Archive of Our Own

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Before you start reading, I want to make sure its clear that this story is a form of remix/inspiration of a published fanfiction on Archive of Our Own. The original story is Playing House by Mdilikewhoa, and I have used the context and the setting to develop the original story to my liking. While reading the original story I often imagined the plots could flow differently with more focus on other couple, so I decided to write it while maintaining the essence of the story. I also imagined how the dark ending would plot out, so I decided to just write it. Please show love to the original writer! 

Link to the original fanfiction: 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57876319?view_full_work=true 

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But who will tell Lucy of monsters that are trying to play god? Their confidence broke with every attempt to escape. The doors shut tightly, not even a ray of sunshine passing through. Sohpie and Kate had long accepted the illusion they were set in, like two dolls set in the play house as the Bridgerton brothers played with them as they wished. The routine soon to be disrupted by one small, redheaded girl whose presence forced the choreography of marriage to disorient and maybe make the brothers reconsider the love they claim to be in.

The brothers all love their wife to no extent, and when its questioned or worse exploited they won't show any mercy. They saw the joy of family embodied in their parents and they would do anything to achieve it. After their father's death, the desperation creeped through their perfectly maintained facade, reaching to the mistake that would turn their world upside down. They needed their wife, they needed the affection, they needed the warmth, and they knew only one way to get it: absolute control. 

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Anthony Bridgerton x Kate Sharma (31 x 30)

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Benedict Bridgerton x Sophie Baek (29 x 27)

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Colin Bridgerton x Penelope Featherington (25 x 19)

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Gregory Bridgerton x Lucy Abernathy (17 x 17)

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"Just give me a minute, I don't know why the key isn't working.' Colin said as he tried to force the key in again. 

Penelope stood beside him, her small frame barely reaching Colin's shoulder. Her eyes fluttered about, waiting to see the big surprise Colin had prepared for her in their basement. She found it surprising since Eloise often complained how her brothers would never let anyone enter the basement.

"It's okay, you can give it to me when I come back from college during some holiday. I'm just happy that you thought of me!" She caresses his shoulder reassuringly, and just as she was going to turn around the lock clicked.

"Well, it seems like it's finally unlocked. Let's go" They took a step down the dimly lit basement. Pen held Colin's forearm delicately to support herself as she walked to the unknown. Colin reached for a switch and turned on the light, as Pen started looking around trying to make sense of her surroundings.

The basement seem to consist of four white doors, each one marked with the initial of one of the brothers, she assumed. A, B, C and G were set upon the doors which only confused her further as she had never seen Gregory enter the basement before. Colin guided her to his room, which was besides the door with B and across the door with A. Pen felt uneasy at the distinct smell and the dangerous silence that hung in the air.

"What is this place? Some sort of play-area or games-room for you boys? No wonder you never allowed your sisters down here! Always keeping things to yourself." She stepped a little closer to him, her tone teasing as she rolled her eyes. Colin scoffed at her words, but without any real amusement.

"I don't know who planted such an idea in your dumb little mind" Colin cocked his head to the side.

"Oh! Colin I am certainly smarter than you."

"Yes, yes. You are the smartest person I know, and also the cutest" Colin added, a smug expression on his face. A blush crept on her cheeks as she felt awkward from the sudden compliment. Colin opened the door to his room, and stepped in towards the kitchen. As Pen entered, she realised the place was large enough to be called a house rather than a room.

Colin set a glass of coffee on the island and slid it toward Pen. She immediately recognised her favourite latte sitting in front of her, the whipped cream sprayer placed beside it. 

"So where is the gift you were telling me about, the one you had to show me today?" Colin settles beside Pen, deliberately close, watching her as she added whipped cream to the top of her drink. She was halfway done with her drink when he quietly took the sprayer from her hand. Before she could react, he sprayed cream onto the tip of her nose and on her lips.

"What are you doing? Don't make a mess." She rolled her eyes again. Colin didn't respond, and continue applying the cream along her shoulder. Once he was done, he leaned in as his mouth found hers first. He brushed along the corner licking the cream with care, tasting her. Pen gasped, suddenly losing her grasp over her glass as it shattered on the floor.

Colin didn't look down. His hand settled at her jaw, ensuring she stayed exactly where he wanted. All his attention remained on her. He waited for a glimpse of resistance in her eyes, and when he saw her doe eyes asking him for more, he lost all his control and crashed his lips against Pen's again.

Something snapped in him, as he kissed her properly, hard and claiming. Penelope kissed him back, melting into it, as his hand pressed firmly on her thigh. He grazed Pen's lower lip deepening the kiss until it left her dizzy. She pushed weakly for air. He lifted his head reluctantly, and then trailed kisses down her neck. He gave some spots more attention, turning them into dark red love bites before stealing a quick taste of the cream on her nose. 

He continued moving down as he reached her shoulders and starting licking again. Pen made a soft noise at every lick, savouring the sudden unexpected attention from Mr. Bridgerton. 

"Fuckk... so sweet." He claimed her lips again pulling her close. His hand moved to her waist settling there. Colin and Pen separated, his eyes steady and dark for Penelope, for his Penelope. 

"Colin... I - I don't know what to say. I mean, I never... I thought you were taken. I never thought I would see this day." Her voice came out fragile.

A slow satisfied smug spread across his face.

Pen began feeling light headed, she barely hung onto her conscious, desperate not to lose this moment. The person she liked for the last eight year has finally showed a sign of interest in her. She had loved him for so many years, silently, painfully, while he dated other girls, brought them home, touched them so easily. With her, he had always been careful, gentleman keeping her always at arm's length. She had wanted to matter enough to make him forget that gentleness.

"Pen, sweetheart," he said softly, brushing his thumb across her cheek, steadying her as her balance faltered. "You're mine now," he continued, voice calm, reassuring, the way one might soothe someone frightened. "You always were. You just didn't know it yet."

"Colin!" "You will be my wife forever. I will keep tasting you daily now." He continued, voice low, soothing, almost affectionate. The words slipped past her before she could process them.

Her stomach dropped, as those words hit her. The room continued blurring around her, Colin's voice becoming slow and unrecognisable. 

"It worked," he whispered, unmistakable satisfaction threading through his voice. "You will be Mrs. Colin Bridgerton till the end of time"

"I couldn't risk you leaving," he whispered. "Not when you belong with me." Pen finally understood, as a moment of clarity striked her. She has been drugged, not by a stranger but by her friend's older brother, her crush, her most trusted friend. This was all planned, patiently, carefully for a long time . The last thing she saw before darkness closed in was a relieved Colin. As though something that had been set in motion long ago had finally, finally come to rest.

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Colin hadn't meant for it to be that day.

'That was the truth' he repeated to himself afterward after he saw Pen's eyes close and body relax. Plans had to evolve, timings need to be adjusted, and opportunities to be revealed.

And when Penelope stepped into the Bridgerton house that morning, sunlight catching in her auburn hair, laughing at something on her phone, entirely unguarded 

Something in him had relaxed, as he realised that its today.

He had watched her for years learning patterns no one else noticed; the spots in their library she resided when she wanted quiet, the cupcakes she favoured when writing, the way she checked over her shoulder only once before crossing streets because she trusted the world too easily.

He had waited because waiting mattered, because his brother always said to be patient when it comes to finding his wife.

But watching Anthony and Benedict building lives in their apartment, claim their wives openly, had snapped something inside him. He travelled so far but distance no longer distracted him.

He didn't want freedom anymore. He wanted his family, belonging, comfort, warmth.

And well Penelope always welcomed him with the warmest hugs.

The memory shifted. The apartment smelled faintly of adrenaline and anger.

"Colin, what the fuck were you thinking?" Anthony's voice cut through the room like a blade, as the door hits the wall with force.

Colin leaned against the couch, outwardly calm, though his pulse still carried the echo of kissing her inside, her weight against his chest, her breath warm even in unconsciousness.

"One of our rules has always been not someone we know!" Benedict added sharply. Colin almost smiled. He followed the rules for too long, now he was ready to stir shit up.

"Anthony, you picked your ex's sister," he said evenly. Anthony scoffed immediately. "She wasn't associated with our family like Penelope is."

Silence followed.

"What are we going to do?" Benedict finally asked. Anthony exhaled slowly, already thinking of a strategy.

Colin spoke before either could decide. "I'm keeping her." The words landed with quiet finality.

Anthony turned toward him slowly. "You don't get to make that call alone. It's very different for you. Kate was simply one of my many ex's sister, and Sophie was a girl Ben met in a bar. Penelope is not like that, she is part of the family. We grew up with her, our siblings grew up with her. You brought her knowing that Eloise would turn the world upside down to find her, Hyacinth will cry till she is dry, and mom will work with the Featheringtons' to make sure she is found, when I am sure they don't really care."

"I don't care. You both have who you want," Colin said, voice steady. "She is who I want." Not simplemindedly but with certainty.

Anthony's expression darkened, but hesitation crept in because both the elder brothers knew there is no point in fighting. They needed to adapt, not debate right now.

"I don't think we have any other choice," Anthony said at last, bitterness threading through his tone. "She's already seen the houses. We can't let her go." Colin rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulder, hiding his smile.

"Do you have her cell phone?"

Colin handed it over without hesitation. He had already wiped most of it. Anthony would finish the work. He always preferred to cut off any loose ends.

Instructions followed quickly, efficiently. Benedict quickly left with the phone, and the room quieted once again.

Anthony faced him again. "You are too impulsive." He slightly shook his head, sighing, tired of his brother. 

"I know it looks that way." Anthony waited for him to continue. Colin's voice lowered.

"I didn't plan to take her today," he admitted. "But I've planned everything else." That made Anthony pause, confused.

"She was leaving the house," Colin continued softly. "And I realized I was done waiting for circumstances to give her to me."

Anthony's jaw tightened. "Taking someone this close will make people look deeper into us. Eloise will never stop searching."

"I know," Colin said. And he did.

He had thought of that too. However, the benefit too great for the risk it posed, unaware of the true storm his little redhead was.

"I've just been..." He hesitated, choosing honesty carefully. "Tired of watching everyone else hogging her attention. I was ready to stop sharing. Ready to have what's mine."

"And you decided she was it." Anthony studied him longer now assessing him.

Colin's answer was immediate.

"She always was. I travelled for five years after becoming an adult just to fucking try and forget her but it didn't work. That is the reason, I returned on her eighteenth birthday just to find a chance to bring her here."

A long silence followed before Anthony sighed.

"Don't forget to train her. When she wakes up, you start immediately. She can't take forever like Kate." Colin nodded once. Anthony turns around and leave, tightly closing the door.

When he lifted Penelope into his arms, she stirred faintly, a soft sound escaping her lips. Instinctively, he adjusted his hold, careful, protective.

"It's okay, sweetheart," he whispered near her ear. "I've got you." The words felt like reassurance, and a promise finally fulfilled. He laid with her on the couch, in his arms, exactly where he had imagined her countless times before.

And for the first time in years, Colin Bridgerton felt entirely still as though his future had finally aligned.

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Pen barely opened her eyes before a sharp flash of light made her flinch. Her head throbbed, thoughts sluggish and heavy. As her vision adjusted, she became aware of warmth behind her, a sturdy chest pressed to her back and a hand slowly tracing idle patterns along her thigh.

"Are you awake, Pen?" She felt a smirk pressed on her neck. Colin's lips followed, pressing soft kisses to her neck. Her body stiffening instantly.

"What are we doing here? Why am I here?" Her voice cracked as panic rushed in. "Please tell me what's going on. I have to be home by seven. Colin please!" She pushed herself upright, breathing unevenly as she looked around, and froze.

Photos of her and Colin framed on the walls, shelves filled with her favourite books, snacks she loved arranged neatly on the kitchen island, and her plush toys rested carefully on the sofa beside her, positioned as if someone had studied exactly how she liked them placed.

Her stomach dropped.

"Colin... what is this?" she whispered. "Why is all of my stuff here?" His answer came as another kiss against her neck. Then she felt a faint pull when she moved, her hand flew upward. A collar set tightly on her neck.

Her breath hitched violently. "Colin, what is this on my neck?" Panic sharpened her voice. "Just answer me. Stop kissing me and tell me where I am."

He exhaled softly against her skin, almost amused.

"Home, sweetheart."

The word landed wrong. Pen swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. "Colin," she said carefully, "what do you mean home?"

"I want to kiss you," he murmured instead. "You look really cute in your jeans."

"Colin!" Her voice rose . "Just tell me what's going on!"

He shifted, guiding her gently until she faced him. His hands were steady, patient like explaining something obvious.

"Fine," he said quietly. "We're at our home. Our place. The one you can decorate however you want. The one where our marriage starts." Her heartbeat roared in her ears.

"I didn't want to risk you leaving," he continued calmly. "College changes people. You know new friends, new boys." His smile softened. "I couldn't let that happen." Silence stretched between them.

"Colin... is this some kind of joke?" she asked weakly, scanning the room again as if something might change. "No, Penelope." His tone was gentle, almost apologetic. "I don't have another way to explain it. I've taken you as mine, my wife." The words made her stomach twist.

"I don't understand why," she whispered. He looked away briefly, almost shy. "I've only ever pictured you here with me." 

Her breath shook. "You could've just... dated me. Asked me out like a normal person." A small laugh escaped him.

"I tried being normal," he said. "But normal meant sharing you. With Eloise. With everyone else. You never looked at me the way I needed you to. Always busy helping others, pleasing them, hidden behind a book with Eloise, or managing your home. You never had time for me."

"I want to leave." She slid off the sofa, backing away.

"No." The answer came instantly. 

Her chest tightened. "Colin, please. This isn't funny anymore."

"I know," he said gently. She moved toward the door anyway. Her attempts to open the door all failed.

"You don't understand yet," he murmured. "You're scared because this is new. But you'll settle. They all did."

Her stomach dropped again. "They?" A shadow crossed his expression before the smile returned.

"You'll meet them later."

"Colin..." her voice trembled, "You're frightening me." His thumb brushed her wrist soothingly.

"I would never hurt you," he said softly. "Everything I've done is because I love you." She stared at him. This wasn't impulsive but something he planned, something he expected.

"I want to go home," she whispered again. He stepped closer, cupping her face gently.

"You are home," he said. 

Somehow, the gentleness  made it worse. She decided to try logic next.

"Colin, people will notice I'm gone."

"They already have," he said calmly.

"And they'll look for me."

"I know."

The ease of his answers felt rehearsed. Her throat  went dry. "You're not thinking clearly."

"No," he said quietly. "I've been thinking clearly for a very long time." The room suddenly felt smaller.

"Colin, please. I don't know what fantasy you want me to partake in but you need to stop, this is not home. Not my home, not yours. You're might be sad that I am leaving but we can always stay in contact. We will date, I will be your wife. Come on Colin let us leave." Pen started picking up her plushies as if she was getting ready to leave, her last attempt to get out of this place.

His mouth curved faintly.

"You think this is temporary." It wasn't a question.

Pen forced a laugh. "You dragged me into a hidden apartment in your basement, Colin. Temporary is the most generous interpretation available."

She moved closer to the door, every step pretending not to be an attempt at escape. His gaze tracked her instantly, while he started leaning on the counter. Like he had always known where she would go, what she would do. Her stomach tightened.

"Colin, open the door now"  she said brightly. He pushed away from the counter.

The movement was unhurried, almost lazy. He reached her, one hand landed beside her and other snaking around her waist pulling her closer. Colin captured her lips immediately, deepening the kiss as Pen opened her mouth giving him the permission to continue. Penelope lost her handle on the plushies as they fell on the ground.

Pen gently pushed him away, when she heard some noise beyond the door. She moved to the side providing space for Colin to open the door. Colin entered the key, and pulled on the door as Pen made an attempt to dash to the door to the basement before hitting a wall.

A wall without force. Her breath caught the moment she saw them.

Anthony and Benedict stood in front of her blocking the only clear path to the door. Anthony's hand settled firmly on Penelope's hip, steadying her where she stood, his fingers pressing into the curve of her waist. With Colin stepping closer behind her, her small frame was suddenly bracketed by all three brothers.

There was nowhere to go.

"Colin," Anthony said coolly, his gaze sliding over Penelope before settling on his younger brother, "did I not tell you to train her?" His hand shifted from her hip to the small of her back, holding her in place with casual authority.

"Well," he added dryly, "Kate also made a dash for the door the first time. I can't blame you."

Colin exhaled through his nose, stepping closer until Penelope could feel the heat of him at her back.

"She just woke up," he said softly. Then his tone changed into something sweet, and possessive.

"But sweetheart," he murmured as he leaned toward her ear, "I'll train you well. Don't worry." Penelope's stomach twisted.

Benedict stood slightly apart from them, his expression almost neutral as he watched the exchange unfold like it was nothing more than a normal conversation. His eyes moved from his brothers to Penelope.

Penelope's gaze darted around wildly, searching for something and then suddenly she reached for Benedict's forearm, grasping it with her two little hands.

"Benedict, please help me," she gasped, her fingers tightening desperately around  him. "I have to go. Please - please tell them. I always thought you ca - cared for me, as much as you did for Eloise. You wouldn't wish this on her, would you? Would you?" Her voice trembled, panic rising in her chest.

Benedict's brows lifted slightly.

"Ben, please," she whispered, her grip tightening. "I - I will model for you. For your paintings. Your nude - nude paintings, I don't care. I'll do anything." Behind her, Colin went very still. His mouth flattened into a thin line.

"Anything?" Benedict repeated slowly, one eyebrow rising. Penelope nodded frantically, tears gathering in her eyes. "Anything." Benedict looked at her for a long moment, and then he smiled.

"Then how about this," he said lightly. "You stay with my brother and be a good little wife to him, Penny." For a moment the room was completely still. Then the brothers laughed, and the sound rang in Penelope's ears.

Before she could react, Benedict moved.

In one swift motion he bent, hoisted her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing, and turned toward the hallway.

"Benedict!" she cried, kicking weakly. "Put me down!"

He didn't slow, barely even reacting to her struggling. Her fists struck uselessly against his back as he carried her toward Colin's house. A moment later she was tossed onto the bed, the mattress bouncing beneath her as she scrambled upright in panic.

Anthony leaned against the doorway, arms crossed as though watching an inconvenience rather than a terrified girl. "You need to get control of her quickly," he said to Colin. "Before she starts getting ideas again."

Colin approached the bed slowly, his gaze fixed on Penelope. By the time he reached the mattress, she had already backed against the headboard.

"Relax," Colin said quietly.

Penelope stared at him in disbelief. "Relax?"

Anthony pushed off the doorframe with a sigh. "We're going upstairs. Family dinner in an hour. It'll look strange if none of us show up."

"You should come up too," Benedict added. "At least for a bit. Make an appearance."

Colin hesitated, his eyes flicking briefly toward Penelope. Benedict followed the look and shrugged slightly. "She's not going anywhere. There's nowhere to go." Ben reassured Colin.

Anthony smirked faintly. "And it'll be easier if the family doesn't start asking questions."

After a moment, Colin nodded. "Fine."

"Good," Anthony said. "Give her time to settle and then come up."

The two brothers stepped out into the hallway, the door closing quietly behind them.

Penelope didn't move. Neither did Colin. For a long moment he simply stood there, watching her and then he sat on the edge of the bed.

"You should sleep," he said softly.

"I'm not tired," she snapped, her hands still clutching the sheets.

Colin sighed and reached forward. Penelope flinched instinctively, but he only pulled the blanket up from the end of the bed and draped it over her legs.

"There," he murmured. The gentleness made her more uneasy than force would have.

"I'm not staying," she whispered. "I know." He moved around to the other side of the bed and slid beneath the covers. The mattress dipped slightly as he settled beside her, and before she could react his arm slipped around her waist, pulling her back against his chest.

"Colin -"

His hold tightened just enough to stop her from moving away. Pen instinctively placing her head on his bicep that he offered.

"Sleep, Pen" he murmured against her hair.

She stayed rigid for several seconds, but exhaustion slowly began to weigh her down. The dizziness from earlier hadn't fully faded, and eventually her breathing began to slow and within minutes she drifted into sleep.

Colin remained awake for a while longer, his arm still wrapped securely around her waist, his  body curved protectively around hers. When her breathing finally deepened, he tightened his hold slightly and closed his eyes as well, keeping her tucked firmly against him as they fell asleep.

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The door clicked shut behind Anthony as he stepped inside, shrugging off his coat and slipping out of his shoes near the entrance. Unlike Colin's carefully curated apartment, Anthony and Kate's home had signs of routine. Pillows arranged on the couch for when the "family" comes around, the pink pastel walls, a faint scent of spices in the air from something Kate had cooked, and the  kitchen counters kept meticulously clean.

Kate stood at the kitchen counter, barely acknowledging his arrival as she continued organizing the cupboards. Plastic  plates clinked softly as she stacked them overhead, her attention fixed on the task rather than her husband. Her ability to maintain the house was the only agency she had, and she was going to guard it for sure.

Anthony turned on the television out of habit and moved toward his usual corner of the couch, sinking into it with a tired sigh. A moment later, Kate joined him, placing a glass of whiskey into his hand along with a bowl of chips and fresh salsa she had made earlier.

"I heard Colin has a wife now," Kate said casually, crunching into a chip. "What's her name?"

"Penelope," Anthony replied, shifting toward the middle of the couch. His arm slid automatically around Kate's waist, pulling her closer.

"Oh? How did he get her here? And when did he bring her? Has she started her training yet?" Kate continued, her questions quick and curious.

Anthony exhaled sharply. "I don't know. Stop asking so many questions. And how do you even know about Penelope?"

"Benedict stopped by an hour or two ago to pick up the paints he left here," Kate answered. "He mentioned Colin got a wife so he'll finally stop bothering Sophie for the blowjobs. He was happy that he finally got a new muse as well, and how he was tired of only tw-"  She paused, raising an eyebrow and looking at Anthony's movement. 

Anthony stood, carrying his empty glass toward the kitchen. He poured himself more whiskey before preparing a cup of hot coffee using Kate's favourite blend. 

"I mean I just feel bad for her," Kate said, her voice quieter now but edged with irritation. She glanced at Anthony before continuing. "You already had two women dragged into this mess. Weren't you satisfied? Why bring a third girl into it?" Anthony's jaw tightened.

He walked back toward the living room and set the coffee down harder than intended. The hot liquid sloshing over the rim and onto Kate's arm.

She gasped sharply, jumping to her feet as the heat stung her skin. "Anthony!"

"I was just asking a question," she snapped, brushing at the spilled coffee. "Why would you do that? I'm the one who has to clean this up, not you."

She stood up, nearly meeting his stature, anger flashing openly across her face.

Anthony stared down at her, breathing slow and controlled. This wasn't new and he was used to her but everytime it angered him more than before. Kate had never learned when to stop pushing, and he had never truly expected her to.

"You never know when to leave things alone," he muttered.

"And you never know when to act like a normal human being," Kate shot back instantly.

A tense silence filled the room. The television murmured quietly in the background, completely ignored.

Anthony rubbed a hand over his face, exhaustion creeping into his expression. "Aren't you tired, Kate?" he asked finally, his voice low but sharp. "Tired of fighting me on everything? Always pushing back. Fucking bitch. Do you think it'll suddenly change something?"

Kate crossed her arms, refusing to step away. "Maybe I'll stop, when you stop treating people like possessions." His eyes darkened.

For a moment neither of them moved, the air thick with tension. They both knew exactly where the other's limits lay and they continued stepping toward it anyway. 

Anthony exhaled slowly, the anger settling into something colder, more controlled. He picked up his whiskey again, taking a measured sip as though resetting himself. He took his place on the couch again, and reached for the remote to switch to something else. 

"You'll clean that," he said, nodding toward the spill, his tone calmer but unmistakably firm. Kate rolled her eyes but grabbed a cloth from the counter anyway, muttering under her breath as she wiped the table.

Anthony watched her for a moment longer, expression unreadable. He was used to this, to Kate's defiance, her sharp tongue, the constant resistance. 

The television suddenly flashed a photo of Penelope, and the reporter's voice  filled the room, talking about a 19 year old Penelope Featherington who has been missing for a day now, and last seen at the Bridgerton House. Anthony's annoyance grew immediately. He had known this would happen, no matter how carefully he tried to cover Colin's mistake. They were already under scrutiny; one mishap and their entire plan would fall through. 

Kate looked at Anthony and then the television, recognition dawning slowly as she realized the innocent ypung redhead on the screen was the Penelope they were discussing about, the girl who is Colin's wife and her sister in law. 

"You have got to be kidding me," Kate said sharply, throwing the cloth into the basin before washing her hands. "Anthony, she's a fucking child. Is she even legal?"

"Fucking hell," Anthony muttered, irritation snapping through his voice. He shouted abruptly. "You know what, darling? I'm done with this. Come here. Right. Now." Kate already knew what was coming. She had stopped fighting punishments long ago, resistance only made it worse.

"Get on the couch," he ordered. "Spread wide open for me." Kate lifted her skirt until it rested near her waist and obeyed, opening her legs as instructed. Anthony positioned himself between them, his hands gripping her thighs firmly as he leaned closer, his attention deliberate and controlled.

Anthony moved with practiced certainty, entirely focused on her. His rugged beard brushing against Kate's bare cunt, before he began sucking little marks on her thighs. He moved towards her center and played with her clit using his tongue. A moan escaped Kate, as she started giving in to the ecstasy.

Anthony entered a finger into her pussy, slowly moving it inside her. Her pussy clenching his fingers. A pool of her slick forming, as Anthony was quick to lick her juices before they could touch the couch. Her breathing grew uneven, small gasps slipping free as she lost control of her composure.

Kate's whined when Anthony used his second finger to spread her open. She couldn't breath. He sucked gently, then harder, his tongue flicking her clit in perfect rhythm. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, as she could barely able to keep in a low moan. 

"Anthonyy fast - faster please" He adjusted his pace, maintaining control, his movements precise and intentional, using his tongue in between to give her sparks of pleasure. Anthony gave little kisses to her clit and to her thighs while his hands  kept moving in a rough quick motion. Her body trembled beneath him, tension building rapidly until she barely whispered, breathless, "I'm so close." 

She made a noise so low he would have nearly missed it. Anthony curled his fingers in her cunt, touching the spot that drove her pleasure like crazy. He knew how much she enjoyed when he touch her there just before she would release. Her hips buckled forward to get that last friction that would put her over, but at that moment Anthony withdrew completely.

Kate froze, the sudden emptiness sharp and disorienting, exasperating from the lack of release. 

"Please, Anth." she said weakly. "I am sorry. Please just let me co-" Anthony swatted away her hand which was trying to create that last moment of contact.

"Don't you even fucking try," he warned coldly. "I decide when you get to come. If I see you trying anything, the punishment will be worse." Anthony stood and retrieved a glass of water, placing it beside her.

"Now go complete your stuff. I have work to finish. And remember don't even try anything." Kate began stacking the plastic tableware, the pieces clanking louder than necessary as frustration seeped through her movements. 

Anthony had long ago switched to plastic; the arguments happened far too often and he knew better than to trust his wife around glass anymore.

"Love you, darling" he said casually, pulling her briefly against him by the waist and pressing a kiss to her temple.

"Asshole" Kate muttered once he released her, returning to the sink. Anthony smirked faintly before turning toward their bedroom, already shifting his attention back to work.

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Penelope felt the mattress dip behind her as warmth closed around her waist. She felt slow breath on her neck, suffocatingly close enough to cause her goosebumps.An arm slid across her middle, heavy with sleep, pulling her backward until her spine met something solid. 

Her eyes fluttered open. She found herself in an unknown environment. The ceiling above her was unfamiliar and the room was set perfectly with not even a crack to be seen anywhere. or several seconds she simply stared, her mind sluggish, struggling to catch up with her body.

Then memory struck all at once. The basement. The drink. Her body stiffened immediately as she tried to move her arm, but the hold around her tightened instinctively. Colin murmured something incoherent behind her, pulling her closer as though even in sleep he sensed her slipping away. Panic started setting in her, as her eyes widened.

She pushed again, carefully this time, testing the strength of his grip. It didn't budge. "Mm..." Colin only shifted closer, a grunt leaving him as his face pressed into her hair.  

Penelope swallowed hard and twisted her shoulder, forcing more movement. This time he stirred properly, as consciousness began pulling him awake. He blinked slowly, hair dishevelled, his expression softened by sleep in a way  she had never seen before. The blanket had slipped low around his waist, leaving his chest bare rising slowly. He was only in his trousers, his shirt discarded somewhere out of sight. Pen's attention captured by the uneven brown hair covering his chest.

His gaze landed on her, relief spreading across his face. "Pen," he murmured, voice rough still thick with sleep.

Before she could react, he shifted and climbed over her with one arm braced beside her head, caging her beneath him. Relief softened his features, and he leaned down, pressing quick affectionate kisses across her cheek, her temple, the corner of her mouth.

"You're awake," he said quietly, smiling against her skin. He reassured himself that she hadn't disappeared overnight.

Penelope placed her hands against his shoulders, pushing gently but firmly. "Colin... wait." She swallowed, forcing steadiness into her voice. "We can... we can try this. Us. Dating, being close and all of it." His head tilted slightly. "But not here. Not like this. Outside. Normally."

For a moment he simply studied her but then a soft laugh escaped him. He studied her face for a moment, eyes unreadable, before rolling off her with easy compliance.

"Alright," he said lightly, as though indulging a small request.

He rolled off her and stood, stretching lazily before offering her a hand. Penelope hesitated only a second before taking it, her eyes already drifting toward the door,  wondering whether she could reach it before he noticed. Colin noticed. Ofcourse he did. He always did.

He guided her gently toward the washroom, still smiling faintly. "Come," he said. "You should freshen up."

The washroom lights flickered on, it was bright and clean. Penelope froze just inside the doorway. The counters were lined with familiar items. It had her skincare bottles arranged exactly the way she kept them at home, her hairbrush, her perfume and even the small chipped mug she used to hold her toothbrush but now it contained a new set of matching brush

Her throat tightened.

"I thought you'd want these things in your new home" Colin said casually from behind her, watching her reaction instead of the room. Before she could respond, he opened another door.

A walk in closet with rows of dresses hanging neatly. She stepped forward slowly, recognizing some pieces there. Few of them were the outfits she wore to college, dresses she had complained about loving too much to throw away, things she had never packed or given him, and there were some new dresses from her favorite brands in her exact sizes.

Her gaze moved lower, searching automatically for drawers but there were none. No shelves, folded clothes or undergarments, but only dresses. A cold understanding crept into her chest. She turned toward him, questions forming, but Colin only smiled gently.

"Brush your teeth," he said gently. "I'll make breakfast." He left before she could argue.

The sound of running water and quiet kitchen movement filled the apartment but Penelope remained there gripping the edge of the sink. Her reflection stared back at her, she was pale, uncertain, trying desperately to think through panic.

When she finally stepped out, breakfast neatly arranged on the table by the couch. Colin looked entirely at ease, moving around the kitchen like this was routine, like mornings like these had always existed.

They ate in silence.

Colin seemed perfectly at ease, occasionally glancing at her with quiet satisfaction, while Penelope focused on her small bites, her mind racing through possibilities.

The ticking of a clock filled the room. The silence stretched until Colin reached for the remote. The television flickered on and a news channel appeared instantly. Penelope's breath  stopped. Her own photograph filled the screen.

"...nineteen-year-old Penelope Featherington has now been missing for over about twenty four hours..."

The reporter's voice blurred as panic surged through her. Her fork slipped from her hand, clattering loudly against the plate. The camera shifted to Eloise standing outside the Bridgerton House surrounded by reporters, her expression strained, eyes red from crying. 

Penelope's stomach dropped. She is here and Eloise is here too. Both of them present at the very place she was trapped. But it still felt like they were miles away from each other. Eloise's voice trembled as she spoke, scanning the surroundings as though hoping Penelope might suddenly appear behind the cameras.

Beside her, Colin leaned back calmly in his chair, completely relaxed. He was watching the television as if its another passing event. 

Penelope turned toward Colin immediately, desperation overtaking. Her lips quivering as she drew in slow, uneven breaths, trying to steady her voice before speaking again.

"Colin, please... let's leave now. What if you get caught? The longer you keep me here, the worse it will be for you. Please, Colin, I'm begging you." Her words came out strained, worn thin by fear and exhaustion. Even as she spoke, she knew he would refuse, yet she still needed to try.

Colin only sighed, as he rolled his eyes and pulled her closer without asking, his arm sliding firmly around her waist and guiding her against his side. The movement left little room for resistance. He nudged her gently but insistently until her head rested on his shoulder. Penelope allowed it after a moment, her body stiff despite her compliance, aware that refusing him would only prolong the moment.

"I shouldn't have turned the TV on," he muttered, irritation slipping into his tone. "It keeps filling your head with ideas." His fingers traced idle patterns along her arm while he spoke. "I should've explained the rules earlier. Maybe then you'd stop bringing this up every five minutes."

Confusion crossed Penelope's face, followed quickly by unease. The word rules set her off. Colin leaned forward to grab the remote and switched the television off, the sudden quiet settling in the room.

"The first rule" he said, pulling her fully onto his lap, positioning her so she faced him "is that you always listen to me. And to your brothers-in-law. No arguing, no hesitation. Whatever we tell you to do, you do it." His voice remained calm, almost instructional.

Penelope nodded faintly, her throat too tight to form words.

"And if you don't" he continued, brushing a strand of hair away from her face,"then we decide how to punish you. So it's easier for both of us if you behave." His thumb lingered at her jaw before he went on. "Second rule is that you don't try to run. Not outside, not inside, not through anyone else. No plans with Sophie or Kate, no whispering about leaving. I shouldn't hear a single conversation about running away. Do you understand?"

She nodded again, sharper this time from fear.

Colin inhaled slowly near her neck, drawing her closer until she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. He seemed to relax there, eyes closing briefly as though grounding himself in her presence.

"The next rule," he added softly, "is that you're always ready to please me. And sometimes my brothers. They won't ask much, but when they ask for a blowy, you don't refuse."

Penelope's body went rigid. The familiarity she once felt toward the bridgertons twisted into something unrecognizable. Memories of laughter, dinners, and shared jokes crashed painfully with the reality settling around her.

"I remember Sophie giving me one and I enjoyed those the most, and well sometimes Kate would give them too but I would be too fucking scared that she would bite my dick off." He chuckled.

Colin's mouth brushed against her neck, slow at first, testing her reaction. When she didn't pull away fast enough, his kisses deepened, lingering longer against sensitive skin. He pressed closer, holding her steady as his lips traced upward and downward in unhurried movements, leaving warm marks that darkened gradually. Penelope let out a small sound before she could stop herself, startled by the sudden intensity. His hand tightened slightly at her waist, encouraging the reaction, his breathing growing heavier as he continued.

Her hands hovered uncertainly between pushing him away and holding onto him for balance. She was left frozen, caught between fear and the instinct to remain calm. Colin eventually pulled back, studying her flushed face with quiet satisfaction before smoothing her hair as if nothing unusual had happened.

He guided her off his lap with a light push toward the kitchen area. "Go wash the dishes and clean up before I get back," he said, standing and adjusting himself casually. "I've got some stuff to do outside." The door opened and closed behind him moments later, leaving the apartment wrapped in silence.

Penelope stood still for several seconds, listening to his footsteps fade. The realization that she was alone settled slowly over her. She exhaled shakily and looked around, scanning every corner with renewed urgency. She checked the door first, twisting the handle carefully, but it refused to move. The windows were fucking stickers, heavy panes reinforced in ways she didn't understand. Cabinets opened easily but revealed nothing useful beyond neatly arranged utensils and supplies already chosen for her.

Her heartbeat slowed only when exhaustion began to replace panic. With nothing else to do, she turned toward the sink. Plates rested there from breakfast, ordinary and domestic, almost mocking in their normalcy. She ran the water and began washing them one by one, focusing on the repetitive motion to keep her thoughts from spiraling. The sound of running water filled the quiet space. Soap bubbles gathered around her hands as she scrubbed carefully, aligning each cleaned dish beside the sink before drying and stacking it away.

She wiped the counters next, straightening items that were already perfectly arranged. The act felt less like cleaning and more like holding onto the smallest piece of control she still possessed. When she finished, she paused, glancing once more toward the door, half expecting Colin to return immediately.

The apartment remained silent, and Penelope continued moving through it slowly, cleaning what little she could, waiting without knowing what came next.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──