabella tightly clutched the small handbag in her hand, her knuckles turning white, she looked through the dark elevator glass, watching the rapidly rising floor numbers outside, feeling as if she were falling from the clouds toward the human world.
The elevator reached directly to the underground garage, as the door opened, a breath of air mixed with engine oil and underground chill rushed toward her face, a black luxury hovercar with smooth lines, low-key yet unable to hide its majestic presence, silently slid to a stop in front of them, the driver respectfully opened the door.
Kane motioned for Isabella to get in first, she bent down, sat into the soft leather seat inside the car, the interior space was extremely spacious, the air filled with that cold cedar and leather fragrance from his body, omnipresently declaring his sovereignty.
He then sat in, closed the car door, the vehicle started silently, smoothly driving out of the garage.
When the vehicle merged into Asgaria's evening traffic, Isabella almost greedily looked out the window, the real city scene rushed before her—not the overlooking separated by a layer of cold glass, but a flowing scroll of life she was within, towering glass curtain-wall buildings reflecting splendid light under the setting sun, holographic billboards flickering with dazzling brilliance, people on the sidewalks walking in haste, faces carrying all kinds of expressions…
Sounds, colors, scents… everything magnified, becoming vivid and lively, she could even feel the subtle vibration of the moving vehicle, hear the faint city noise coming from outside the window, all this made her feel a long-lost, almost tearful throbbing.
She looked so intently that she did not notice, at her side, Alexander Kane's gaze was not lingering on the scenery outside, but most of the time falling upon her profile.
Through the sunglasses, he could not see her eyes, but he could see her slightly tensed jawline, see her lips lightly pressed together in concentration, see her fingers resting on her knees, curling slightly, he could sense the faint, uncontrollable excitement and nervousness radiating from her body, like stones thrown into a lake, rippling outward in circles.
This reaction, pleased him.
The vehicle finally drove into an area of extremely high privacy, stopping before a building designed with strong modern artistic sense, constructed entirely of special glass material, the entrance of the building without any obvious sign, only two attendants in black uniforms, stern in demeanor, standing silently at both sides.
"Heart of Glass"—Asgaria's most top-level membership art gallery and restaurant, open only to a very few distinguished elites.
The attendants clearly recognized Kane, bowing respectfully, silently leading them inside.
The interior space was broad and lofty, the lighting meticulously designed, soft yet layered, outlining the silhouettes of the modern art collections displayed in the gallery. The environment was extremely quiet, almost no voices could be heard, only the faint echo of footsteps upon the mirror-like polished floor, a few guests scattered across the vast space, keeping a distant gap from one another, speaking in low voices, their clothing all of understated yet ultimate luxury.
Everything here exuded a sense of cold, lofty order, as if a different world from the noisy city outside the windows.
Isabella was stunned by the sight before her, not only by those priceless works of art, but even more by this omnipresent, suffocating sense of hierarchy and distance, she instinctively moved a step closer to Kane, as though he were the only familiar face in this strange and icy domain.
Kane seemed rather pleased by her nearness, he did not look at her, yet naturally stretched out his hand, grasping her wrist, his palm broad and warm, carrying an irresistible force, leading her forward, like guiding a treasure belonging solely to himself.
They sat down at a window-side spot with a superb view, outside the window was Asgaria's brilliant city skyline, night had fallen, the lights newly rising, the entire city like a gigantic, glowing crystal sculpture.
A waiter in black formal attire silently presented the menu, the menu was an electronic touchscreen, with only pictures and numbers, without any written prices.
"Any dietary restrictions?" Kane asked while looking at the menu, without raising his head.
Isabella shook her head, her voice faint: "None."
He then inquired no further, his finger tapped quickly a few times upon the screen, confirming the dishes, the entire process needing no extra words, naturally revealing absolute control.
During the interval of waiting for the meal, he leaned against the chair back, his gaze returning again to Isabella, she still wore the hat and sunglasses, appearing somewhat out of place, her head slightly tilted as she gazed at the night view outside the window, her profile in the dim light appearing soft and fragile.
"Take off the sunglasses." he ordered.
Isabella hesitated for a moment, yet still obeyed and removed the sunglasses, the wide-brimmed hat still remained, casting shadow over her eyes, yet revealing her delicate chin and pale lips.
His gaze lingered on her face, carrying a scrutinizing, almost object-appraising meaning. "Do you like it here?" he asked.
Isabella pressed her lips lightly, cautiously replying: "… very special."
"Asgaria has many such 'special' aspects." he said faintly, "Order, beauty, absolute control, this is what the world ought to be." His words carried an undisguised recognition and arrogance toward the power and order he himself had built.
Isabella remained silent, she gazed at the meticulously planned, brilliantly glowing, icy jungle outside the window, and recalled those ordinary people she had just seen in the traffic, hurrying for their livelihood, this world, in his eyes and in the eyes of those outside him, seemed to be two completely different appearances.
The exquisite dishes were silently brought up, each dish like a small artwork, the portion tiny, yet the flavor layered and flawless.
Isabella ate absent-mindedly, tasting like wax, her thoughts entirely away from the food, instead in feeling this brief yet real "freedom." Though this freedom existed inside a larger, more exquisite cage.
As the meal neared its end, a well-dressed, refined and elegant middle-aged Alpha man came over holding a wine glass, a perfectly measured smile upon his face.
"Mr. Kane, good evening, I did not expect to meet you here." The man greeted with a smile, his gaze unintentionally sweeping over Isabella opposite Kane, carrying a trace of barely perceptible probing, Isabella immediately tensed and lowered her head, instinctively wanting to pull the brim of her hat lower.
Kane's body leaned forward almost imperceptibly, just enough to block most of the probing gaze, he looked at the visitor with a blank face, only giving a slight nod, not even bothering to address by name: "Mm."
The cold attitude was obvious.
That man seemed also very aware of Kane's style, not daring to disturb further, exchanged a couple of sentences about art investment, and seeing Kane's indifferent response, tactfully excused himself and left.
From beginning to end, Kane had not introduced Isabella to the man, not even letting her presence be further exposed, as though she were a private collection needing strict protection, not allowing others the slightest coveting or peeking.
After that small interlude, the atmosphere seemed to shift with a subtle change, Kane's gaze lingered longer upon Isabella, carrying a deep, difficult-to-decipher focus.
After finishing the dishes, the waiter presented after-dinner drinks, Kane lifted a glass of amber-colored liquor, gently swirling it but not drinking, he glanced at the nearly untouched juice in front of Isabella, and suddenly spoke.
"Seems bringing you out for some air was a correct decision." His low voice in the quiet air sounded especially clear, "You look more alive than in the tower."
Isabella's heart trembled lightly, she raised her head, trying to see his expression through the shadow of her hat brim.
His face appeared somewhat blurred in the dim light, only those gray-blue eyes, like cold stars in the dark night, sharp and deep, were locked firmly upon her.
"But," his words turned, his voice carrying a trace of icy, metal-friction texture, "do not produce any mistaken illusions, Isabella."
His body leaned slightly forward, and the strong sense of oppression followed, even across the table it made her feel difficulty in breathing.
"Everything you can see and feel is because I allow it, the air you breathe, I can give you, and I can take it back." His voice was not loud, yet every word like an ice awl, pounding upon her heart, "Just like now, just like this city. They are all under my control."
"You will never, ever truly leave."
That final sentence, like the ultimate judgment, completely shattered the unrealistic spark of fantasy that had arisen in Isabella's heart because of going out.
Yes, how could she have naively thought this was the beginning of freedom? This was merely when the master felt in good mood, taking the caged bird out for a breath of air. The other end of the rope always held firmly in his hand.
The faint spark in her eyes instantly dimmed, leaving only icy despair and a numbness like resignation, she lowered her head again, softly answering: "… Yes, I understand."
Seeing her gaze quickly dim and her posture return to obedient numbness, in Kane's eyes flickered a very faint, even he himself had not noticed, complex emotion, like satisfaction, and also like… a trace of inexplicable irritation.
He tilted back his head, drained the liquor in one go, then stood up.
"Come, it's time to go back."
Inside the return car, the atmosphere was even more stifling, Isabella silently gazed at the flowing lights flashing past the window, those brilliant lights, at this moment in her eyes, had all become decorative stripes upon a gigantic cage.