Sophia woke up slowly, her body heavy and unfamiliar against the soft bed beneath her. For a moment, she lay still, staring at the ceiling, trying to understand where she was. The room was quiet, too quiet, and nothing around her felt familiar.
This wasn't her room.
Panic crept into her chest as she pushed herself up, her eyes scanning the space. Everything looked expensive, neat, untouched. It didn't feel like a place someone lived in. It felt like a place people were kept.
Then the memories came rushing back.
The club.
The forbidden door.
The man on his knees.
The gun.
Her breathing became uneven as she clutched the bedsheet tightly.
"I didn't…" she whispered, shaking her head. "I didn't kill him…"
But the thought wouldn't go away.
No matter how hard she tried to convince herself that it wasn't her, that it was that stranger behind her who pulled the trigger, the truth kept clawing its way back. She had been holding the gun. Her fingers had been on it. She had felt the force when it fired.
And now a man was dead.
Her stomach twisted painfully.
"What about his family?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "What if he had a wife… children…"
Tears filled her eyes as guilt washed over her.
"Someone must be waiting for him," she continued softly. "Waiting for him to come home…"
Her chest tightened.
"And I… I took that away from them."
She covered her mouth as a sob escaped her.
Then suddenly, another thought hit her.
Her mother.
Sophia's eyes widened.
"Mum…"
Her heart began to race.
Would she be worried by now? Sophia had never stayed out without telling her. What if she was already panicking? What if she hadn't taken her medication?
"I need to go home," Sophia whispered urgently, her hands trembling. "She needs me…"
Her mind spun.
She still needed money for the treatment. She still had to save her mother. That hadn't changed. Nothing had changed except that now she was trapped in a nightmare she didn't understand.
"If only I had listened…" she murmured, tears slipping down her cheeks. "If only I didn't go to that club…"
Her breathing grew shaky.
"If only I didn't open that door…"
She closed her eyes, remembering the small, peaceful moments she shared with her mother. The quiet mornings, the laughter, the way her mother always tried to stay strong for her even when she was in pain.
Sophia had never known her father. Her mother always said he died in an accident, and she never showed his pictures. Sophia had stopped asking after a while. It didn't matter to her. Her mother had always been enough.
And now she wasn't even there.
"I miss you…" she whispered.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts.
She froze.
The door opened slowly, and a young woman stepped inside. She looked calm, composed, like she belonged here.
"You're awake," she said. "Master sent for you."
Sophia's chest tightened at the word.
"Master?"
The girl nodded. "My name is Sonia. Come with me."
Sophia hesitated, fear rising again, but she knew she had no choice.
After bathing, she wore the same clothes from the night before. They were slightly wrinkled, but she had nothing else. The simple act of wearing them again made everything feel more real, more permanent.
Like she wasn't leaving anytime soon.
When she was led into his room, her heart pounded heavily.
He was there.
Calm. Composed. Untouched by everything that had happened.
Sophia didn't waste time.
"Please," she said immediately, her voice trembling. "Please let me go. I won't tell anyone. I swear."
He watched her silently for a moment, his expression unreadable.
Then he spoke.
"I'll give you a deal."
Sophia blinked, confused.
"A deal?" she repeated.
"You sign a marriage contract, bear me an heir, and you'll be allowed to see your mother on weekends."
Her breath caught.
The words didn't make sense at first.
Marriage?
An heir?
She stared at him, her mind struggling to catch up.
"Or," he continued calmly, "you die for seeing what you weren't meant to see."
The room felt colder.
Sophia's legs felt weak.
"This… this isn't fair," she whispered.
"It's not supposed to be," he replied.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Can I… think about it?" she asked softly.
"You have three seconds."
Her heart dropped.
"One."
Panic rushed through her.
"Please, I—"
"Two."
Her breathing became uneven, her thoughts colliding.
Death.
Or this life.
"Three."
"What's your decision?"
Her body trembled.
"I'll… I'll take the first option," she said quietly.
He handed her a document.
"Sign."
Her hands shook as she took it. She didn't read a single word. She didn't care what it said.
All she knew was that she wanted to live.
So she signed.
As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her.
"You'll be compensated."
Sophia paused, then nodded slowly.
"Thank you," she said softly, even though the words felt strange in her mouth.
She walked out, her steps unsteady as she tried to find her way back. Her mind was still spinning, her heart still heavy with everything that had happened.
Nothing felt real anymore.
Then suddenly She bumped into someone.,