Chapter Nine:
The maids escorted Liza up to her room in silence, their steps quick, as if they sensed her restless energy. She glared at their backs, frustrated by the power Theo had imposed on her. She felt like a prisoner in a iron cage.
As she entered her room, she waited for the maids to leave, and once alone, she paced restlessly, her mind racing with a mix of anger and helplessness. She moved to the large window, looking out over the dark estate grounds. The mansion was beautiful, with lush gardens and tall stone walls surrounding it, but those walls felt like barriers, keeping her away from the life she'd known, from the family she missed with a fierceness that surprised her.
Liza spent the next hour pacing her room, occasionally trying the door to see if her chances of leaving had somehow changed, only to find it locked as securely as before. She tried to distract herself by examining the books in the ornate bookshelf near the window. Each one was a rare, leather-bound edition, their titles reflecting wealth and taste rather than warmth or comfort. She read a few pages here and there, but her heart wasn't in it. The weight of her situation settled over her, making her feel restless and out of place.
Finally, she sank into the plush armchair by the window, her gaze fixed on the driveway below. She spotted a line of black-suited guards patrolling the grounds, alert and watchful. There would be no easy escape, not with Theo's men stationed everywhere.
Hours passed in solitude until the sound of a car engine caught her attention. She looked out to see Theo's sleek Lamborghini pulling into the driveway, as it came to a stop. Liza tensed, her heart beating faster as she watched him step out of the car
. She could see from his expression that he was deep in thought, a slight frown creasing his brow.
As he entered the mansion, Liza backed away from the window, bracing herself. She knew Theo would want to check in on her, to reassert his control, and the thought unsettled her. She straightened her shoulders, determined to meet him with her head held high, a silent promise to herself that she wouldn't let him break her.
Theo's footsteps echoed down the hall as he approached her door,