Chapter 6
1100 Words
"I’m in so much pain," Sophia whispered.
"Bear with it," Tobias said curtly, pushing her aside as he headed toward the restaurant.
Sophia staggered slightly, her heart sinking as she realized his intention. In a panic, she cried out, "I don’t want to eat!"
Tobias raised an eyebrow, his expression darkening dangerously. "What did you just say?"
Grabbing onto his arm, she pleaded, "Please, I’m begging you. Let’s just go. I don’t want to go inside. I can’t." If Catherine saw her with Tobias, it would only confirm the accusations. Even if she had indeed sold herself, she couldn’t bear the thought of giving Catherine the satisfaction of knowing it. She couldn’t stand the thought of enduring her mocking taunts.
Tobias glanced into the restaurant. From where they stood, there was no sign of Dorian and his family.
Catherine had deliberately chosen a secluded corner table, ensuring they couldn’t be seen from the street—or see anyone outside.
"Fine. Since you’re hurt," Tobias said, relenting.
He took her to the hospital, where the doctor confirmed that Vivienne had almost fractured her hand. Tobias’s lips curled into a chilling smile when he heard this. "Vivienne... I didn’t even stomp on her, yet she dared to stomp on you."
After the wound was treated, they left the emergency room. Sophia glanced longingly at the inpatient ward.
Her mother was just upstairs, recovering. She wanted so badly to see her, just for a moment.
Tobias noticed her hesitation and, in an uncharacteristic gesture of kindness, said, "Go ahead. I’ll give you five minutes."
Sophia paused, then shook her head. "No... I’d better not." If her mother saw her in this state, she would only worry.
Tobias frowned but didn’t push her. "If that’s what you want. But don’t show me that sad face again."
Startled by the sudden shift in his tone, Sophia hurried to follow him, clutching her bandaged hand.
Tobias didn’t take her to another restaurant. Instead, they drove back to his villa.
The lights were on when they arrived, which surprised Sophia. She remembered being there earlier that day, alone. Was someone else here now? Could it be his family?
As they entered the villa, a plainly dressed, middle-aged woman approached them and addressed Tobias. "Mr. Tobias, you’re back. I’m Evelyn, the new housekeeper."
"Got it," Tobias said dismissively, waving her off. "Make dinner for two."
"Yes, sir," Evelyn replied promptly, heading toward the kitchen.
Tobias settled into the sofa, turning his attention to Sophia. "She’s the new housekeeper. From now on, she’ll be in charge of your meals—three a day. Starting tomorrow, my bodyguards, Rourke and Damien, will take turns escorting you. If you need to go anywhere, they’ll drive you. If you need anything, they’ll fetch it. But I don’t think you’ll need to leave, right? You don’t exactly have anywhere to go. So, stay home and behave."
"My mother—" Sophia started to protest.
"Go run a bath for me," Tobias interrupted, his tone indifferent.
Sophia froze, not quite registering what he said.
He raised an eyebrow, his voice carrying a hint of warning. "Didn’t you hear me?"
"Yes, I heard you," Sophia mumbled softly, turning to head upstairs. She returned to the room that haunted her, stepping into the bathroom.
With her uninjured hand, she turned on the faucet, adjusting the water temperature before watching the tub fill, her mind blank.
Suddenly, a noise behind her made her jump. She spun around to see Tobias walking in, his expression casual as he rubbed his neck and began unbuttoning his shirt.
"I’ll leave now," Sophia stammered, trying to make her escape.
Before she could move, Tobias grabbed her by the waist, pulling her into his arms. "We’ll bathe together. It’ll be easier—I’ll help you since you only have one working hand."
"No, I’m fine!" Sophia shrieked, panic rising in her chest. "I’ll go help with dinner."
"Dinner is the housekeeper’s job," Tobias replied, pressing her back against the wall, his knee slipping between her legs. "You’re the mistress here. You don’t need to lift a finger. I can afford to take care of my woman."
His woman.
The words stung, like shackles around her freedom. She felt trapped. Her voice shook as she pleaded, "Please, let me go. I don’t want to trouble you."
"I’m not troubled," he said flatly, his fingers already undoing the buttons of her blouse.
Sophia grabbed his hands with her good one, trying to stop him, but it was useless. He didn’t even need to push her away; his strength easily overpowered her as he continued undressing her.
Tobias’s eyes trailed over her body, noticing the bruises from the night before. The memory stirred something in him, and his desire flared.
He pressed closer, letting her feel his growing arousal as he kissed her, murmuring, "Does it still hurt?"
Sophia was too ashamed to answer, burying her face against her shoulder.
Without warning, Tobias lifted her skirt and pulled down her underwear. Sophia trembled with fear, unsure of his intentions. And then, without any prelude, he entered her.
"Ah!" she screamed, her good hand gripping his shoulder tightly, while her injured one hung limply at her side.
"Next time I give you an order, obey," Tobias growled as he moved. "It won’t hurt if you listen."
Sophia wept silently, the pain too much to bear, forced to endure whatever he wanted.
The next morning, Tobias took Sophia to a shopping mall, followed closely by Rourke and Damien, his two bodyguards.
"These clothes," Tobias said offhandedly, pointing at a collection of outfits. "Go try them on."
Sophia hesitated but followed the store attendant to the fitting room. She changed into the first outfit and cautiously approached Tobias, who sat nearby, reading a newspaper. "Is this okay?" she asked timidly.
Without looking up, Tobias responded, "Change."
Sophia returned to the fitting room, slipping into the next outfit. She stepped out again, only to hear the same cold command.
"Next."
The third outfit.
"Change."
The fourth.
"Try another."
He still hadn’t looked at her. Sophia grew increasingly nervous, unsure of what he wanted. Even the store clerk seemed on edge, uncertain of what would finally satisfy him.
By the time she had tried on nearly every outfit, Sophia was exhausted, her legs trembling from fatigue. Tobias, too, seemed to tire of giving orders. Eventually, he stopped speaking altogether, and she no longer dared to ask. She kept trying on clothes, over and over, until the store clerk hesitantly approached Tobias.
"Mr. Tobias," she said cautiously, "she’s finished trying everything."
- Writer
