ica'

the night before-which I had. Blinking a few times, I wiped the crust from my eyes and slowly sat up, my limbs protesting wit

reflection was a mess. My hair was tangled, my face dirty, and my ey

t through half the day. Not that it mattered, it's not like I had anywhere

exhaustion clinging to me. I took my time, letting the steam clear my mind, and when I stepped out, I felt... a little better. Not great, but presentable. I

on the door

a soft click. My breath hitched as the door creaked open, but in

the meal on the table. "Today, we have pan-seared

ying on my lips. "You don't have to give me the

d, bowing slight

itated, then quickly asked,

work this morning, ma'am. He sho

realize I was holding and smiled,

"By the way... the food yesterday was delicious.

king into a warm smile. "Then I shoul

. I could never. Bu

g the door behind him. I groaned, the r

The aroma was too good to resist. I sat down and dug in, savoring the ri

limbed onto the bed. My fingers hovered over my phone

ce before h

d, panicked. "Oh my God, where have

wn," I said, rubb

I called your parents, but they refused to tell me anything

o return, but I held them back. "They sold me, Tim," I whispered. "My par

side, then Timothy's voice, low

me like I'm nothing, locking me in a room like

restrained rage. "I swear to God, I'l

e me. "Don't waste your time on them. Just.

not giving up on you, Jessica. I'll find

at the determina

ough my throat fe

a few missed calls from Sonya

you do to get married to a billionaire overnigh

wasn't a wedding. It was a business t

verything that had happen

e. "I swear, Jess, if I ever see them, I'll slap them into next we

rst time in days. "You always know

y, I'm with Timothy on this. W

akly. "Than

lse to do, I scrolled through social media, trying to distra

who i

d's cold voice followed. "Ge

, si

e were we going? But I kn

d my figure perfectly. I slipped it on, checking myself in t

match, I left my room an

ious black tuxedo, his tie sharp, his watch gleaming

e before he pointed a

e box. Inside was a diamond necklace, shining b

nreadable. He looked... annoyed, lik

ace around my neck a

cted me before he tu

word, I follow

iver opened the door, and I hesitated

since arriving he

this wasn't freedom, i