Bound By Contract: The Possessive CEO's Bride

Kaylee twisted the brass doorknob of the bedroom with both hands. The metal was freezing against her palms. The lock mechanism was completely jammed. It did not budge a single millimeter.

Her knees gave out. She collapsed onto the cold hardwood floor, her chest heaving as she struggled to pull air into her lungs.

Sharp, rhythmic clicks echoed from the hallway. High heels. The sound stopped right outside her door. Kaylee's heart slammed against her ribs so hard it physically hurt.

"Put on the engagement dress, Kaylee," Donita's voice pierced through the heavy mahogany wood. The tone was absolute. There was no room for negotiation.

Kaylee's hands started to shake. The tremor traveled up her arms to her shoulders.

"Mitch is waiting," Kallie's voice chimed in from the hallway. A cruel laugh followed. "He might be sixty-five, but he has plenty of money to keep you comfortable. You should be grateful."

Bile rose in the back of Kaylee's throat. Her stomach twisted into a violent knot. The thought of that old man touching her made her skin crawl.

She scrambled to her feet and threw herself at the door. She slammed her open palms against the wood. "Let me out!"

The heavy door did not even rattle. Her palms turned raw and red from the impact. The stinging pain shot up her wrists.

"Your allowance is cut off," Donita said coldly through the door. "You have no money. You have nowhere to go. Be ready in an hour."

The clicking of the high heels faded down the hallway.

Kaylee slid down the door until she hit the floor again. She looked up. The clock on the wall read ten at night. The ticking sound felt like a hammer hitting her skull. Her breathing turned shallow and rapid.

Her eyes darted around the room and landed on the nightstand. An empty jewelry box sat there. It was the only thing her mother had left her. The actual crystal box inside it had been confiscated by Donita.

A sharp ache bloomed in her chest. She wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hand. She forced herself to stand up.

She ran to the floor-to-ceiling windows and yanked the heavy curtains apart. The storm outside was violent. Rain lashed against the thick glass. The wind howled. She took a step back, her body shivering instinctively.

She gritted her teeth and pushed the window open. Freezing rain immediately whipped into the room. It soaked the thin fabric of her nightgown in seconds. Her teeth began to chatter.

She leaned out and looked down. The drop from the second floor to the lawn was steep. The darkness swallowed the ground below. Vertigo hit her hard. The world spun for a second.

She turned around and sprinted to the large bed. She grabbed the edge of the silk bedsheet and pulled with all her might. It came loose. The fabric was incredibly slippery. She tried to tie a knot, but her hands were sweating