He Locked Me in His GOLDEN CAGE, So I Locked Him Behind Iron Bars Chapter 01
When Chloe, the wealthy heiress, set her sights on Luke, my broke childhood sweetheart, she demanded he surrender his pride to become her plaything.
He agreed, but with one condition—she had to pay for my tuition and living expenses.
He thought sacrificing himself would secure me a brilliant future.
What he didn’t know was that his sacrifice only drew the attention of Chloe’s elite friend, Julian Laurence. The cruel bastard locked me away, treating me like his personal toy.
Now, my eyes snapped open. I was back. Back to the exact day Chloe cornered Luke.
Beside them leaned the very boy who had held me through countless agonizing nights in my past life. Julian leaned against the wall, his posture languid and lazy as he joined the cruelty, “You can’t even afford tuition. Why are you talking about pride?”
I reached out, grabbing Luke’s hand, and smiled at Julian. “Actually, I forgot to mention—I just won the lottery. We have enough for tuition.”
******
“Luke,” Julian said, his voice dripping with impatience. “Chloe wanting you is an honor you don’t deserve.”
Hearing that familiar tone made me step back instantly.
My face turned completely pale.
Then, my eyes locked with his casual, arrogant gaze.
Julian gave me a fleeting look before shifting his attention back to Chloe. “What do you even see in this pretty boy anyway?”
At this point in time, he had zero interest in me.
He was just helping his friend get what she wanted.
Chloe giggled. “The ones with a backbone are always the most fun to break.”
I turned my head.
Luke stood beside me, his tall, lean frame enveloped in a faded thrift-store hoodie.
He lowered his eyes, then glanced at me from the corner of his eye.
I stared back at him, dazed.
It felt like a blur of light and shadow.
In my past life.
I had submitted to Julian countless times just to earn a single chance to see Luke.
Yet, every time I saw him, the light in his dark eyes grew dimmer.
But at the end of every visit, he would force a faint, reassuring smile.
“Have you lost weight again? You need to eat more. Stop coming back just to see me. You have your own path to walk.”
I had stood on my tiptoes, hugging him tightly as tears stung my eyes. “Okay.”
Then I would turn around and leave.
Right back to that hidden room.
The walls were covered in high-definition screens, a 360-degree view of his life.
On the main screen, Luke stood exactly where I left him, isolated and completely alone.
Chloe and Julian would be sitting right in front of the monitors.
The cold blue light cast harsh shadows over their dark faces.
Chloe had looked at me, devoid of emotion. “Which hand did you just use to touch him?”
Julian narrowed his eyes. “She’s mine. You don’t get to discipline her.”
Chloe sneered. “Then keep her on a shorter leash!”
With that, she stormed out.
No doubt going to cause more trouble for Luke.
Julian walked over to me, his long fingers wrapping around my wrist so tightly it felt like bone would shatter.
His lips curled into a cold, menacing smile.
“Look at you two, a pair of star-crossed lovers. Too bad it’s Chloe and me who get to tear you apart.”
But right now, the scene was playing out exactly as it had before.
Chloe smiled sweetly, stepping closer. “Luke, you could try liking me. I’m pretty, I’m rich. Aren’t I way better than your little childhood sweetheart?”
She pointed a perfectly manicured, glittery nail right at me.
Luke stepped in front of me, his eyes freezing over. “You aren’t even worthy of being compared to her.”
Chloe’s expression turned instantly venomous.
She whipped around, grinding her teeth. “Is this the kind of girl all you guys like?”
The boy glanced at me with utter boredom. “Plain and uninspiring,” Julian evaluated.
Chloe’s face softened slightly. “Take her away. I need to speak with Luke alone.”
Julian gave a careless shrug and started walking toward me.
Luke’s back went rigid. He shielded me behind him, his voice dropping to a low growl. “Don’t touch her.”
Julian tilted his chin toward me, letting out a sharp scoff.
“If I remember correctly, wasn’t she selected for that Ivy League Exchange Program ? Does she even have the money to go?”
Chloe caught on immediately, frowning. “Hey, I can give Luke cash, but her…”
Julian gave her a chilling glance.
Chloe realized his intent and shut her mouth.
Hiding behind Luke, I couldn’t see his face.
My fingers instinctively gripped the hem of his hoodie, tightening.
A thousand thoughts raced through my mind.
In the end, only the reality in front of me remained.
Chloe was slowly inspecting her nails, a victorious smirk on her face.
…And Julian was staring over, his dark eyes pitch black.
Fortunately, those deep eyes held nothing but impatience and aristocratic disdain right now.
In the dead silence, I gently squeezed Luke’s hand.
“Actually, I forgot to mention—I just won the lottery. We have enough for tuition.”
