Chapter 4 Elara's POV

A wave of nausea rolled through me, but I pushed it down and knocked again, this time louder.

"Come in," said a deep, familiar voice from inside.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Matteo sat on the same plush sofa he had occupied the day before, his cold, piercing blue eyes locking onto mine the moment I entered.

My steps were slow and hesitant as I moved away from the doorway, closing the door softly behind me before approaching him.

"Sit, Elara," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He gestured to the seat next to him.

With some reluctance, I obeyed, lowering myself into the seat beside him. The silence in the room felt suffocating, with no one else present. Matteo's gaze bore into me, unwavering and intense, making me feel small and exposed.

"Why did you call me here?" I asked, my voice trembling. My nerves were stretched thin, dreading what his answer might be. I silently hoped it wasn't another request for me to dance for him.

"I want to talk to you," he said simply.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Me?"

He nodded, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "I have an offer for you."

I hesitated, then gestured for him to go on.

"Sell yourself to me, and I'll cancel your father's debt," he said, his smirk widening into a taunting grin.

"What?" I gasped, my body stiffening as shock rippled through me.

"Sell yourself to me," he repeated, his tone casual yet firm, "and your father's debt will disappear."

Anger and fear swirled within me, and I stared at him, horrified. Every muscle in my body tensed as his words sank in.

This was madness. He wanted me to give myself up entirely, just to erase a debt? What would happen to me afterward? What would happen to Ivy?

"No," I said firmly, though my voice wavered. "I'm not agreeing to that."

"Call me Matteo," he said, seeming more amused than offended by my refusal.

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms. "I'm not going to sell myself to you. I'll work every night if I have to, but I'll pay off the debt myself."

His expression shifted slightly as he leaned back into the sofa. "The deadline for the debt is today," he said, dropping the statement like a bomb.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind went blank, and I found myself staring down at my hands, unable to speak.

"Do you have my money?" he asked, leaning closer until his face was just inches from mine.

I shook my head, my throat too tight to answer.

Matteo pulled back, a satisfied smirk settling on his lips as he folded his arms across his chest. "Do you have any idea what I'll do to you if I don't get my money? Or what I'll do to Ivy?"

My heart stopped at the mention of my sister. Ivy was my world-my reason for fighting. If anything happened to her, I wouldn't survive it.

"Please, don't hurt her," I begged, my voice breaking as I clasped my hands together.

Tears streamed down my face, but Matteo seemed to enjoy my vulnerability. His icy stare never wavered.

"Then consider my offer," he said, his voice unyielding. "I'm giving you twenty-four hours. Agree to be mine, and I'll erase the debt and take care of Ivy. Refuse, and deal with the consequences."

His words struck me like thunder. Twenty-four hours? That wasn't enough time to make such a life-altering decision.

"Leave," he ordered, his tone sharp and final.

I stood slowly, my legs feeling like lead beneath me. My tear-streaked face was hot with shame as I turned and walked to the door.

His last words echoed in my mind like a curse: "Just twenty-four hours, Elara."

---

I paced the length of my room, my mind spinning with turmoil. Matteo's deep voice played over and over in my head, taunting me with the impossible choice he had given me.

"Just twenty-four hours, Elara," I repeated under my breath.

What was I going to do? If I gave in to his offer, I'd be nothing more than a possession-a tool to erase my father's debt. And what would become of Ivy? We would be separated, and I couldn't bear that.

But if I refused, he might hurt us. He might even kill us.

"Damn it!" I shouted, running a hand through my hair. My frustration and fear boiled over, and I felt like screaming. My hatred for my father burned hotter than ever. He had ruined our lives, leaving Ivy and me to clean up his mess.

Tears blurred my vision as despair took hold.

The door to my room burst open, and Ivy stepped inside, her brows furrowed in concern.

"Sis, I was just about to..." She trailed off, her eyes narrowing as she took in my tear-streaked face and trembling hands.

I quickly wiped my cheeks and grabbed my bag, pretending to search for something inside it. "What's wrong?" she asked, stepping closer.

"Nothing," I lied. "Aren't you supposed to be heading to work?"

"Don't lie to me, Elara," Ivy said with a sigh. "Ever since you came back last night, you've been acting strange. What happened? Did you get fired?"

I bit my lip, trying to hold back my tears, but they came anyway. Before I knew it, I was sobbing, my face buried in my hands.

Ivy rushed to my side and wrapped her arms around me, holding me tightly as I cried.

"Tell me what's wrong," she coaxed gently, pulling back to look at me.

I took a shaky breath. "He wants me to sell myself to him," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ivy's face darkened with anger. "Who?"

"The crime boss," I said. "The one we owe money to. He said the deadline has passed, and now he wants me to agree to his terms, or..." My voice broke, and I turned away, unable to finish.

"What?" Ivy shouted. "Does he think you're some kind of object to be traded? You're a person, not his property!"

"If I don't agree, Ivy..." I stammered, unable to say the words out loud.

"Let him do his worst," she said fiercely. "This is all Dad's fault. He got us into this mess, not you. We shouldn't have to pay for his sins. We'll find another way out of this."

Her bravery took me by surprise. In the face of danger, she was unshakable, and I couldn't have been prouder of her.

For the first time in hours, a spark of hope ignited within me.

"Let's leave the city tonight," I said suddenly.

Ivy blinked, startled. "Where would we go?"

"We'll catch a train to Toronto. Bailey's cousin Jane lives there-I'll ask her about it today. Maybe she can help us get settled until we're on our feet."

Ivy bit her lip, then nodded. "Okay, sis."

"Pack our things while I talk to Bailey," I said quickly. "Don't tell anyone what we're doing. He gave me just twenty-four hours, so we have to leave tonight."

Ivy hugged me tightly before letting me go. I whispered, "I love you," and hurried out the door, determination burning in my chest.