Theo stepped back, the smirk on his face never fading. He waved his hand at the man holding me. “Take her away,” he said coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion.I felt the man’s grip tighten as he started to drag me out of the room. I tried to resist, but my body was too weak, too drained from everything I had just witnessed.Theo’s voice stopped us before we reached the door. “Oh, and Sofia,” he said, his tone mocking yet icy. “Your punishment isn’t over. No food for a week now. Not three days. Consider it a lesson—you brought this on yourself.”My heart sank further, the weight of his words crushing me. A week without food. He wasn’t just punishing me physically—he wanted to break me completely.Theo gave a satisfied nod, watching me with that same cruel expression. “Maybe next time, you’ll think twice about crossing me.”I was pulled out of the room, my body trembling, my mind numb with fear and grief. The man dragged me down the long, cold hallway, his grip firm and unrelenting.
It had been a week since Theo’s cruel punishment. A week without food, and the toll it had taken on my body was unimaginable. My face felt pale, my skin stretched tight over my bones, and my stomach constantly twisted with hunger. I had grown so lean, I hardly recognized myself when I looked in the small mirror above the dresser.The bruise were slowly fading, but they were still there. Yet, the hunger was worse. My entire being ached for food, for something—anything—to fill the empty pit inside me. But there was nothing.The weakness in my legs had only gotten worse over the days. I felt light-headed often, like I might collapse any moment. Every movement was sluggish, every breath shallow. The thirst was unbearable, too, but I had learned that asking for water only brought more trouble. So, I lay in the cold room, trying to distract myself from the gnawing pain in my stomach.I couldn’t stop wondering how a person could be so wicked, so merciless. How could anyone do this to another
Thirty minutes later, the door creaked open again. Hailey stepped inside, her usual cold expression firmly in place. In her hand, she carried a shimmering red gown and a black heels. The dress was long-sleeved, its fabric smooth and luxurious, clearly chosen to cover all my bruises. She barely glanced at me as she placed it on the bed.“You’ve got ten minutes to shower,” she said sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument. “After that, put this on.”Her words were clipped and rude, as if I were nothing more than a chore she was forced to deal with. She didn’t wait for a response, just turned on her heel and crossed her arms, waiting impatiently by the door.I nodded silently, too drained to argue or react. Without a word, I forced my trembling legs to carry me toward the bathroom.Ten minutes later, I stepped out of the bathroom, the warmth of the shower lingering on my skin. My body still felt weak, but at least the water had washed away some of the grime and exhaustion clinging
Theo led me outside, his grip on my waist firm as we approached a sleek black Mercedes Benz S-Class parked in the driveway. The car gleamed under the soft glow of the evening lights, another display of his endless wealth. It felt like every event we attended, he made sure to show off a different car from his collection.The chauffeur was already seated in the driver’s seat, waiting patiently. He didn’t say a word as Theo opened the back door for me. Without much choice, I slid into the luxurious leather seat, the cool interior a sharp contrast to the tension I felt. Theo followed, settling beside me and closing the door behind him.“Try to keep up appearances,” Theo said, glancing at me with a smirk before turning his attention out the window.I stayed quiet, my hands folded tightly in my lap as the car pulled away from the house.The car was quiet except for the soft sound of jazz music playing through the speakers. The smooth melody filled the space, but it did little to ease the te
Theo’s mother guided me through the grand room, her arm still linked with mine. Her warmth and cheerfulness were a sharp contrast to Theo’s cold demeanor. I felt out of place, but her enthusiasm made it a little easier to follow her lead.“This party is full of interesting people,” she said with a bright smile. “You must meet them all. After all, you’re part of the family now.”Part of the family? The thought made me uneasy, but I nodded politely, not wanting to upset her. She stopped by a small group of elegantly dressed women, their laughter light and practiced.“Ladies,” Theo’s mother said, her voice commanding attention. “This is my son’s lovely girlfriend.”The women turned their sharp eyes toward me, their smiles polite but curious. “Oh, isn’t she charming?” one of them said, her tone slightly condescending.I forced a smile, feeling the weight of their judgment. “It’s nice to meet you,” I said quietly.One of the women, a tall blonde with a sharp smile, tilted her head slightly
I clutched the note tightly in my hand, my pulse racing as I stepped out into the hallway. My eyes darted left and right, hoping to catch even a glimpse of whoever had left the note. But the hallway was empty, silent except for the faint sound of distant laughter from the party downstairs.I took a hesitant step forward, my bare feet making no sound on the plush carpet. My breathing was shallow as I tried to shake the feeling of someone watching me. My thoughts were a blur. Who left this? Could it be Jude? Or someone else?Before I could take another step, Theo’s mother appeared at the top of the staircase, her face lighting up as she saw me. “Mija, where are you off to?” she asked, her cheerful tone laced with curiosity. “I told you I have a second gift for you.”I froze in place, clutching the note behind my back. Forcing a smile, I turned to face her. “Oh, I was just…” I paused, searching for an excuse, “…admiring the view from the hallway.”Theo’s mother raised an eyebrow but didn
Theo’s mother beamed at me, giving my hand a gentle pat. “Okay, Mija,” she said, her voice light and cheerful. “Enough with the heartfelt moments for now. I think it’s time for me to cut my cake. Come on, let’s head downstairs.”I nodded quickly, relieved to shift the attention away from me. “Of course,” I said, stepping to the side to let her lead the way. I slipped the envelope discreetly into the pocket of my dress as she turned toward the stairs.She glanced back at me with a warm smile. “I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when they see how beautiful you look in the full set. You’re practically glowing.”I followed her down the grand staircase, my heart still pounding. The party sounds grew louder with each step, the hum of voices and soft music filtering through the air. I forced myself to focus, pushing the mystery of the note to the back of my mind—for now.As we reached the bottom of the stairs, the crowd turned to us, and Theo’s mother raised her arms in delight. “Everyone,
Theo’s mother beamed at me, giving my hand a gentle pat. “Okay, Mija,” she said, her voice light and cheerful. “Enough with the heartfelt moments for now. I think it’s time for me to cut my cake. Come on, let’s head downstairs.”I nodded quickly, relieved to shift the attention away from me. “Of course,” I said, stepping to the side to let her lead the way. I slipped the envelope discreetly into the pocket of my dress as she turned toward the stairs.She glanced back at me with a warm smile. “I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when they see how beautiful you look in the full set. You’re practically glowing.”I followed her down the grand staircase, my heart still pounding. The party sounds grew louder with each step, the hum of voices and soft music filtering through the air. I forced myself to focus, pushing the mystery of the note to the back of my mind—for now.As we reached the bottom of the stairs, the crowd turned to us, and Theo’s mother raised her arms in delight. “Everyone,
The drive to the hotel was quiet, aside from Mrs. Rodríguez occasionally glancing at me as if making sure I was still holding it together. Hailey, on the other hand, stayed silent, her arms crossed as she stared out the window.When we finally pulled up to the Marbella Suites, I felt an odd sense of relief. It wasn’t as massive or extravagant as the one Theo kept me in, but it was nice—warm, inviting, and, most importantly, free of him.The lobby smelled of lavender, and the soft lighting made everything feel calmer, safer.For now.I knew this peace wouldn’t last long.Mrs. Rodríguez led me through the lobby and up to her suite on the fifth floor. It was a cozy two-bedroom with large windows that overlooked the city. Nothing like Theo’s cold penthouse, where everything felt like a cage.She gestured toward one of the rooms. "You can sleep here, mija. Make yourself comfortable."I nodded, stepping inside. The room was simple but comfortable—a queen-sized bed, a small dresser, and warm
The drive to the hotel was quiet, aside from Mrs. Rodríguez occasionally glancing at me as if making sure I was still holding it together. Hailey, on the other hand, stayed silent, her arms crossed as she stared out the window.When we finally pulled up to the Marbella Suites, I felt an odd sense of relief. It wasn’t as massive or extravagant as the one Theo kept me in, but it was nice—warm, inviting, and, most importantly, free of him.The lobby smelled of lavender, and the soft lighting made everything feel calmer, safer.For now.I knew this peace wouldn’t last long.Mrs. Rodríguez led me through the lobby and up to her suite on the fifth floor. It was a cozy two-bedroom with large windows that overlooked the city. Nothing like Theo’s cold penthouse, where everything felt like a cage.She gestured toward one of the rooms. "You can sleep here, mija. Make yourself comfortable."I nodded, stepping inside. The room was simple but comfortable—a queen-sized bed, a small dresser, and warm
A dull ache pulsed in my skull as I slowly drifted back to consciousness. My body felt heavy, my limbs sluggish, like I was swimming through molasses. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled my nose, and the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was the first sound that registered.I was still in the hospital.A tired sigh drew my attention. My eyelids fluttered open, adjusting to the bright lights overhead. A middle-aged doctor stood beside my bed, his arms crossed over his chest, a clipboard in hand. His expression was neutral, but there was something relieved in the way he exhaled."Finally stable," he muttered, glancing at the monitor.I swallowed, my throat still raw. "How long?" My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper."Seven hours," he replied. "Your vitals were erratic for a while, but you're stable now. No need to keep you here any longer."I blinked, struggling to sit up. Every muscle in my body protested, sore and stiff from everything that had happened. The doctor scrib
The man's grip was unforgiving as he dragged me down the hallway. My bare feet stumbled over the cold floor, my breath ragged, my mind still spinning from what had just happened. The old woman-she was gone. Shot without hesitation.I wanted to scream, to fight, but my body felt numb.We reached Theo's suite. The door loomed in front of me like a gateway to hell.The man yanked it open and shoved me inside."Slam it," Theo's voice was cold, commanding.The door shut behind me with a heavy thud, sealing my fate.I barely had time to turn before Theo twisted the lock with a deliberate click.Now, it was just the two of us.The silence was suffocating.Blood trailed down the side of Theo's face where the vase had hit him, dripping onto his black shirt. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes-his dark, furious eyes-held nothing but wrath.Before I could move, he lunged.His hand fisted in my hair, yanking me forward.I barely had time to gasp before he slammed my head against the vanit
A loud noise startled me awake. The heavy door to the suite slammed shut, the force of it making the walls tremble. My eyes flew open, my heart racing as I sat up in bed. Theo stood near the entrance, his jaw tight, his expression furious. His dark eyes burned with barely restrained anger, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.I swallowed hard, trying to push away the grogginess from my sleep. He looked like he had just come from a warzone—his black shirt slightly unbuttoned at the top, his sleeves rolled up, revealing his tense forearms. His entire body was coiled with rage, and I could feel the storm brewing in the air around him.Theo didn’t notice me at first. He paced back and forth near the door, his hands running through his hair in frustration. His breathing was heavy, his body tense like he was trying to stop himself from exploding.Then, through gritted teeth, he muttered, "Maldito idiota, Diego. Siempre metiéndose donde no debe."I didn’t understand every word, but I
I stood there, the envelope clutched tightly in my hands, my mind racing. The words on the paper echoed in my head, "I am watching your every move, Sofia, my love." I couldn’t stop thinking about the first message I received on my phone, then the one on Theo's mom’s birthday. And now, this—another note. Who could be sending them? Why?The headache that had been pounding at my temples grew worse, and I felt a wave of nausea rising. I tried to shake off the dizziness, but it only made everything more overwhelming.I couldn’t deal with this right now. Not with everything else going on. My father needed me, and I couldn’t even think about the possibility of Theo’s torture, the cruel games he played. I had no room in my mind for that right now. I just needed to focus on getting through this trip to Mexico.I swallowed hard, trying to push away the panic that was creeping up. But it was hard. The thought of who could be sending these messages—someone who was always watching, always waiting—
Evening came, but sleep never did. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind spinning with thoughts of my father.For the first time in years, he had hope. A real chance to be cured. The thought should have brought me peace, but instead, it filled me with worry. What if things didn’t go as planned? What if the treatment didn’t work? Or worse—what if Theo decided to take that hope away?I sighed, turning on my side, trying to push the thoughts away. But it was useless. No matter how hard I tried, my mind kept going back to my father and everything he had been through.The sound of the door unlocking made me sit up. Hailey walked in, carrying a tray of food. She placed it on the table beside my bed and crossed her arms, watching me. cold voice cut through the silence. “You should eat.”I glanced at the tray but didn’t move. My appetite was nonexistent, my stomach twisted in knots from everything on my mind.After a moment, I looked up at her. “Where’s Theo?”She didn’t hesitate.
Ten minutes later, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house. I quickly stood up, my heart racing in my chest. My father had arrived.I saw him walk in, his eyes scanning the house with surprise. He had never been here before, but I could tell from the look on his face that he was impressed by the size of the place. He had heard about Theo’s wealth, but seeing it in person was a whole different story. It was hard not to notice the way his mind was working—wondering how someone could have so much, yet still hold onto grudges over something like four million dollars.My father knew that money meant little to Theo. It wasn’t about the money for him. It was about power, about making people suffer. The thought of it made my stomach churn.As my father stepped into the living room, he gave Mrs. Rodriguez a polite nod before stepping forward. "Thank you, Mrs. Rodriguez," he said sincerely, his voice carrying the weight of his gratitude. "For giving me a second chance at li
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of a key rattling in the lock. My heart jumped, but I stayed still, my eyes fixed on the door.A moment later, Hailey stepped inside, carrying a tray of food. The scent of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and buttered toast filled the room.She placed the tray on the small table beside my bed, her expression blank. “Eat,” she said flatly.Her cold tone wasn’t new. It always reminded me of how things used to be—of Bell.I swallowed the lump in my throat, my chest tightening at the thought of her. If I could turn back time, I would’ve saved her from Theo. Maybe then, she’d still be here. Maybe then, I wouldn’t be alone.Hailey crossed her arms, her gaze unreadable. “Mrs. Rodriguez will be here in an hour, so you have to hurry,” she said, her tone clipped.I nodded slowly but didn’t move right away. Hailey watched me for a second before letting out a sigh.“I’ll get your clothes in a few minutes,” she muttered and turned to leave.As the door closed