Chapter 9: Naive fantasies

I stared at the ominous message on my phone, my heart pounding in my chest. ‘I’m always watching.’ Was someone spying on me? The thought sent a chill down my spine. Surely it was just a prank, right? I tried to laugh it off, but a nagging sense of unease lingered.

The next day, I went to Emercyn’s apartment to gather my belongings. Kyle was told to follow me everywhere, so he trailed behind me like an unwanted shadow.

As soon as Emercyn opened the door, she enveloped me in a tight hug. “Oh my god, Isadora! Are you okay? I was so worried when you didn’t come home. And why weren’t you picking your calls?!”

“It’s a long story,” I sighed, stepping back. “Can we talk inside?”

Once we were settled on her couch, I recounted everything - from being auctioned off to Kian, to the disastrous meeting with his terrifying parents.

“They were absolutely horrible, Em,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “His father called me a whore and said my parents must have died of shame over me.”

Emercyn’s ey