Chapter 3_The Quiet Surrender

I sprinted upstairs, tears streaking my cheeks, sniffing as I moved with every step.

I had never taken an interest in any guy, never dated anyone, maybe because I was too focused on my studies, on building a life I could control. I had always thought I had the freedom to choose, but now that freedom felt like a cruel joke.

At the top of the stairs, Alexa’s eyes met mine. She stood by the railing, worry etched on her face, but I wasn’t ready to even talk to her. I shot her a sharp glance and rushed past toward my bedroom. Alexa followed.

“Stop, Jenna. Why are you ignoring me? Just hear me out,” she said.

I closed my eyes, tightened my jaw, and opened them again, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Alexa, we will talk later. I am not in the right headspace.”

She nodded quietly and lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve.

Even as I shut the door, my hands trembled and my chest felt tight. Alexa’s worried eyes flashed in my mind, and I pressed my palm to my forehead, wishing I could stop the whirlwind of fear and anger roiling inside me.

I sank onto the edge of the bed. The sheets that had once felt soft now pressed strangely against my skin. The faint scent of jasmine, Mom’s favorite air freshener, still lingered in the air. It had always calmed me before, but now it only stirred up the ache of everything I was about to lose.

I gripped the sheets tightly and swallowed the lump in my throat as Dad’s voice echoed in my head. “Save this family… or cut off.”

My gaze dropped to the floor. Could I really do it?

I could not imagine life without them. Mom’s quiet warmth, Dad’s stern love, Alexa’s clingy laughter. Every wall seemed to whisper memories back at me, begging me not to let go.

I kicked off my shoes and leaned back against the bed. Dad’s words replayed like a curse.

“Choose wisely, marrying him may keep you safe. Refuse, and nothing will protect you.”

A shaky breath escaped as I covered my mouth to muffle my sobs. Stay and lose myself to a man I never wanted. Leave and lose everything I love?

I was not selfish. I never had been. Perhaps I had been naive to think I could ever choose my own life.

I lifted my head and ran my fingers through my hair, trying to slow my racing thoughts. Both paths led to him. If I cut ties and ran, he would chase me. If I stayed, at least my family would be safe.

My heart and mind spoke in different languages. One screamed to run, the other whispered to endure. I felt as though I were standing on the edge of a cliff, with no right choice ahead of me. Perhaps saying yes was not surrender; perhaps it was strategy.

I pressed my palms together and forced myself to breathe. Play it smart, Jenna. Protect them and yourself. Saying yes didn’t have to mean forever. It just had to mean survival.

A sudden knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts, and I flinched.

“Jenna? You in there?” Alexa’s voice came through, soft but anxious.

Before I could answer, the door creaked open and she peeked inside. “You didn’t come down… are you okay?”

I rubbed my eyes and managed a weak smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.”

She stepped in a little, crossing her arms. “You’ve been in here for hours. Come on, at least grab a plate.” She hesitated, then added, “Mom made your favorite, and Dad sent me to get you.”

“I’m not hungry,” I said quietly, keeping my eyes on the floor. “Tell them I’ll fix something for myself later.”

“Jen…” she said softly, worry lacing her tone. “You always say that when something’s wrong.”

“I said I’m fine, Alexa,” I cut in, my voice cracking slightly.

For a moment, she just stood there, studying me. Then she nodded, backing off. “Okay… but don’t stay up too late, alright?”

When she finally left, silence swept back into the room, thick, heavy, and impossible to escape. My stomach twisted with hunger. The snacks Mom had served earlier were the last thing I’d eaten. But I couldn’t make myself go downstairs and pretend everything was fine, pretend that what I’d just been told wasn’t the same as being handed a glass of poison and told to drink.

I hated myself for lying, but what other choice did I have?

******

I woke in the dead of night, my heart thudding against my ribs. For a moment, the room felt unfamiliar, shadows twisting across the walls in strange shapes. Then the curtains came into focus, and the weight of the evening settled back over me, heavy and unshakable. I hadn’t even realized when I’d fallen asleep.

I sat up, the blanket sliding from my shoulders as I tried to steady my breathing. The air was cold and still, and moonlight glinted off the edge of my old dresser. Just as I exhaled, a soft knock broke the silence.

“Jenna.”

My father’s voice was low and steady, carrying that calmness that always unsettled me. My chest tightened at the sound. I straightened and brushed my hair from my face. “Come in, Dad,” I said quietly.

The door creaked open, and he stepped inside with his usual composed poise, a faint smile tugging at his lips, the kind that never reached his eyes and always made me uneasy.

“Finally awake, hmm?” he said mildly, taking a few slow steps closer. “You didn’t come down for dinner. I even sent Alexa, but…” He let the pause hang, a hint of reproach in the air. “Still nothing.”

I swallowed hard, eyes dropping. “I just didn’t feel like—”

He cut in smoothly. “Didn’t feel like facing your dad, right?” His tone wasn’t harsh, but it held weight, too calm, too knowing. I stared at the carpet, searching for words that wouldn’t come.

He took another step closer, hands clasped behind his back. “I expected you to come to my room and tell me your decision,” he said, voice cool and measured. “But you didn’t. So…” He gave a small, polite shrug. “I thought I’d come ask my daughter myself.”

My throat tightened. Heat rose in my chest as he sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. Beads of sweat gathered along my hairline.

“What did you think, Jenna?” His voice was calm, soft even, but carried an edge that made my stomach knot. He reached for my hand, wrapping it in his large, warm palms. The pressure was steady, intentional, a reminder of who held the power.

“Do you remember,” he continued, his thumb brushing my knuckles, “how you promised to follow my guidance? That you’d never turn away from me?”

I looked down at our joined hands. His fingers dwarfed mine. “I remember, Dad,” I whispered. “I never forgot. But this… this isn’t small. You know what kind of life he leads.”

He loosened his grip just enough for my hand to tremble beneath his. “You think he’ll hurt you?”

I hesitated, my voice tight in my throat. “I think he could destroy everything I am.”

He exhaled slowly, eyes unflinching. “He isn’t the monster you think. He loves you. You hate him because of the world he comes from, not because of him.”

My chest rose faster. “That world kills people, Dad! They sell, they gamble, they take lives like they’re nothing. What if I’m next? What if I just… disappear?”

His gaze held mine, calm, unyielding. “He wouldn’t let that happen. You’ll be safe. Protected. He will treasure you, Jenna.”

I looked away, tracing the moonlight across the floor. My pulse thudded unevenly, every reason to refuse dissolving beneath the weight of his eyes, steady, patient, absolute.

Finally, I nodded once, barely audible. “If this is what it takes to keep the peace… I’ll meet him,” I said quietly.

His shoulders eased, a slow, approving smile curving his lips, sharp yet controlled. “Good. I trust you to do what’s necessary.”

I forced a brittle smile, my chest tightening until it hurt to breathe. “But that’s all I can promise right now,” I whispered.

He reached out and patted my head, his hand lingering a moment too long. “Your dad will always be thankful to you.”

The softness in his tone didn’t match the glint in his eyes. It felt less like gratitude and more like a promise I’d regret keeping.