Bound By Their Rules
Talia stood at the door of Rowan Thorne's study, her breath slow, her fingertips brushing the hem of her sleeve. The maid who'd led her there had long since left. Talia had been summoned, and though her back still throbbed faintly from earlier, she stood straight.
When the door creaked open, the scent of leather and old paper greeted her. The room was lined with shelves, dimly lit by the dying sun streaming through the tall windows. Rowan Thorne sat at the far end behind a desk that looked as old as time itself.
He didn't look up when she stepped in.
"You're late," he said flatly, flipping through a paper.
"I came as soon as I was told," Talia answered gently, her voice steady, respectful.
"Silence is more valuable than excuses."
She didn't respond. Just stood quietly, hands folded before her.
"Come closer."
She obeyed, stepping toward the center of the study. Rowan finally looked at her, his gaze sharp, clinical. There was no warmth in his eyes-only the silent calculation of a man who had ruled too long to tolerate mistakes.
Without a greeting or a gesture of welcome, he pressed a button on the desk. A few seconds later, his assistant- a severe woman in a tailored suit- entered, carrying a large white folder.
"Give it to her," Rowan ordered.
The woman held the folder out to Talia, who took it with both hands.
"That," Rowan began, "is the Thorne Family Code. A comprehensive document of the standards expected from anyone who bears our name- whether through blood, name, or duty.
You now fall under the third category."
Talia opened her mouth, but said nothing. She kept her head lowered slightly, acknowledging the authority without submission.
"You'll obey every rule listed in there," he said. "As long as you are in this house, you are to serve a purpose: Provide an heir. Once that's done, we'll see how relevant you remain."
Her heart gave a quiet thud, but her voice was even. "Understood."
He leaned back in his chair, studying her.
"No scandals. No defiance. This is not one of your childhood dramas where love wins and rebellion earns praise. This is the Thorne estate."
"I understand, sir."
Rowan's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're not like other girls who would cry halfway through the rules list. You're either smarter than you look, or too broken to fight back."
"I've simply learned where speaking won't change a thing."
Rowan let out a dry, low chuckle. "Be quick with the pregnancy. The longer you delay, the more we question your usefulness."
He waved a hand.
Talia bowed slightly, turned, and left the room with the thick folder pressed tightly to her chest.
-------
Night had fallen by the time she returned to her room. She didn't call for help or wait for any maid. She undressed quietly, wincing as she cleaned her own wounds in the bathroom, using a cold towel and the balm she'd tucked away earlier.
The bruises were darkening, but she didn't cry.
Pain was familiar.
She changed into a cotton nightdress and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the folder. The words on the first page stared back at her in bold, cruel font:
Thorne Family Expectations:
Unwavering. Unchanging. Unforgiving.
She skimmed the first few pages, catching phrases like:
•The wife must rise before the household.
•The wife must eat only after the master.
•The wife must bear an heir within the first year.
She closed it. Not tonight.
A soft vibration against the table pulled her from her thoughts. Her phone buzzed. A name flashed across the screen: Mina.
Talia picked up immediately. Mina had been her lifeline even after she'd entered this gilded prison of an estate. They messaged, talked, checked in on each other. This wasn't unusual- until she heard Mina's voice.
"Talia?"
There was something in the tone - shaky, restrained.
"I'm here," Talia said quietly, her fingers tightening around the phone. "Are you okay?"
A pause. "I didn't want to call this late, but... I had to. Something happened tonight."
Talia sat up straighter. "What is it?"
Mina hesitated again.
"It's about your foster mother."
Talia's breath caught.
"She - "
The call dropped.
Talia froze, staring at the dark screen.
Her heart pounded. The ache in her back was gone, replaced by the sudden rush of dread.