Dear Eva,
I was locked in a room and fed twice a day by Kingsley. He never laid a hand on me, but he whispered constantly about how much he loved me, how hurt he was that I rejected him.
Every time, I told him I never meant to cause him p@in—but I couldn't deny myself happiness just because my family wanted me to be with him.
For three days, we circled the same conversation. Any time I brought up Stan, Kingsley would explode in anger.
When I asked about my family, he admitted they had called, but he convinced them I was happy with him, enjoying a vacation with him.
I warned him he was crossing a line he would regret, but he said unless I gave in to what he wanted, I wasn't leaving. That's how far it had gone.
I stopped eating. I couldn't bear the food. I stayed in bed, crying myself to sleep every time I woke up.
For one week, I was trapped.
Then one morning, he opened the door, walked slowly to where I was, and gently lifted my chin.
"Dear Eva…"
It was the first time he had called me that name all week. I knew then that something had shifted—he was finally coming back to his senses.
"You can go now. I release myself from the guilt of keeping a woman against her will. Go."
He left the door open. I thought he was joking, but the look in his eyes was saying otherwise.
But how could I leave? I had no money, no ATM card. And I knew he wouldn't offer help.
"I don't have money for transport," I said—and regretted it immediately.
He scoffed. "What? You think I would give you money again? Never!"
"You brought me here against my will!"
"And now I'm letting you go. I'll send the bill—for everything I've spent on you and your family. You'll pay back every dime."
My heart almost stopped. I couldn't possibly repay all that ins@ne amount he had spent on me and my family with just my hotel job salary. How did he expect me to manage that? How would he even track everything he had spent?
"I never asked you for those gifts," I said, teeth clenched.
"But you accepted them, didn't you?" he snapped. "I'm not a charity organization, Eva. Pay in cash—or I'll keep you here, and you'll pay in other ways. You know what I mean. So let's make a deal."
I took a deep breath. I knew this was a disaster I had walked into—but I couldn't trade my body. I said, "Send the bills. I'll pay in installments."
Kingsley smiled and stepped aside. I turned back before leaving.
"What about Stan? You have to let him go."
"Oh, I've released him," he replied. "Those weren't real police—they're my boys. They become whoever I need them to be. And it's thanks to Fifi. She told me everything—how you stayed at Stan's place. She even offered herself to me for free." He laughed.
I was stunned. Fifi? She betrayed me? Went behind my back and seduced Kingsley?
I thought she was a friend. I thought she had my back. I was wrong.
Kingsley added that I would need to get Stan to a proper hospital because his boys had done serious harm. I wanted to scream. This was the man my parents wanted for me?
Who was the real criminal?
My Stan... oh God. I dragged him into this. It's all my fault.
I cried the entire walk out of the estate. I just kept walking—under the hot sun, weak and hungry, from morning until afternoon—until I reached the hotel.
I wanted to confront Fifi. I had so much to say. But I was too exhausted, too starved, too broken.
And all because someone I trusted betrayed me. Then I heard my name.
"Dear Eva…"
Only one voice says it that way. Stan.
To be continued...
Dear Eva,
Episode 7.
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