"Welcome to the Hôtel de la Séraphine," he said in a cold, detached voice. "Don't be fooled by the name. It's not a hotel, and even less a place for angels." He paused, his piercing gaze locking onto Emily. "You agreed to be in my service for a full month. It begins now."

She stood barefoot on the gravel at the entrance, the sharp stones biting into the sensitive skin of her feet. The mansion was enormous—like nothing she had ever seen, not even in movies. Armed men moved about, their presence adding a palpable sense of threat. None of them dared glance in their direction, strictly obeying orders.

In front of them, a massive pool reflected the ambient lights, and a striking collection of luxury cars was perfectly lined up. Every detail of the property exuded wealth and power—but also an inhuman coldness.

With an authoritative gesture, he dismissed the driver, who bowed slightly before climbing into the limousine to park it. Alexander turned back to Emily, his icy eyes locked onto hers.

"Follow me," he ordered with no room for negotiation.

Emily obeyed, her heart pounding as she stepped after him, her bare feet leaving faint impressions in the gravel.

Head down, Emily followed Alexander in silence. The gravel path ran alongside the massive mansion, revealing manicured gardens and elegant sculptures. Alexander's estate was a fortress of luxury and dominance.

Rather than heading to the main entrance, Alexander veered off onto a narrower path, almost hidden behind perfectly trimmed hedges. They stopped in front of a large gate set apart from the rest. Alexander opened it, revealing a kennel. The musky scent of dogs and the fresh outdoor air mingled into a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

Inside, two imposing rottweilers stood behind a metal fence, their gleaming eyes fixed on the newcomers. They growled at the sight of Emily, their suspicion unmistakable.

"Silence," Alexander commanded firmly. The dogs immediately obeyed, lying down but keeping their vigilant eyes on her.

"These are your sleeping companions," Alexander declared.

A shiver of fear ran through Emily's body. The idea of spending the night in a kennel with dogs horrified her. She looked up at Alexander, defiance flickering in her eyes.

"I'm not an animal," she protested, her voice trembling but firm. "I refuse to sleep here with dogs."

Alexander stepped closer, his face just inches from hers. "You don't have a choice," he murmured in a threatening tone. "Sit. Here." He pointed to a corner of the kennel.

Emily clenched her fists, rage rising inside her. "No," she said flatly. "I won't sleep here."

Alexander's gaze hardened instantly. He pulled out a leash and a dog collar he had retrieved from the trunk before leading her to the kennel. "I'll show you what obedience means," he said coldly.

His body was far larger and stronger than hers. He grabbed her arms with a grip of iron and slammed her against the kennel bars. The rottweilers rose to their feet, growling, baring their teeth, awaiting only a word from Alexander to attack.

"Put your arm through the bars," he ordered.

Emily, breathing hard, shook her head, fear blending with resistance. "No, I won't," she said, her voice cracked but defiant.

Without a word, Alexander raised his cane and struck her violently on the arm. Emily cried out in pain, but he didn't stop. He hit her again and again—arms, chest, the most sensitive parts of her body. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to yield.

"Put your arm through the bars," he repeated, his voice more forceful.

Emily, desperate and in agony, tried to resist a moment longer, but the pain was unbearable. "No!" she screamed again, her voice torn between fear and defiance.

Exasperated, Alexander changed tactics. He raised the cane once more and brought it down mercilessly on her legs, her arms, bruising her flesh in waves of purple. Every blow was torture, the pain echoing through her entire body. The rottweilers growled louder, their fangs glinting in the dim light.

"You have no choice," he growled. "Obey, or the suffering continues."

Another blow made Emily scream in agony, her legs buckling. She realized that resistance would only make things worse. The fear of what Alexander might do, mixed with searing pain, finally broke her resolve.

"Okay, stop!" she screamed, tears flooding her face. "I'll do it, I'll obey, you fucking lunatic!"

With painful resignation, she extended her arm through the bars, tears streaming freely. The rottweilers, still watchful, tracked her every move, their growls low but still threatening.

Alexander, a satisfied smile on his lips, whispered, "Good girl. Now stay still, and learn your place."

"You see," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear, "the dogs only attack on my command. If you had obeyed right away, this lesson would've been shorter. But you chose to challenge me. Do you know what that means? It means I'll have to punish you again and leave something in your flesh to remind you what happens when you disobey."

A chill of terror swept through Emily. Every word was a razor slicing her resolve. She knew he was serious. The idea of being mauled by those dogs horrified her.

"Let me tell you what's going to happen," he continued, his tone ice. "Luthor will come and bite your hand. If you pull it away, if you disobey, I promise I'll throw you in that cage and let them rip you apart. My servant will throw your remains away tomorrow morning."

Emily's face was awash with tears, but she couldn't look away from his cruel face. "You have one option. Let the dog approach. Place your palm in his mouth. Then look at me and say, 'I beg your forgiveness, master.' Then I'll tell Luthor to bite. I want you to look me in the eyes while the pain takes over, and understand what happens when you defy or disrespect me."

Emily's heart pounded. Pure terror seized her. Luthor, the larger of the two rottweilers, approached, eyes locked on her. Trembling, she placed her open palm in the dog's warm, wet mouth.

"Now say it," Alexander commanded, his icy stare never leaving her.

"I beg your forgiveness, master," Emily whispered, her voice shattered by fear and pain. The words burned her throat—each syllable an unbearable humiliation.

Alexander nodded slowly, a cruel smile blooming. "Bite," he said to Luthor.

The dog closed its powerful jaws on Emily's palm. The pain was immediate and excruciating—a scream of pure agony escaped her as Luthor clamped down. She felt her blood spilling, the hot flow mixing with the unbearable pain. Her tears poured freely, but she didn't dare move—paralyzed by fear and suffering.

She could sense the dog's thirst for blood, its primal urge to shred her hand. She felt the tension in Luthor's jaw, restraining his instincts to obey his master's command not to go further. In that moment, Emily understood—Alexander was testing them both. Like her, Luthor obeyed, held back by the leash of power.

"Look at me," Alexander insisted. Emily, her vision blurred by tears, raised her eyes to him, searching desperately for mercy—but found none. His frozen eyes bore into her with merciless intensity.

"Remember this pain," he murmured. "Remember what it means to disobey me."

Emily nodded faintly, her will shattered, succumbing to the agony—fully aware her life now belonged to this merciless man.

"Everything here obeys me," Alexander said, his voice sharp. "Hundreds of thousands of people at my service, financial empires under my control. So tell me—who's the lunatic?"

Emily, eyes full of tears and pain, summoned the last shred of courage she had. She clenched her teeth, her face contorted by suffering, and whispered, "It's me... I'm the lunatic, master."

Alexander seemed satisfied with her submission. "Now crawl into your cage. You've learned a lot today. Don't be too hard on yourself. It's not easy to be trained when you're still wild. You came from the streets. Your master doesn't blame you. We'll put on your collar and leash tomorrow."

Emily dragged herself toward the cage, her strength completely drained. She slipped inside, surrounded by the rottweilers who stared at her with unwavering eyes. She realized she wasn't hiding from the dogs—she sought refuge from the man. Even the flimsy barrier of the fence gave her a sliver of protection.

He shut the kennel behind her, locking it with a sharp metallic click. The enclosure was made of reinforced mesh, the floor concrete—escape impossible. He stood a moment longer, eyes cold, fixed on her.

"We'll put on your leash and collar tomorrow," he repeated, his glacial tone brooking no hesitation.

Curled in a corner of the cage, Emily felt tears slide down her cheeks. Every breath was a fight against the searing pain coursing through her.

The rottweilers still watched her, their eyes glowing in the dark—but they no longer seemed as threatening as the man who had just broken her.

One of the dogs slowly approached, its eyes filled with an eerie gentleness. It extended its muzzle and, with a nearly tender motion, gently licked her wounded hand. A wave of emotion swept through Emily—a mix of pain and compassion for the creature. The dog seemed to say: it wasn't his fault either. He too was under Alexander's ruthless will.

Inside that cage, despite the humiliation and agony, Emily found a trace of peace. The bars separated her from the man, offering the illusion of safety. She knew it was only an illusion—but for now, it was all she had.

Darkness crept over the kennel. Emily closed her eyes, trying to push away the despair tightening around her. She didn't know what the next day would bring, but she knew her life had just crossed into a nightmare with no clear end.