From Prison To Dominance!

Chapter 9

Next morning, a knock hit the door.

Rhys opened to find Luther leaning against the frame, arms crossed. He wore a frown on his face.

“Sleep well, gutter rat?” Luther’s eyes swept the guest room like it disgusted him just by hosting Rhys’s body.

“Enjoy the sheets while they last. Silk’s wasted on someone like you.” He added.

Rhys sighed.

“Is there a point to this, or did you just miss me?”

Luther’s face darknened immediately. He straightened himself.

“The point is that you’re a stray Sera dragged in off the street because she felt sorry for you, and strays that overstay their welcome get put down. So here’s some free advice, fuckface… Luther stepped closer.

“Take the money. Keep your head low. Don’t get comfortable, and don’t get ‘ideas’ about anyone in this family, especially not Anna. ” His eyes cut deliberately toward the hallway.

“You understand me? Or has poverty rotted your brain already?”

“Your foolishness didn’t stop me from saving her last night. It won’t stop me now either. So take your own advice and shut that mouth of yours.” Rhys replied to him.

Something in Luther’s face snapped.

He threw the punch without warning.

Rhys caught the hand without blinking, his fingers closing slowly around Luther’s fist.

And then, he squeezed.

“Ah! Fuck!” Luther groaned.

Bone ground against bone. Luther’s face burned red as he strained uselessly to pull free, his whole arm shaking with the effort of not screaming in front of a man he’d sworn to humiliate.

“Let me go, you barbarian!” He tried to fight the pain but he was losing. Heavily. Tears quickly gathered at the corner of his eyes. The word “please” drew very close to his lips.

“The next time you pull a stunt like this, I’ll make sure to snap your wrist.”

Rhys said and held his gaze a moment longer, hand still tightening around the fist.

“Rhys?”

Anna’s voice rang through the hallway.

Rhys let go immediately.

Luther staggered back, cradling his hand to his chest, jaw clenched around a groan he refused to let out loud.

“Anna, sweetheart, you shouldn’t be here—” Luther started.

She walked past him like he wasn’t present.

“Morning, Rhys.” A small smile broke across her face, warmth rising in her cheeks. Rhys smiled at her.

“Get dressed. We’re going shopping.” She added and walked away quickly, her shyness taking over.

Luther’s mouth opened. Nothing useful came out of it.

And the next glare from Rhys quickly sent him on his way.

***

The boutique bore Anna’s family name in gold above the entrance, and the moment she stepped through the door, every member of staff rushed to her.

“Miss Longwater!” A woman at the counter nearly dropped her tablet.

“You look… oh my god, you’re glowing! We’d heard you were unwell, we didn’t dare hope you’d/”

“I’m better now. Much better.” Anna glanced sideways at Rhys, something warm passing behind her eyes.

Customers turned mid-sentence, caught by whatever had changed in her. Her beauty attracted whispers from every angle.

Anna pressed a black card into Rhys’s palm.

“From my mother. It pulls straight from the ten million. Consider it a formality. In the meantime, take anything you want from the men’s section. My treat.”

She smiled at him.

“I don’t need charity.” He replied to her.

“It’s not charity. It’s gratitude. Let me have this one thing.” Her voice dropped, softer now.

Rhys held her gaze a beat, then let a faint smile answer for him.

“Great.” She said and quickly hurried away while he went to start picking the clothes.

Even while married, Rhys could never dream of outfits like these. Still, he picked the cheaper options. Rhys understood that a privilege should never be abused.

He was halfway through the coats when a voice cut through the air.

“Oh my God. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!”

Alisha.

She stood near the entrance of the men’s section. Priya, her best friend, beside her, both already smiling like they’d stumbled onto free entertainment.

“Rhys, sweetie, really? Are you stalking me now?”

Alisha laughed.

“First you crash my engagement party, now you’re following me to my favorite store like some pathetic lost dog?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. You’re not memorable enough to chase.” Rhys replied lazily.

A ripple of laughter and wonder moved through nearby customers who heard the exchange.

Alisha’s face flushed.

“That’s cute.” Priya stepped in, arms folded.

“Broke, jobless, fresh out of a cell, and he’s still got jokes. So tell us, Rhys, did you rob someone on your way out of prison, or is charity work the new career for washed-up nobodies?”

“That’s exactly what I want to know!” Alisha’s eyes lit up delightedly, already spinning toward the nearest staff member.

“Excuse me, is this man even a customer? Because last I checked, trash bags don’t exactly have a line of credit. Unless he’s here to steal.”

“Ma’am, if you could just lower your voice—”

“I will NOT lower my voice.” Alisha’s tone climbed.

“This man doesn’t have two dollars to rub together and he’s standing here loaded up with merchandise like he owns the building. Someone call security before he walks out with half your inventory!”

People stopped to stare now. Rhys just remained still. He had a smile on his face. Completely unbothered.

Footsteps approached from behind, and the entire staff straightened as Anna came into view.

“Miss Longwater!” Anna’s brightened when she saw Anna. Of course she knew who she was. Everyone in the city does.

“Why the commotion?” Anna asked, already irritated. She hated disorder with a passion.

“Thank god. We were just telling the staff, there’s a thief in your shop.” Priya blurted out.

Anna’s heart skipped a beat. Worry made her heart sink.

“A thief? Where?”

“Him. Rhys.” Alisha pointed, chin lifted.

“My ex-husband. Fresh out of prison, useless, and already stealing your property—”

Slap!

The entire boutique went dead silent as the sound echoed.

Alisha’s hand flew to her own cheek, eyes wide with shock, blood already flooding her mouth.

Anna’s hand was still raised. Her face darkened that instant.

“How dare you, call my savior, a thief?”