He doesn’t need ropes anymore. His control is quieter. Deadlier.
I sat on the edge of the infinity pool, feet dangling in the cool water, staring at the vast ocean surrounding the island. There was nowhere to run. No boats without Daddy’s permission. No phone signal strong enough to call for help. Even the staff watched me not out of loyalty to me, but because they knew who truly held power here.
Coercive control.
I had read about it in secret, late at night while Daddy slept. It wasn’t just physical force. It was the slow erosion of freedom. The way he made me dependent. The way he isolated me. The way every “choice” still led back to him.
He appeared behind me like he always did silent until he wanted to be known. His hands settled on my shoulders, then slid down my arms.
“You’ve
