Breaking Free from the Cage

Jay Dawson and I were married for six years. Back then, the news about his family forcing him to get married was all over the place.He would rather marry a random woman in a hospital than follow his family's plan.That random woman was me."There were so many people in that hospital. Why did you choose me?" I asked him once."It's because you cried the hardest. You looked easy to control," he replied.Jay was right. He controlled me for six full years.I had no parents, so my grandmother raised me. I thought I could give her a better life once I graduated and started working.However, before that, she fell into the final stage of cancer, and it was Jay who paid for her expensive treatment.After that, we became husband and wife in name only.…The next morning, Jay walked out of the bedroom shirtless, his hair messy and eyes still heavy with sleep. He headed straight for the bathroom.A moment later, the young model from last night followed him out. She wore my black silk n

"What are you doing? Are you trying to kill us both?"We almost crashed into another car because she grabbed the steering wheel.Ivy did not care. She tried to grab it again, but I was not fast enough to stop her.The car swerved wildly on the road. Suddenly, a large truck appeared from the opposite direction.The truck had just turned the corner when our car slammed into it with a loud bang.The impact knocked me out. In the haze, I heard Jay's worried voice."Are you okay, Ivy?" he asked anxiously.Ivy cried, "It was all Rachel's fault! She wasn't driving properly."I was sent to the hospital right away. When they wheeled me into surgery, I was the only one there.I signed the surgical consent form myself.Luckily, my injuries were not too serious, so I could still take care of myself. If I had been in worse shape, the hospital would have had to call my family.I laughed bitterly in my mind. Jay would never come to take care of me.The nurses whispered among themselves, s

While I waited to board the plane at the airport, Jay called.I declined the call immediately, removed the SIM card from my phone and threw it away.From now on, I would live my own life.The plane landed in the icy winds of Usmana. I wrapped my coat tighter and looked toward the arrivals area where Leeya stood waving."You're finally here!" she exclaimed.She ran over and gave me a big hug, nearly squeezing the breath out of me."Congratulations on finally being free!"She laughed, but her face changed a second later."Alright, enough celebrating. The studio's a mess and needs your magic. Chop-chop. Oh, and this is the assistant I found for you. Meet Ben Faymen."She pointed to the quiet, black-rimmed glasses guy behind her. He looked bookish and polite.We nodded at each other, and before I could ask anything else, Leeya was already dragging me toward the studio.I practically lived there for the next week. I was packed with back-to-back work.Leeya claimed she was helpin

My patience ran out. "Mr. Dawson, I'm hanging up if there's nothing else." Jay's voice dropped, unusually soft. "Are you sure you're not coming back?"I let out a dry chuckle and replied, "Our agreement lasted for only six years. Since the agreement is over, I'm done. There's no reason for me to go back."There was silence on the other end.Then, out of nowhere, Jay asked, "You're doing this for money, aren't you? Is a million dollars enough?"I sighed and replied, "Jay, we don't live in the same world. Our agreement is over, and so is our relationship." "I can give you three million," he replied desperately. I responded softly, "I don't want it, Jay. I've lost six years of my life. I'm done living for you." That was the last straw. Jay snapped, "Rachel, stop acting! I'll ask you one last—" "I'm not going back," I cut him off without hesitation. I hung up right after.Jay stared at his phone, stunned."Rachel! Do you really think I can't live without you?!"

The butler stood by the gate and calmly said, "Ms. Grey, you're no longer welcome here. Here's your belongings."Ivy trembled as she exclaimed shakily, "I want to see Jay. Let me in!"Ivy tried to push past the butler, but he blocked her path."Please don't make this difficult for us."Ivy stood frozen at the door, her face pale. She could not understand why Jay had changed suddenly.I thought it was finally over.The next day, Jay showed up outside my studio.I saw him from a distance. I ignored him and kept walking.He grabbed my wrist and said my name with an unfamiliar low voice."Rachel…"It was the first time I had heard him speak to me like that. He used to talk down to me, barking orders like I was disposable.His sudden softness felt fake and repulsive.I stared at him coldly and asked, "What do you want?"I saw a hint of hurt in his eyes due to my harshness."Don't be mad at me. I came to take you home," he said.I let out a chuckle. "I have nothing to do wit