The Billionaire's Redeemed Girl

CHAPTER THREE

Jared was unsteady on his feet, pacing the small, dimly lit room. His shirt hung loosely off one shoulder, and his eyes were bloodshot from too much whiskey.

Diya stood frozen near the door, eyes wide and hands clenched so tightly her nails bit into her palms.

Jared turned to her suddenly. “Why are you just standing there?” He said like a plea.

His voice was rough, but behind it lay a broken kind of desperation.

Diya shook her head. “I…I don’t want to.”

Jared stepped closer, confusion flashing across his handsome features. “Layla, are…you afraid of me?”

“I’m not Layla,” Diya managed to whisper.

His face twisted, and he gripped her shoulders so hard she gasped. “Why are you lying! You are Layla! You came back!”

She swallowed a sob. “Please, I’m not”

“I'm so sorry for not going with you that day, Layla I'm sorry, but please don't lie to me” tears fell from his eyes.

His mind was too clouded. With trembling hands, he ran his fingers through her hair.

“Layla…you always smelled like this…” he mumbled, burying his face in her neck.

Diya’s body went rigid. She tried to twist away, but Jared was too strong, pulling her closer until her knees hit the bed.

“Don’t leave me again,” he begged, voice breaking. “Stay. Stay, please.”

Tears slid down Diya’s face. This was her worst nightmare, happening in slow motion.

Jared’s breathing grew heavier, and for a moment, she thought he might hurt her again. But then, all at once, he released her, stepping back as if the sight of her burned him.

“No,” he muttered, staring at the ground. “You’re not her. You can’t be.”

Diya’s chest heaved with shallow, terrified breaths.

Jared turned away, clutching the side of the bed like he might collapse. “Why did she leave me?” he whispered, his voice so fragile Diya almost felt pity through her fear.

She edged closer to the wall, wishing she could disappear.

Minutes dragged by. Jared eventually fell onto the bed, burying his head in his arms. Within moments, he was snoring, dead asleep.

Diya stood watching him for a long time, as if expecting him to jump up again and grab her.

But he didn’t move.

She wrapped her arms around herself, knees shaking, and slid to the ground. Silent sobs wracked her body until the exhaustion finally pulled her under.

---

A loud bang on the door startled her awake.

“Time’s up!” one of the guards shouted, unlocking the door.

Diya jolted upright. Jared stirred on the bed clenching his head, he was having a hangover.

The guard gave her a mocking grin. “He didn’t break you in yet? Lucky you.”

Diya said nothing, her throat raw from crying. She looked at Jared and their eyes met, for a moment she felt she could reach out to him. Jared was surprised at the kind of look he got from this strange girl, it was like she was calling out to him.

The guard yanked her outside, dragging her back to the courtyard where the other girls were being gathered again.

Roshni was waiting, her eyes red and swollen. “Diya! Are you okay?”

Diya couldn’t answer. She was too numb.

Srijana came gliding in with her cold smile. “Well? How did your first night go?”

Diya only stared at her.

“He didn’t touch you? Let's call it your luck, shall we.”

Srijana’s eyes narrowed.

Roshni stepped forward nervously. “Please, madam, can we eat something? We’re starving.”

Srijana let out a small laugh. “Of course. You must keep up your strength if you want to keep working for me.”

One of the women brought stale bread and water, tossing it at their feet like scraps.

As Diya nibbled the dry crust, her mind was spinning.

She had to find a way out of this place.

No matter what.

---

That night, after the courtyard cleared, Diya pulled Roshni aside.

“Roshni,” she whispered urgently, “we have to escape.”

Roshni shook her head, panicked. “They’ll kill us if they catch us. You saw how they treat the girls who try to run.”

Diya’s voice cracked. “I’d rather die than live like this.”

Roshni bit her lip, glancing toward the guard posts. “Just… wait. Maybe a chance will come. We can’t act stupidly.”

Diya clenched her fists. No, she told herself, I will not let this be my story.

A new fire was building in her heart.

If she had to wait, she would wait.

But she would not surrender.

Not ever.