I shoved him hard and tried to sit up, but he slammed me back down, pinning me tighter. He clamped down on my flailing hands and feet, then lowered his head and kissed me.
Fuming, I seized the moment when he let his guard down and bit him hard. Blood spread quickly. Theodore abruptly pulled back, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth, and his glare looked like he wanted to tear me apart.
Without hesitation, I slapped him across the face, eyes blazing. "Don't you ever kiss me again. You're disgusting!"
His whole body stiffened. Then he turned his face toward me, staring at my furious expression, and suddenly let out a cold chuckle.
Someone like him-dark, calculating-there was zero warmth in that laugh. Sure enough, before I even realized what was happening, he grabbed his tie from the floor and used it to yank my struggling hands up, tying them tightly to the headboard.
It was humiliating, even more than before.
I thrashed like crazy, kicked and yelled at him. "Theodore, you're sick! Let me go, you're scum!"
He didn't flinch, just stared at me steadily, leaned in close, and curved his lips into a mocking smile. "Got anything new to say besides that?"
"You jerk! I'm calling the cops! You have no right to treat me like this!"
He tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze, then kissed me again-but this time it was slower, gentler, his tongue greedily tracing mine.
Damn it, I had to admit-he knew exactly how to kiss.
As my focus blurred, he suddenly drew back. Calmly, he stood up and put on his shirt and pants, all while flashing a mocking smile. "Natalie, your body always gives you away faster than your mouth does."
That snapped me out of it. My face turned beet red with rage-and shame. I almost cried. "What do you want from me, Theodore? Is all this really fun for you?"
Something dark flashed in his eyes. He paused, gave me a cold look over his shoulder, and said, "Not until I've gotten my revenge. Not until you've paid the price."
He spat out those words like poison, then walked out without looking back. As soon as he was gone, I crumpled on the bed, finally letting go as tears poured down uncontrollably. My chest ached with bitterness.
Not long after he left, a maid from the villa came up, untied me, and handed me a fresh set of clothes.
My legs had felt like lead since last night, and every inch of me reeked of him. I didn't say a word and just followed the maid into the bathroom to clean up. When I was done and dressed, I headed toward the door-but someone blocked my way.
The maid had already set lunch on the table and now stood there, expressionless. "The gentleman gave instructions. Without his permission, Miss Reynolds is not allowed to leave the house."
I frowned at her, then glanced at the guards by the door. "What is this? He's trying to keep me locked up now? That's illegal!"
The maid stayed quiet, hands folded in front of her, respectful like a robot. "Lunch is ready, Miss Reynolds. Please eat."
My eyes widened in disbelief. I shot a glare at one of the guards and tried to push past him-only to run headfirst into a man in a suit, blocking my path.
"Miss Reynolds, it'd be best if you just cooperate. When Mr. Sterling has made up his mind, no one can change it unless he decides to himself."
I recognized him right away-Andrew Cooper, Theodore's personal assistant. I'd seen him before at his engagement party with Isabella. He was holding a suitcase, and the second I opened my eyes, I realized-it was mine.
"Where did you get that? I have a lot of important stuff in my apartment. Where did you put it all?"
Andrew handed the suitcase to the housekeeper and told her to take it upstairs. "Mr. Sterling has officially ended the lease on your apartment. He went through your things himself and picked out what he considered useful. The rest? He got rid of it."
"Are you kidding me?!" I snapped, yanking the suitcase right out of the housekeeper's hands. "What does he know?! I'm leaving. And if anyone tries to stop me again, don't blame me for flipping out!"
I pulled the suitcase with me, trying to make a break for it, but they moved in fast, blocking every exit like a wall. No way out-left, right, all sealed off.
Andrew stood in front of me with this flat, almost sympathetic look. "Miss Reynolds, you know what Mr. Sterling is capable of. Right now, you've basically cut ties with the Reynolds family. Even if Miss Green wants to help you, she wouldn't stand a chance against him."
I breathed in hard, forced a bitter smile, and lifted my chin. "You all seem to forget something-I'm still the Reynolds' eldest daughter. Hubert might've turned his back on me, but my grandfather is still the one with real power at Reynolds Corp."
As I reached to grab my phone, I realized I had nothing on me. Empty pockets. Then the housekeeper pulled one out of her apron like it was nothing. "Mr. Sterling says your phone stays with me for now."
I froze. Completely caught off guard. Before I could process it, Andrew suddenly picked up a call. Right after, he signaled to two bodyguards, who grabbed me and dragged me back to the villa. I fought like crazy and lunged to snatch his phone, losing it completely. I yelled into the receiver, my hands shaking in rage. "Theodore, you're insane!"
He was seriously locking me up? For what?
Didn't he hate me? Didn't he act like I disgusted him? And now just because I helped him see who Isabella really was and ruined his engagement, he had to pull this petty revenge stunt?
Heir to the Sterling family? More like overgrown man-child with control issues.
I screamed and cursed into the phone like I'd lost it completely. The room went dead silent. Everyone was just standing around, shocked.
On the other end, Theodore didn't say a word-just breathing, and the sound of it getting heavier.
I kept going until I was out of breath, then glanced at the screen. He hadn't hung up.
Then his voice finally came through, cold and low, like he was holding something back. "Feel better now? If you're done, go eat. And stop thinking about running. You can't win."
That fire in me flared up again. "This is all revenge, isn't it? Go ahead! Mr. Sterling, mighty as you are, show me how far you're willing to go. But don't forget-if I snap, I'll drag both of us down. You ruin my name, I'll make damn sure yours goes down with it!"
"Natalie!"
"You think I don't know? You pushed for that engagement just so you could secure the Sterling legacy. If I go public with what you've done, how many rich girls you think would still want to marry you? You really think Mortimer won't explode when he finds out? Just let me go. We'll both pretend none of this ever happened. Cross paths on the street one day? Don't worry-I'll act like I'd never even met you-"
Click.
He hung up.
I just stood there, stunned. Around me, everyone was watching, staring at me like I'd caused some sort of disaster. Like I had no idea what kind of trouble I'd just brought on myself.
