Chapter 11

The air was thick with tension as they sat at the dining table, Ivy's eyes blazing with anger as she stared at Victor. His expression remained impassive, but his voice was laced with a subtle warning.

"It's better to eat something instead of staring at me; otherwise, your brothers will think I don't take proper care of you."

Ivy's gaze never wavered, her voice trembling with rage. "I want to go home. I'm bored here, with no one to talk to, and I'm a prisoner. You've taken my mobile, and I can't even leave. Thankfully, Max is here with me."

Victor's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in a tight line. "You're not going anywhere from here. This is your home now, and I won't send you back to Smith Mansion. Your mobile is gone because I won't let you plan anything against me with your brothers."

Ivy's face contorted in anguish, tears welling up in her eyes. "You don't trust me; that's why you've imprisoned me here."

Victor's expression turned glacial, his voice dripping with disdain. "I don't pay attention to your tantrums. I want you to learn to obey me."

With a swift motion, he called someone, his eyes never leaving Ivy's face. "I want you to come here and take Max."

Ivy's eyes widened in horror; her voice shrill with desperation. "You can't do this! Max will stay here with me!"

Victor's smile was a cold, calculated thing. "This is my house, and only my rules apply. You'll accept that."

Ivy's anger boiled over, and she flung the contents of the table across the room, plates shattering, glasses breaking. Victor's eyes flashed with anger, and he strode towards her, his movements swift and menacing.

He pinned her against the wall, his hand closing around her neck, squeezing tight. Ivy's breath came in ragged gasps, her eyes bulging as she struggled to free herself.

Victor's voice was a low, deadly whisper. "I'm forgiving your mistakes, but don't think I won't act if you push me too far. You're under my control, and you'll do only what you're told. Test my patience, and I'll forget all the rules of our agreement. It won't take me long to kill you."

Ivy's face was red, her eyes streaming with tears, but she spat out a defiant curse. "F*vk you!"

Victor's smirk was a cruel, twisted thing as he released her, walking away with a confident stride, leaving Ivy shaken and trembling against the wall.

"Why is he doing this to me? Can't he see I'm suffocating here? I'm trapped in this gilded cage, with no escape. He's taken everything from me—my freedom, my phone, my dignity. And now he wants to take Max away too? I won't let him. I'll fight with every breath in my body.

But why does my body betray me? Why do I feel this spark whenever he touches me? It's like my skin is on fire, and I'm powerless to stop it. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him... but my body doesn't seem to care.

I'm so alone here. No one to talk to, no one to trust. Just me, myself, and I. And Max. Oh, Max. My loyal companion. My only friend.

What will I do if Victor takes him away? I'll go mad; I'll die. I can't live without Max.

I have to think of something. I have to escape. I have to get out of here before it's too late. But how? Victor's got me trapped, and I don't know how to break free.

I'll think of something. I have to. I won't give up. I won't let him win."

*******************************

Ivy's anger simmered just below the surface as she stalked towards Victor's room, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. She knew she couldn't confront him directly, not yet, but she needed to strike back to assert her presence in this gilded cage.

As she entered his room, her gaze swept across the space, taking in the opulent furnishings, the expensive artwork, and the lavish closet. Her eyes narrowed, focusing on the closet, and a wicked smile spread across her face.

"Let's see how he likes it when his precious clothes are ruined," she muttered to herself, flinging open the closet doors.

She pulled out his expensive shirts, his tailored suits, and his designer ties, piling them on the bed. Then, with a gleeful cry, she snatched up the scissors from the dresser and began to cut, the blades slicing through the fabric with a satisfying crunch.

"Oh, Victor, you're going to be so angry," she whispered, her hands moving swiftly, cutting through shirt after shirt, suit after suit. "You're going to be furious when you see what I've done."

As she worked, Ivy felt a weight lifting off her shoulders, a sense of relief washing over her. She was taking control, asserting her power in the only way she could. And with each snip of the scissors, she felt lighter, freer.

Finally, she stepped back, surveying the destruction she had wrought. The bed was a sea of tattered fabric, the closet a barren wasteland. Ivy's smile grew wider, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

"That's for taking my freedom, Victor," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's for trapping me in this house."

Just then, she heard the barking sound of Max, and her heart skipped a beat. She flung the scissors aside and rushed out of the room, following the sound of Max's barks.

Ivy descended the stairs; her heart sank at the sight before her. A man, tall and lean, with piercing blue eyes and a chiseled jaw line, was attaching a chain to Max's neck strap. Max, sensing Ivy's distress, looked up at her with pleading eyes, as if asking for her help.

Ivy rushed towards them, her voice firm and commanding. "Hey, stop! Who are you, and why are you tying Max with this chain?"

The man turned to face her, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I am Elijah, Victor's cousin," he said, his voice dripping with an air of superiority.

Ivy's eyes narrowed. "How many cousins does he have?" she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.

Elijah chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "I'm Ryder's older brother, and Victor asked me to take Max back from here."

Ivy's grip on Max's fur tightened, her heart racing with panic. "No, please don't do this. Max is my only company here. What will happen to me if he leaves?"

Elijah's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Sorry, but I have to do this. Victor's orders are not to be disobeyed."

Ivy's gaze dropped to Max, her eyes welling up with tears. She sat down beside him, her hands caressing his head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll miss you, buddy. You're the only one who understands me here."

Elijah's expression turned curious, his eyes flicking between Ivy and Max. "It's strange, Ryder's dog is not a normal dog that can easily get along with anyone, but within a day, it has become very close to you. But alas, I can't leave Max here."

Ivy's eyes flashed with anger, her voice venomous. "What else can be expected from a heartless creep like Victor?"

Elijah's smile never wavered. "Well, you should get used to that heartless creep. He's not going to change anytime soon."

************************************