SIN FOR ME PAPACITO

Watching Her

~Rhiss's Estate ~ 9pm

Diava walked into the Rhiss family estate, her heels clicking on the marble floor. She'd intentionally come back late, defying Lady Benita's orders to meet her by 7pm. At 9pm, she strolled in, a smirk playing on her lips. She knew she'd be punished either way, so why not enjoy herself?

As she entered the living room, she met Lady Benita sitting on the couch, Lia standing beside her. Diava didn't say a word, just stood there, waiting for her mother-in-law to speak.

Lady Benita stood up, her eyes blazing with anger. And she slapped Diava twice on both cheeks, the sound echoing through the room. "What was the rubbish you performed in Vogue?" she spat. "Do you think you're the only one my son will cheat on? You're just a plaything, Diava. A temporary distraction."

Diava didn't flinch, her expression neutral. Liastood too she couldn't resist the urge not to talk. She stood up “ Your just a b***h we too from the gutter and your already growing wing, what there if my brother cheat on you, his mistress is better than you your just like your criminal father and a dog like him" she spat.

As she mentioned her father's name, calling them dogs, Diava's eyes flashed. She raised her hand and slapped Lia on both cheeks, the sound sharp and loud. Lia broke into tears immediately.

Lady Benita's face turned red with rage. "Guards! Wrap her tight with hard tape and lock her in her room till I give orders!" she shouted.

The guards rushed forward, grabbing Diava's arms and binding her with tape. They dragged her away, her eyes fixed on Lady Benita, a silent promise of retaliation burning in her gaze.

As they locked her in her room, Diava smiled to herself. She'd expected this. She'd known Lady Benita wouldn't take kindly to her performance at Vogue. But Diava didn't care. She'd done it intentionally, knowing it would stir up trouble.

She sat on the bed, her mind racing, She'd play along. But deep down, she was seething. She'd get her revenge, oh yes. She'd make them all pay.

Hours passed, and Diava heard the sound of footsteps outside her door. It opened, and Lia walked in, a cold smile on her face. "You're going to regret what you did, Diava," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "You're going to regret ever crossing me."

Diava looked up at her, a smirk on her face. "I'm not afraid of you, Lia," she said, her voice steady. "I'm not afraid of anything, you are nothing without your mother"

Lia's smile faltered, and for a moment, Diava saw a flicker of fear in her eyes. But it was quickly replaced by anger, and she stormed out of the room, leaving Diava to her thoughts.

Diava lay back on the bed, her mind racing if not for her father criminal act she won't be here but her mother crimes is bigger that that. She needs get out of this, She need to get out and make them all , She'd play the obedient wife, but she'd also play the game. And in the end, she'd win.

But she needs one thing greater than them, but she doesn't have

~Brooke Mansion~

Stacy walked into her mansion, exhausted. She was expecting some alone time, but her parents' arrival changed that. Her father, Investor Brooke, and her mother, Mrs. Brooke, stood in the living room, their faces stern.

"Stacy, we need to talk," her father said, his voice firm.

Stacy sighed, knowing what was coming. "What about?" she asked, playing dumb.

"Diava Rhiss," her mother spat. "You need to leave her alone, Stacy. She's trouble."

Stacy's expression hardened. "No," she said, her voice firm. "Diava is my life. There's nothing you're going to do about it."

Her father's face turned red. "You're making a mistake, Stacy. She's using you."

Stacy laughed. "You're just jealous, Dad. You never wanted me to have anyone but your precious business."

Her mother's voice softened. "Stacy, sweetie, we're just worried about you. She's not good for you."

Stacy's eyes flashed. "You don't understand, Mom. Diava is it for me. If you think there's any way to separate us, I'll kill myself."

The room fell silent. Her parents exchanged worried glances.

"Stacy, don't be dramatic," her father said, his voice softer.

But Stacy wasn't having it. She turned and stormed up to her room, slamming the door behind her. Her parents exchanged worried glances.

Stacy leaned against her door, her heart racing. She meant what she said. She'd do anything to protect Diava, even if it meant taking her own life. She has lost her father once; she wouldn't lose Diava. She's only what Diava has.

She pulled out her phone and texted Diava: " is everything alright "

She didn't get any response her face change for a moment.

But she smiled. Diava would be okay. She always was.

~Kendra Mansion ~

Kendra walked into her house, expecting silence since her parents were out of the country. Instead, she was greeted by multiple guards surrounding the living room. She knew immediately it was her father's doing.

As she entered, her father appeared on a video call with the head guard. His expression was stern. " Kendra. I've told them to keep an eye on you. You're not to leave the house for now."

Kendra's eyes narrowed. "What's going on, Dad?"

"You know exactly," he replied, his voice firm. "This thing with Diava Rhiss ends now. I won't let it destroy my daughter's life."

Kendra laughed. "You mean your reputation, Dad?"

Her father's face reddened. "You will not see her again. Period."

"What about my company?" Kendra asked, her tone defiant.

"Handled," he said. "You'll stay here until further notice."

Kendra's anger flared. "You can't control me, Dad!"

She turned and stormed to her room, slamming the door behind her. She pulled out her phone and texted Diava “You okay?"

~WOODS ~LEO’S CADITEL~

On a big screen, eight camera angles stitched in Diava’s room into a cage of light. Angle 3: her ankles bound to the bedposts with zip ties, skin already pink from pulling. Angle 5: a strip of cloth over her mouth, damp at the corners. Angle 7: her eyes. Wide, glassy, tracking the ceiling like she could find an exit in the paint.

There's chocolate in his hand, a brown one Diava’s favorite. 70% cacao, the kind she broke into squares and let melt on her tongue when she thought no one was watching. He hasn't eaten it. He’d just held it until the edge softened from his body heat. Now it felt like evidence. Like something he should’ve given her hours ago, before his men ever reached her.

He set the chocolate down on the glass table without looking away from the screen. The guard’s footsteps were already fading down the hall. “Locate Joe,” Leo had said, voice flat. “Take him and beat him to pulp. Make sure his d**k is paralysed.” The order left his mouth likeba bomb . Leo didn’t bluff. Neither did his men. Joe would be found. Joe would break. That was protocol.

His eyes is still on the screen when Diava jerked. Once. Twice. On the third jerk the rope around her wrists went taut and her whole body lifted half an inch off the mattress before collapsing back down. Her chest rose, fell, rose again too fast.

Leo’s tongue clicked against his teeth. He didn't expected this.Maybe she's trying to get away.

But she didn’t stop she jerk again. Diava’s fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her own palms because the zip ties took everything else.

The screen went black again. Programmed. Every 30 seconds it cut out for three seconds, then resumed. Liked that Leo had to sit with not-knowing for three whole seconds at a time. Leo had designed the program himself years ago, back when he thought control meant power. Now he wanted to smash every server in the building.

Three seconds of black. Three seconds of his own reflection staring back at him in the dark glass. Eyes bloodshot. Jaw locked.

The screen came back on. Diava hadn’t moved. That was worse.

Leo stood. The chair scraped back loud enough to echo. He didn’t grab the chocolate. He didn’t grab his jacket. He grabbed the keys to his bike.

Rhiss Estate was 12 kilometers. Traffic at this hour should’ve made it 25 minutes. He had fifteen minutes. Maybe fourteen now.

He hit the stairwell running. Two floors down, through the underground garage, the air smelled like oil and concrete. His power bike sat under a single flickering light, matte black, engine already warm because he never really shut it off.

Helmet sat on the seat. He didn’t wear it.

The engine roared to life. Tires bit pavement. He shot through the gate and into the night traffic hit like the bike was part of him.

Ten minutes. That’s what the drive should take with no traffic and a death wish. He gave it ten. Gave it everything. Weaving between , cutting across lanes, horn screaming. People shouted. He didn’t hear them. All he heard was the count in his head.

Six minutes left. Five .

His head replayed her jerk. Once. Twice. Third time he was already out of the chair. That meant she was fighting the restraints. That meant she hadn’t given up. That meant if he didn’t get there—

He didn’t want to think about it. He must not break his promise. He must not. ”

.

Five minutes left. The gates of Rhiss Estate is ahead, wrought iron and t. The guard at the booth saw him coming and raised a hand to stop him. Leo didn’t slow. The bike jumped the curb, clipped the barrier, and kept going. Sparks behind him. Shouts behind him.

The estate roads were narrower, lined with hedges and cameras. He knew every blind spot. He’d mapped them the night he promised , he’d never let her be alone in a place like this. They meant everything to Leo.

Four minute. The scene in his head is still running ,her shoulder twisting, her throat working against the gag.

He skidded into the driveway of House 14. Tires screamed. He killed the engine and was off the bike before it stopped moving. Front door. Locked. He didn’t knock. Shoulder, hip, all his weight. Wood splintered. He climbed the walls

Dark inside. He Smelled her perfume . He moved in the hall, left, second door.

Her room he entered.

Diava was still on the bed. Still taped. But her eyes found him the second he crossed the threshold. She jerked again.

Leo crossed the room in three strides and dropped to his knees beside the bed. His hands shook as he worked the knots, then the zip ties. He didn’t say anything at first. Couldn’t. Words would break him.

When the last tie snapped, she collapsed into him. No sound. Just breath, hot and fast against his neck. Her fingers clutched the back of his shirt like she was afraid he’d disappear if she let go.

He held her. Tight. One hand in her hair, the other pressed flat against her back like he could hold her together by force of will.

“I’m here,” he finally said, voice rough. I didn’t break it. I didn’t break the promise.”

She shook her head against his chest. He slid it off gently, thumb brushing her cheek. Her lips were chapped, but the first word she said came out light” Help me"

Leo pressed his forehead to hers taking a bottle from his picket.

He scooped her up, and stood. He poured the whole bottle in her mouth

And as he carried her out past the broken door, past the flashing estate lights, he whispered it again into her hair: “I’m not late.”