“If you still don’t believe me, find out for yourself,” Nathan said shortly, emotionless.

Tessa swallowed hard. Her heart was pounding, aching. Her fingers trembled as she pressed the call button. Every second dragged until finally, a voice came through.

“Hello, Prison Administration Division. How can I help you?”

Tessa took a shallow breath. “I… I’m Tessa Caldwell. Robert Caldwell’s daughter. Can you tell me how my father is doing?”

There was a pause. She could hear the other side typing fast, checking records. “Please hold for a moment, Miss. I need to verify the information first.”

Her heart was hammering, her breath caught in her throat as she waited.

Finally, the voice returned, formal and stiff. “Thank you for waiting, Miss. Your father is suffering from kidney failure and requires regular dialysis. He is currently stable, but immediate treatment is necessary.”

Tessa closed her eyes for a moment. Those words echoed in her head. Dialysis.

Her chest tightened, and her breath caught. She set the phone down gently, tears pooling in her eyes. Memories hit her like a wave.

Despite how cruel he could be to others, to Tessa, her father had always been a good man, even the best. She had grown up with him alone, never knowing her mother who died giving birth to her. He had always been there to read her stories, help with homework, take her out. Even as an adult, he still cared about her life and well-being.

Tears finally spilled, wetting her cheeks, while Nathan stayed behind her, silent, dark, and pressing.

Tessa drew a deep breath. The contract that had once felt like a threat was now the only way forward. Pride or her father’s life. She knew which had to win.

With teary eyes, she looked at Nathan. Her voice was hoarse but steady. “I… I’ll sign.”

Nathan gave a faint, cold smile, satisfied. “Good choice.”

She nodded slowly, her heart breaking. She knew the price she would pay. But right now, the important thing was her father still had a chance.

Her steps were heavy as she approached Nathan’s desk, hands shaking as she reached for the pen. Her vision blurred with tears as she stared at the contract. A tear fell, leaving a wet mark on the paper.

“To hell with this damn contract,” she muttered, signing with trembling hands.

She had sold herself. So what was the point of clauses?

But her mind snapped back. She had to read everything.

“Party A is forbidden from leaving Hawthorne Estate, except for medical appointments. All other outings require Party B’s approval.”

“Party A must follow all medical treatments precisely.”

“Party A must not disclose the contract or their location.”

“Party A must not disclose the intimate relationship with Party B.”

“Party A may not have sexual relations with anyone other than Party B.”

Clause after clause, some crueler than the last. There might still be room to negotiate, but her patience had run out.

She tried to tear the contract, but a strong hand grabbed hers from behind. Tessa turned, and Nathan stood there, a sinister grin on his face, his eyes cold and predatory.

“Welcome to hell, princess,” he said, holding the contract she had just signed.

“What do you mean I can’t leave?” Tessa stepped forward, nervous. “I’m your mistress, not your prisoner. As long as I follow the sex rules, the rest of my life isn’t your business.”

“You’re wrong,” Nathan said, smiling like a cat that just caught a mouse. “I can’t risk you running off once you’re better. You’re stuck here for a full year.”

“Run? I don’t even have a place to go. How could I run?”

Nathan set the contract down and grabbed her waist, pulling her close as if she were already his. She couldn’t resist. The contract bound her to him.

“Exactly because of that, princess. Desperate people are unpredictable. You have no one in this city. Not even your father, since you’ve never visited him in prison. But I know you can be reckless.” His hand traveled down her back.

Tessa stiffened at his words.

“How do you know I never visited my father?”

“I have good informants.” Nathan’s hand pressed her back as if he could feel her thoughts. “I also know you never answered a single one of his letters.”

Nathan spoke proudly, but Tessa felt a deep guilt. She had ignored those letters on purpose. She was disappointed, not in him as a father, but at how terrible he had been to others and the consequences of that.

As a daughter, she felt guilty for ignoring the letters. As a human being, she felt guilty for still loving him.

“I have to do something before we start this deal. I need to leave,” Tessa said, hesitant but firm.

Nathan frowned, tension in his hands.

“Do what?”

“You don’t need to know, and I don’t need your permission.”

“You’re wrong, Tessa. The contract requires you to stay at Hawthorne Estate. You can only leave if I say so.” Nathan stepped back slightly, keeping distance.

“I’ve got a few things to sort out, or maybe you should just forget this agreement,” she said, half lying.

They stared at each other for a few seconds, the tension making the air heavy.

“You’ve got one hour,” Nathan said suddenly, surprising her. “If you don’t show, I’ll come get you myself. Trust me, you won’t like it.”

Tessa stayed silent. She knew saying the wrong thing could backfire, and she wouldn’t be allowed out.

Without another word, she left Hawthorne Estate, her feelings pulled between fear and determination.

Her shoulders tensed as she walked the streets. No one followed, but her alertness stayed sharp. Nathan always had ways to control her.

When she reached a rental locker, Tessa pulled out the rest of the money Nathan had given her at the hospital. She used it to store her father’s letters and their wedding ring safely, unwilling to risk bringing them back to Hawthorne Estate.

The only thing she took home was a bag of clothes, since returning empty-handed would raise suspicion.

Holding her bag, Tessa walked down the street, lost in thought until she accidentally bumped into someone.

“Sorry,” she said reflexively.

She blinked, realizing who it was. The former landlord of her old apartment, but his face was barely recognizable, swollen and scarred.

“Mr. Hayes, what happened to you?”

The old man looked scared.

“I… I’m sorry,” Hayes said hastily, opening his wallet with trembling hands and handing her a stack of cash. “I’m going to pay you back everything, I promise.”

“But… I’m the one who owed you, sir,” Tessa said, confused. She had no idea what was going on.

She reached out to return the money, but he dodged, as if afraid of being hit.

“No, no… it’s my fault. I should have rented the apartment for a third of the market price, but I was greedy.”

“What do you mean?” Tessa frowned.

“He already paid for the whole year, eleven months ago.” He stepped back slowly. “He said not to tell you anything. Just to cover a cheaper rate. But I was greedy and charged the market price anyway.”

“He…?” Tessa stepped closer, but the old man suddenly ran off as if chased by something terrifying.

Tessa looked at the money still in her hands, then glanced around.

“Okay, maybe I’ll need this later,” she muttered, slipping it into her wallet along with her phone.