4. Carry his heir?

Isla’s pulse thundered as Dante’s words sank in. An auction. It echoed in her mind, leaving her breathless with fear. The thought of being sold to another ruthless stranger turned her stomach, but she tried to keep her composure, not wanting to give Dante the satisfaction of seeing her scared.

He took a step back, releasing her arm, but his dark eyes remained fixed on her, as if gauging her reaction. She tried to straighten herself, mask the turmoil building inside her.

Dante watched her, his expression unreadable, but there was a glint in his eye that she couldn’t decipher. It was almost as if he were studying her, waiting to see if she would break.

Finally, Isla spoke, her voice trembling despite her best efforts. “Fine,” she said, almost defiantly. “I’ll do what you ask.”

She held her breath, hoping that her words would be enough to appease him, to show him that she wasn’t a threat, that she’d submit if that’s what it took to stay safe. Maybe, if he believed she was compliant, he wouldn’t go through with the auction.

Dante’s gaze didn’t waver, but a flicker of something — satisfaction, perhaps — passed over his face.

“Good,” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. He moved closer, invading her personal space once again. She could feel the heat radiating from him, could almost sense the intensity simmering beneath his controlled exterior. “You’re finally starting to understand.”

Isla swallowed, trying to find her footing in this twisted game he was playing. She was terrified, but she knew she had no choice but to play along. If she wanted any hope of getting out of this situation, she’d have to gain his trust. She’d have to become the person he wanted her to be, even if it meant sacrificing pieces of herself in the process.

“I’ll… I’ll do whatever you want,” she said, the words heavy on her tongue. She hated saying them, hated the way they felt, but she forced herself to meet his gaze, to show him that she meant it. “Just… please, don’t sell me.”

Dante’s expression shifted slightly, his mouth curving into a faint, almost mocking smile. “Sell you?” he repeated, his tone laced with something that sounded suspiciously like amusement. “Isla, you misunderstood.”

She blinked, confusion flickering across her face. “What… what do you mean?”

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, intimate murmur. “I was never going to sell you.”

The shock of his words washed over her, leaving her speechless. He’d… he’d been lying? He’d made her believe he would auction her off, all to see how she’d react. She felt a surge of anger, a rush of humiliation at how easily he’d manipulated her. But she bit her tongue, kept her expression neutral. She couldn’t let him see her weakness, not now.

“Why would you do that?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Dante shrugged, his gaze steady. “I needed to see if you were capable of obedience,” he replied, his tone matter-of-fact. “If you would bend to my will when it mattered. It’s important that I know where your loyalty lies.”

Isla felt the anger simmering within her, but she kept it buried. She was beginning to understand the kind of man Dante was, the lengths he would go to maintain control. If she was going to survive this, she’d have to be just as calculating, just as ruthless in her own way.

She took a steadying breath, forcing herself to look at him with as much sincerity as she could muster. “I understand,” she said softly. “I’ll do what you ask, Dante. I… I want to prove myself.”

He watched her for a long moment, his gaze sharp, assessing. Finally, he nodded, seemingly satisfied with her response. “Good,” he murmured. “Because there’s something I require of you.”

Isla’s stomach twisted, dread pooling in the pit of her stomach. She could only imagine what he might demand, what price he would expect her to pay. But she kept her face calm, her voice steady. “Whatever it is, I’ll agree.”

Dante’s eyes gleamed, a spark of something darker and more intense lighting up his expression. He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently cup her chin, tilting her face up so that she was forced to meet his gaze.

“I want you to give me an heir,” he said, his voice calm, unwavering.

The words struck her like a physical blow, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. Her mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest as the full weight of his demand sank in. An heir. He was asking her — no, telling her — to bear his child.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She was too stunned, too overwhelmed by the sheer audacity of his request.

“Isla,” he said, his tone soft but unyielding, “I expect a response.”

She forced herself to look at him, to process the gravity of what he was asking. “An… an heir?” she managed, her voice trembling. “You want me to…?”

“To carry my child,” Dante confirmed, his gaze never wavering. “To ensure the continuation of my bloodline. It’s a simple request, Isla, and one that I believe you’re more than capable of fulfilling.”

She felt a surge of panic, a desperate urge to flee, but she knew it was pointless. Dante had trapped her, ensnared her in a situation where she had no choice but to comply. And yet, the thought of bringing a child into this world, of becoming a mother in such twisted circumstances… it filled her with a profound sense of despair.

“I…” She swallowed, struggling to keep her voice steady. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

Dante’s gaze darkened, his grip on her chin tightening slightly. “You agreed to do whatever I asked,” he reminded her, his tone a quiet warning. “Or was that a lie?”

Isla felt her resolve waver, the weight of his expectations pressing down on her. She knew she was cornered, trapped in a situation where resistance would only bring more suffering. But the thought of carrying his child, of becoming entangled in his life in such a permanent way… it terrified her.

“I didn’t mean…” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “I didn’t realize that you’d ask for something like this.”

Dante’s expression softened, if only slightly. “Isla, you have a role to play here,” he said, his voice deceptively gentle. “And whether you realize it or not, you’re uniquely suited to fulfill that role. I need an heir, someone who can continue what I’ve built, and I’ve chosen you to be the mother of that heir.”

She looked away, unable to meet his gaze, her mind spinning with the implications of his words. She wanted to refuse, to tell him that she couldn’t possibly go through with this. But deep down, she knew that refusal wasn’t an option. Not here. Not with Dante.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “If… if that’s what you want, then… I’ll do it.”

Dante’s hand dropped from her chin, a faint smile of satisfaction playing at the corners of his mouth. “Good,” he murmured. “I knew you’d see reason.”

Isla felt a hollow ache in her chest, a sense of resignation settling over her. She had made her choice, or perhaps the choice had been made for her. Either way, she knew that her life would never be the same.