Zinnia winced in response to his words, caught in a dilemma between yielding to his demands and resisting his orders.
"What's taking you so long? Hurry up," Theo urged impatiently.
Pressured by his impatience, Zinnia reluctantly complied, harboring a faint hope that her obedience might secure his forgiveness and possibly offer an opportunity for escape.
Yet, deep down, she knew she was merely deluding herself with such thoughts.
The spectacle of Zinnia's compliance seemed to amuse Theo, his laughter echoing as he reveled in the scene of Zinnia groveling at his feet like a subservient creature.
Seizing her chin, he relished the sight, remarking, "You, on your knees and begging, suits you perfectly."
"Here."
With a disdainful smirk, he callously tossed a small bag in Zinnia's direction. Unfortunately, the bag slipped through her grasp, revealing its meager contents—bread and a container of water.
