I Gave Him His Freedom Novels & Stories

“But the owning part is over, the contract is fulfilled.” “I never signed a contract,” I said. “You didn’t have to,” he replied. “I bought you. Now I’m setting you free, the transaction is complete.” Transaction. I was just a transaction to him, a business deal now concluded. I looked at his tight jawline and how he held himself so still, braced for a blow. He was giving me freedom, but it cost him something. He let his heart walk out the door while standing there and letting it happen.

"And he told me exactly what I have to do to earn my freedom." She tightened her grip on my hands. "Tom, I am so sorry.”

If anything, it hardened. “You're not serious.” “I’m serious,” he said, his voice levelled and unwavering. “And I'm not changing my mind about this.” I sat up and swallowed, my throat tight. “You can’t just say something like that,” I said. “Not like it’s a casual decision.” He tilted his head slightly. “Why not. It’s what you want, isn’t it? Your freedom.” The word landed wrong. Freedom. He said it like it was a gift, like it was something I should be grateful for, something he was offering me as if it could replace everything else.

I looked at Granny slumped in a chair, her wrists still bound tightly to the armrests, and her head tilted to the side, groaning softly. “You’re asking me to murder someone.” My hands clenched. “Why can't you just kill him on your own? Why drag me into the picture?” He raised his brow. “To make things interesting.” I scoffed. “To make things interesting? Just have a match with him. Let's see who wins.” He shrugged. “That's a pain in my handsome face. Also, I’m offering you freedom. Real freedom, dear. Not the illusion he gave you.” Freedom, huh.

“No, but I—” “Then don’t compare me to him.” He grabbed his glass of booze and took a drink. “You said you would give me my freedom. Are you a man of your word or not?” He shook the cubes in his glass before he set it down. “Always.” “Then I want to leave. Either give me a car, or I’ll walk everywhere.” He chuckled like the suggestion was stupid. “Not gonna happen. You think I’m gonna let you walk around by yourself in this city?”

He would turn every word into a trap. He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees, and for the first time since I had approached the gazebo, I saw something like frustration in his eyes. Not anger. Not cruelty. Frustration. Like a man who had built a plan and could not tolerate the pieces moving out of place. Then he surprised me. “I will give you your freedom,” he said. The words hit the air like a stone dropping into water. Diana’s breath caught beside me. I felt it more than heard it.

When I was little, I was poisoned by wolfsbane. My sister Fiona saved me. After that, she always said, "I saved your life. You should be grateful. Never forget what I've done for you." So whenever I had good food or pretty clothes, I gave them to her if she wanted them. When I turned eighteen, the pack chose a fiancé for me. Fiona told me, "Don't trust any man so easily. Let me check them out for you first. If they're not right, you shouldn't marry them." So she went on dates with those men on my behalf, from refined gentlemen to charming, outgoing guys. Every time she came back, she looked disappointed. "Zoey, this guy seems really shady. He's not right for you." "Zoey, this guy is all swee

she nodded and did as he said. For the first time in days my feet felt almost light. The skin underneath was raw and dark with bruises. “You may leave,” the boy said. I turned at once, ready to run. “Not you, Sebastian.” I froze. “Why? Are you planning on taking me now?” “Be more grateful,” he said. “I just bought your freedom.” “I didn’t ask you.” He stretched out one small hand, palm up. “My father’s watch.” My fingers tightened around the warm gold until the edges dug into my skin.

Charlie was happy because he finally had an heir to satisfy his family's demand, so he could be with the woman he truly loved. Charlie looked up in disbelief. "You almost lost your life to give birth to him. You're giving him up just like that?" I only shook my head and said nothing. What use did I have for a son who saw another woman as his real mother?

His smile held none of its usual teasing spark, no crooked grin waiting to pounce on my fluster. “Your birthday present,” he said. Before I could react, he took my hand and started leading me toward the fortress entrance. “I told you I’d do everything in my power to set him free.” I couldn’t breathe. Not properly. My chest felt too tight, my thoughts too tangled. For weeks, I had started to believe he was only dangling hope in front of me—keeping Arlo’s freedom just out of reach to ensure my obedience. But he had done it. He had actually kept his promise.