Shadows of Obsession: a Love That Burns: Shadows of Obsession, #1

By Mark Bishop

Emma has lived her whole life under rules that are not her own.
Every dress she wears, every step she takes, every glance she allows is dictated by one man — Charles. Once her protector, now her captor, he claims his devotion is love, but his love feels like chains.

Charles is torn between tenderness and obsession. His passion burns so fiercely it turns to rage at the slightest threat of losing her. To him, Emma is not just family — she is his world, his weakness, his possession. His hands shield her from others, yet those same hands leave her trembling in fear.

In the shadow of his control, Emma dreams of freedom — of friendships untainted by suspicion, of laughter that does not end in punishment, of love that does not bruise. But every attempt to escape his grip only deepens the storm between them. And yet, despite her fear, her heart betrays her with a dangerous truth: part of her still longs for him.

Between devotion and domination, protection and imprisonment, Emma and Charles are bound in a love that could either save them — or destroy them both.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Bishop
• Release date: Sep 11, 2025
• ISBN: 9798232844905

Mark Bishop

From a young age, I dreamt of becoming a writer, a vision sparked not by-passing fantasy, but by a profound and lasting connection to words and the worlds they build. As a child, storytelling was more than play; it was purpose. That enduring passion became a driving force, shaping my identity and serving as the sacred lens through which I understand life. Today, I strive to be a thoughtful and incisive writer whose work draws from the depths of psychological inquiry, spiritual symbolism, and supernatural intrigue. Writing isn't simply a craft it is the heartbeat of my existence, the reason I persist, question, and create. Every page I write is a testament to the belief that stories can reveal hidden truths and awaken transformation. All I want is a chance, a chance to prove the talent I've nurtured since childhood, and to share the voice that has waited patiently to be heard.

Book preview

Chapter One

The first golden rays of sunlight slipped through her room, heralding a new day that Emma began by rising from her warm bed. With measured steps, she made her way to the bathroom adjoining her room, deliberate in her morning ritual—a quiet dance of routine and calm. Once finished, she turned to her wardrobe and selected garments that complied with Charles’s strict rules: modest clothes that bound her and stifled her self-expression. In her life, even the choice of attire was dictated by a heavy weight of restrictions.

Before the mirror, she sighed deeply, studying her reflection and noting every detail of the face that still retained its innocence and natural beauty. How does the world see me? The question echoed in her mind as she confronted her stolen freedom—her freedom to choose her clothing, to express herself with makeup or perfume. Her entire life felt like a taut thread in Charles’s hand, moving her like a puppet that silently obeyed his crushing grip.

Descending the stairs to the ground floor, where breakfast awaited, her heart pounded in her chest. The thought of sitting with Charles at the same table stirred conflicting emotions within her.

But thank goodness for my aunt, she murmured to herself, acknowledging the vital role Sophia played in her life—an island of stability on the stormy sea of Charles’s presence.

Her aunt greeted her with a warm smile as they exchanged morning salutations.

Good morning, dear.

Those simple words carried all the love and tenderness her outside world often overlooked. In that small moment, Emma felt a sense of peace, reassured that at least one person truly saw her, valued her essence, and offered unconditional support.

She met her aunt’s eyes and returned a gentle smile of gratitude. With Charles, however, things were different. Emma couldn’t raise her gaze to meet his—the same cold, severe eyes that had long hurt her. Charles sensed her deep-rooted fear; he felt how dread stole her breath whenever she hesitated to speak. With eyes frozen in sternness and a voice that cut through the silence like a blade,

he asked in that heavy, masculine tone, How’s university going?

Tension knotted in Emma’s throat, each swallow feeling like a challenge over a dry, bumpy road.

It’s fine, she managed.

Charles nodded in vague approval and lapsed into a silence as vast and cold as an icy sea. Inwardly, Emma mocked his repeated question, as if he knew nothing of the university she attended just as he controlled the chains of her life. She ate in gloomy silence beneath his glacial gaze, which transformed her youthful features into a field of flowers battered by a cutting wind.

After a few moments, she could no longer sustain the battle with food and words. She set down her fork and said in a soft, birdlike voice, I’m full. I’m going.

With the practiced grace of power, Charles stood, draped his coat over his shoulders in a single smooth motion, then resumed his cold accent:

Then let’s go. I’ll drive you to university on my way.

His invitation was yet another affirmation of the unspoken power he wielded over her life—an unquestioned given, like sunrise and sunset, an unshakable certainty framing every aspect of Emma’s existence.

Charles moved on without waiting for Emma’s reply, and anxiety crept into her chest. She turned wearily to meet her aunt Sophia’s gaze—her friendly smile watching the scene with a mysterious blend of reassurance and curiosity. Emma nodded slightly, offered a taut, hidden smile of thanks, then drew a deep, despairing breath before following his confident steps outside, where the fresh air greeted her like freedom against her angelic face.

No sooner had she settled into the passenger seat than Charles accelerated with unusual force. His driving, always likened to a storm, paired with Emma’s ingrained fear of speed, made for a familiar equation. She found herself without the courage to ask him to slow down; silence and composure held sway, her terror plain upon her features. Charles recognized that deep fear and felt a rush of satisfaction wrapped in the memory of her dread—because, despite everything, he took pleasure in it.

In a voice devoid of warmth and still fixed on the road, he asked, Shall I slow down?

Her tongue froze, but after a moment she managed, No, there’s no need.

He murmured in response, a malicious smile playing on his lips, and pressed harder on the accelerator. At last, her voice trembled as she cried out, Please, slow down—please, Charles. His grin widened as he immediately eased off the gas. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, savoring the power of her plea before restoring his harsh expression.

When they reached her university, he turned to her with icy detachment. We’ve arrived. The driver will pick you up later. I trust there’s no need to repeat orders, right?

Emma’s lips went quietly moist as she sensed the spark of desire flicker in him for a brief moment, but she answered calmly, No need. Goodbye. She stepped out of the car, leaving behind a man wrestling with the specters of his own conflicted emotions, haunted by her small, spontaneous gesture. Despite his cruelty, Charles harbored a fire that awaited Emma’s spark to ignite. These moments left him whirling in a vortex of repressed dreams and forbidden desires, longing for her to regard him in a way that would plunge him deeper into passion and feeling. He turned away toward his own empire of reality, armed with a strong mind and a weary heart.

In the university corridors—where life pulsed through walls steeped in stories of learning and youth—Emma met her two friends as she arrived. Before she could join any conversation, Lily exclaimed with a mix of curiosity and surprise, How did you get out of the car so fast today? Has that strict man lost his iron grip or what?

Iris echoed Lily’s words with added excitement, This is thrilling! What happened, Emma?

Emma let out a heavy sigh over their chatter, then spoke softly, It’s nothing worth mentioning. Even I found his unusual behavior puzzling. But let’s not dwell on it now. We need to get to the lecture.

They walked together past a cluster of young men by the lecture hall door. Emma’s quick glances skimmed over them without pausing—any eye contact with a boy outside her tightly controlled world was something her trembling heart avoided.

She whispered to Lily, Who are these new students?

Lily smiled gently. They’re freshmen—it seems they’re joining our class.

Emma responded with a quiet murmur as they headed inside, determined to ignore the curious stares planted on them by a youth already captivated by her beauty and a breath of admiration.

After a day spent wandering the university’s halls, the three of them made their way to the campus café, eager to wash away lecture fatigue with laughter and chatter. Among the patrons, one young man caught Emma’s eye, offering a sideways smile as he approached their table with the confidence of someone who believes fortune is on his side.

Hello, flower of this place, he greeted her, his smile bright and expectant.

Emma froze, breath caught in her throat, glancing around in shock. The café buzzed with surprised stares—no one had ever dared to approach her before. Her guarded reputation, enforced by Charles’s fear, had turned her into an island isolated from the sea of eager youth.

The young man, eyebrow arched in mild confusion, asked with a hint of reproach, Why the terror, miss? I only meant to greet you.

Emma was on the verge of fleeing when shadows of danger she’d long evaded seemed to fill the room, trapping her in waves of panic and astonishment. She let out a trembling, Oh my God...

Silence fell over the café as fear washed through Emma like an icy torrent. Charles stood towering in disturbed quiet, eyes ablaze, his labored breathing slicing through the stillness. His clenched fist and protruding veins hinted at an anger yet to be unleashed.

He closed the distance in measured