Chapter 229: The Illusion of Choice (Katelyn's POV)

(Katelyn's POV)

"Harlan—" I began, my voice trembling as I searched for the words to try and make him understand my position. But he cut me off, his tone still completely casual, but the underlying threat was more than apparent.

"You don't want to make this hard, do you? Either way, I'm going to get what I want, Kate. And if you make it hard, it's just going to be worse for you," he explained, the charming smile on his face at odds with the menace in his words.

I stood there, my back pressed against the wall, my heart pounding in my chest as I wiped away the tears that had spilled down my cheeks.

What could I say? What could I possibly do? My mind was racing, but I was frozen in place, at a loss for any realistic solutions.

"Now come on," Harlan continued, his tone suddenly enthusiastic, as if we were discussing something trivial, like what film we should watch at the movie theater or something. "We've got a celebration to prepare. What do you prefer? Do you want to go the more tradit