His Terms, My Surrender

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I stared into Theo Rodriguez’s cold, unforgiving eyes. Every part of me trembled, but I refused to back down. My father’s life depended on this moment.“Please,” I began, my voice shaky but growing steadier with each word. “Give me time. I’ll pay the money back. Whatever he owes—I’ll make it right.”For a moment, there was silence. Then, Theo let out a sharp, humorless laugh, the sound cutting through the tension like a blade. He shook his head, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. “Do you think this is some pocket change your father owes, cariño?” he sneered, the term sounding more like mockery than endearment. “This isn’t a debt you can cover by skipping a few lattes or selling some trinkets.”I took a deep breath, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. “How much does he owe?” I asked, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.Theo smirked, his gaze piercing. “Four million dollars,” he said casually, as if the number was meaningless to h

Theo’s brows furrowed, and he turned toward the voice. “Mom? What are you doing here?” he asked, his tone carrying a mix of irritation and surprise.The woman who entered looked to be around 57 years old, with silver-streaked hair neatly pulled back into a simple bun. Her face was lined with age, but her sharp eyes—dark and commanding—betrayed a life lived with authority. She was dressed in a modest, unassuming dress, simple and functional, but there was an air of elegance about her despite the lack of lavishness. Her presence demanded attention, as though she were accustomed to being in control.She took a step into the room, her gaze flicking from Theo to me. She didn’t seem surprised by my presence, but her cold demeanor made me feel like an intruder in the room. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she regarded me, studying me with the same intensity that Theo had moments earlier.Theo didn’t move, still standing in the same position. His jaw clenched, but he didn’t raise his voice. “Thi

Later that night, the sound of a key turning in the lock pulled me from my restless thoughts. The door creaked open, and Bell entered, carrying a tray of food and a neatly folded dress draped over her arm. Her expression was calm but guarded, giving away nothing of what might come next.She set the tray on the small table by the window and placed the dress carefully on the bed. “Mr. Rodriguez will come for you soon,” she said, her tone measured and professional. “You need to prepare.”I stared at her, the weight of her words settling heavily on me. “Prepare for what?” I asked, though I already had a sinking feeling I knew the answer.Bell turned her gaze toward me, her expression unreadable. “I don’t know,” she said quietly, her tone firm but not unkind. “I’m just following his instructions. Now hurry up. If you want, I can help you with your hair and makeup.”I hesitated, unsure if I should even care how I looked for whatever Theo had planned. But something about Bell’s demeanor made

I quickly scanned the restroom, searching for another way out. The windows were too high and small, but my eyes landed on a door labeled Staff Only. Taking a deep breath, I made my way toward it, my heels clicking against the tile floor.I hesitated for a second, listening for any sounds from outside the restroom. The guard was still waiting, but he wasn’t inside. This was my chance. I pushed open the door and stepped into a dimly lit hallway. It was quiet, with faint noises of activity coming from the other side of the building.I hurried down the hallway, my heart racing as I tried to figure out where to go. My plan was simple: get out of the building, find a cab, and disappear. Far away from Theo, from his control, and from this suffocating world.As I turned a corner, I saw a small exit sign glowing above a door. Relief washed over me as I rushed toward it. The door led outside to the back of the event hall, where delivery trucks and staff vehicles were parked. The night air hit m

As the limo pulled into Theo’s grand estate, I couldn’t help but feel a cold sense of dread settle in my stomach. The mansion loomed in the distance, its dark, imposing silhouette casting a shadow over everything. The guards didn’t speak, their faces stone-cold as they kept a firm hold on me. I had no idea what was coming next, but I knew it wouldn’t be good.When the car finally came to a stop, Theo didn’t even bother to get out with me. He simply gestured for the guards to drag me out of the vehicle. I stumbled, still weak from the shock of everything that had happened, but they didn’t care. They dragged me towards the house, ignoring my protests and desperate attempts to break free.Once inside, the silence was even more oppressive. The guards led me down long, dimly lit corridors, their footsteps echoing off the marble floors. We reached a heavy door at the end of the hall, and one of them opened it, revealing a dark, cold room inside.Theo stood by the door, watching me with that