Chapter 4 — The Pact Unspoken

I stepped out of the bathroom, the faint chill of water still clinging to my skin after washing my face and brushing my teeth, the bare minimum of my morning routine. I dried my face with the towel when my phone started ringing again. Frowning, I reached for the nightstand, seeing Ava’s name flash across the screen.

My chest tightened as I picked up the phone and answered. “Hello?”

“Jenna,” Ava said immediately, concern sharp in her voice. “Where are you? Why didn’t you come in today?”

I sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the phone a little tighter. “I wasn’t feeling well,” I said carefully. “I ended up sleeping longer than I meant to and forgot to inform anyone.”

There was a brief pause. “Dr. Patel asked me about you,” she said. “He noticed you weren’t there.

You should’ve at least texted,” she said, her tone softening. “You never just disappear like that.”

“I’m sorry,” I replied quietly. “I really wasn’t doing well today.”

"It's okay, Can you at least manage to send me the patient reports history until night?" she asked after a moment. “I need them for tomorrow’s review.”

I hesitated, then nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah. I’ll send them.”

“Okay,” Ava said. “Take care of yourself. Call me later.”

“I will.”

The call ended, leaving the room heavy with silence. I lowered my phone slowly, staring at the dark screen, while I heard footsteps approaching outside, deliberate and measured, before a familiar voice finally cut through the quiet.

“Jenna.”

Dad’s voice was low, steady, carrying that calm that had always unsettled me more than anger ever could. My heart skipped a beat. I brushed my hair aside. “Come in,” I said softly.

The door creaked open, and he stepped inside with measured ease, a faint smile on his lips, the kind that never reached his eyes.

“Finally awake, hmm?” he said, mild reproach underlining his tone. “You missed dinner. I even sent Alexa, but still—nothing.”

I swallowed. “I just… didn’t feel like…”

He interrupted smoothly, his voice firm but quiet. “Didn’t feel like facing your dad, right?” His calm carried weight, and I couldn’t form words. I stared at the carpet.

He came closer, hands clasped behind his back. “I expected you to come to my room and tell me your decision. You didn’t. So I came to ask myself.”

My throat tightened, heat pooling in my chest as he sat beside me. The mattress dipped under his weight. I silently set my phone back on the nightstand. A sheen of sweat gathered along my hairline.

“What did you think?” His voice remained calm, edged with authority. He reached for my hand, wrapping it in his warm palms. The pressure was deliberate, a reminder of the power he held.

“Do you remember how you promised to follow my guidance? That you would never turn away from me?”

I looked at our joined hands. “I remember,” I whispered. “But this… this isn’t small. You know what kind of life he leads.”

He loosened his grip just enough to let my fingers tremble. “You think he will hurt you?”

My voice wavered. “I think he could destroy everything I am.”

He exhaled slowly, gaze steady. “He is not the monster you imagine. You fear the world around him, not him.”

My pulse quickened. “He is a mafia king, Dad. That world kills people. They sell, gamble, take lives as if they are nothing. What if I’m next? What if I just disappear?”

He held my gaze, unflinching. “He would not let that happen. You will be safe. Protected. He will treasure you. He acts this way because he loves you, Jenna. Blindly. That is the only reason he would risk everything if you refuse him.”

I looked away, watching the long shadows stretch across the floor as the sun dipped lower. Every reason to refuse felt fragile under his calm certainty.

“If he is being forceful today, I don’t know how far he could control all of us later. I don’t know if he would take unfair advantage when I’m under his name,” I admitted, voice tight.

Dad nodded, a soft, almost reluctant smile touching his lips. “You’re not wrong, my daughter. But I have seen the love in his eyes for you. I saw it when he confessed. I have felt it in his voice. That is why he acts this way.”

“I don’t know why, but… something feels off. I… I don’t know. Something doesn’t make sense. I know you said he isn’t your business partner. He knew you because of your reputation, so it was easy for him to approach you. But… I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something.”

He nodded at my words, closing his eyes and exhaling slowly.

“You’re just concerned, that’s why you feel this way. Do you think your dad is only thinking about his business? That he’s being selfish?” He paused, letting his gaze roam over my face. “No, Jenna. Whether you say yes or no, the outcome will be the same. He won’t wait for our response. That’s why I want you to accept with honor. Your dad considered everything before even asking, my dear.”

I bit my bottom lip, trying to make sense of his words. He cupped my cheeks, forcing me to meet his eyes. 

“I tried my best to push him away, Jenna. I tried constantly, without letting you know. But now there’s no other way. I exhausted every approach to get help. No one dares stand against him. No one wants to risk their business, their career. You have no idea how helpless I felt, having to let you hear all of this.”

I lowered my head at his words. “You wanted me to meet him,” I nodded once while speaking, “If this is what it takes to keep the peace… I will meet him,” I whispered while finally raising my head.

His shoulders eased, a slow approving smile forming, sharp and controlled. “Good. I trust you to do what is necessary.”

I forced a brittle smile, my chest tightening. “But that’s all I can manage to say for now.”

He patted my head, his hand lingering a moment too long. “I will always be thankful to you.”

The softness in his tone did not match the glint in his eyes. It felt less like gratitude and more like a promise I would regret keeping.

By the time it was already evening when I finally stepped out of the room, haunted by hunger. The maid came toward me carrying a tray, and I frowned at her, offering a nervous, amused smile. She returned it quickly, holding out the tray.

“Wow, how did you know I was coming to get something?” I tried to sound casual as I took it from her.

“I didn’t see you outside today, so I asked your mom. She said you were sick and asked me to bring this for you,” the maid explained.

I nodded, knowing our servants never know our personal matters. That’s exactly why Mom had told her. Something softened inside me. Seeing their care, even from a distance, reminded me that my decision hadn’t completely broken our bond. 

Walking away might have proved I was independent, but only in my own eyes; to everyone else, it may have looked like selfishness.

The maid returned to her work, earning a quick “thanks” from me as I set the tray on the coffee table in the lounge, my appetite forgotten, and hurried downstairs. I hadn’t seen Mom since last night, and the thought of her made my steps quicken.

The scent of spices drifted up as I reached the kitchen. Pots clinked softly. Mom looked up when I entered, a small smile forming as she wiped her hands and pulled me into an embrace, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. Relief settled into my chest.

“Mom is making your favorite again, Jenna. She didn’t let any maid touch a thing,” a familiar voice said from behind me. I turned to see Alexa perched on the edge of the dining table, chopping salad, her eyes lowered and a mischievous grin on her face. 

I let out a small chuckle as Mom smiled warmly.

“My daughter hasn’t had a bite of her mom’s cooking in weeks, so why wouldn’t I make something for her myself?” Mom said lovingly. 

I hadn’t been home for more than two weeks, buried under high school workload and late-night shifts, staying connected only through calls and messages.

Watching her move around the kitchen, something inside me steadied. The peace of having family who felt the pain I felt, real and tangible, washed over me. My choice had shattered me, but refusing it would have shattered everyone else. 

In that moment, I understood that having your

rights is one thing, but knowing how and when to use them mattered more than thinking only of yourself.