In the spacious master bedroom, there was this shy golden cage, tall enough to fit a person, shining under the light.


    Phoebe remembered the cheeky words Theodore had thrown at her not too long ago.


    Back then, Phoebe thought he was just messing around, but now, seeing this golden cage, she realized Theodore never joked about anything.


    She suddenly started fighting back hard. "Theodore, what the hell are you trying to do?"


    Theodore grabbed her wrist and yanked her in front of him like it was nothing. He looked down at her and said in a super casual tone, "Since you''re bored of living in a golden house, why not try a golden cage?" Phoebe shot back, "Theodore, who even says stuff like that?"


    She red at him, but she was too weak to do anything.


    Theodore pinned her arms together and dragged her towards the cage. Phoebe struggled like crazy. "I don''t wanna be locked up, Theodore, let me go!"


    "Let you go so you can run back to your ex? Phoebe, I, Theodore, ain''t ever been a fool." He shoved her into the cage.


    Phoebe lost her bnce and fell inside. The door mmed shut, locking her in. She turned around, a mess, ring at Theodore outside the cage.


    "You''ll regret this," she yelled.


    Theodore smirked, noting the hate in Phoebe''s eyes. Her softness towards Edward contrasted sharply with her fear and loathing towards him. He craved her gentleness.


    "Phoebe, have I been too nice to youtely, making you forget who I am? If you''ve forgotten, I don''t mind reminding you," Theodore said.


    Herplexion paled at his words, prompting a bitter smile to spread across his face. Tonight, Theodore had nned to publicly put a wedding ring on Phoebe, all while harboring words he yearned to express since that fateful night four years prior when he imposed himself on her.


    However, the prospect of articting these sentiments now seemed futile and potentially only embroil him in humiliation. Theodore didn''t know how to warm someone''s heart, and Phoebe''s heart was like stone; he couldn''t warm it. Phoebe stood in the cage and sneered, "Theodore, have you ever been good to me? No, you haven''t. All those so-called good things were just you being in a good mood and throwing me a bone. For the past four years, haven''t I been nothing more than a pet you kept around? Have you ever treated me like a human being?"


    Theodore''s face darkened. "Phoebe!"


    She stared right at him. "See, whenever you''re pissed, you lock me up, or you rip my clothes off no matter where we are. You never care if I''m hurt or humiliated. You say you''re good to me, but how?" Theodore''s eyes were sharp, his voice a warning. "Phoebe!"


    "What? Did I hit a nerve? I thought if I yed nice, you''d let me go, but I was just being stupid," Phoebe continued.


    Theodore grasped the cage firmly, his gaze intense as if he could devour her whole. "Phoebe, it seems like I''ve been way too lenient these days."With that, he turned and mmed the door on his way out. After cursing him out, Phoebe''s legs gave out, and she slid to the ground inside the cage. She looked up at the square golden prison around her.


    Theodore really had a knack for ying mind games. What was he thinking, setting up a golden cage in West Mountain Vis?


    Right now, she was too drained to think about anything else. Harper''s death had already worn her out, and now being locked up by Theodore, how was she gonna get out of this mess?


    Theodore didn''t leave; he soon kicked the door open, carrying something.


    Phoebe immediately sat up straight, ready to deal with him, only to see him holding a pink dress.


    It was the dress she was supposed to wear tonight, the diamonds on it sparkling and almost blinding her.


    If she hadn''t answered Donovan''s call and found out the truth about her dad''s ident, she would''ve worn this custom dress tonight, standing next to Theodore, epting everyone''s congrattions. Theodore tossed the dress on the bed, took off his coat and threw it on the bed too, then started unbuttoning his suit jacket. He slowly unbuttoned his cufflinks, his eyes locked on Phoebe. That look in his eyes, like he was eyeing his prey, gave Phoebe a bad feeling.


    Phoebe thought, ''No way, Theodore wouldn''t be crazy enough to make me wear that dress, would he?''


    "What are you gonna do?" Phoebe asked, shocked.


    Theodore picked up the pink dress, took off the dust cover, and tossed it aside. He caressed the dress with his fingers like a creep.


    "I haven''t seen you wear it yet. There''s still half an hour until midnight. I''ll help you put it on myself," Theodore said.


    Phoebe''s scalp tingled. "You''re nuts!"


    Theodore had to be crazy to do something so twisted. They were clearly in the middle of a fight, yet he still wanted to help her put on a dress. Was he out of his mind? Theodore unlocked the cage, his voice low. "Yeah, I''m a bit crazy, so be good and don''t make me use force. It''d hurt you, and I''d feel bad."


    Phoebe watched Theodore lean in, trembling with fear. She thought, ''Is this still the Theodore I knew?''


    She tried to avoid him, but the cage was behind her, leaving her nowhere to run.


    Theodore blocked the exit firmly. He hung the dress on the cage and pulled Phoebe into his arms. He lowered his head and unzipped her down jacket.


    Phoebe was genuinely scared. She looked up and pleaded, "Theodore, don''t do this. I''m scared. Please let me go."


    Theodore lowered his eyes, looking at Phoebe''s submissive expression. He knew that if he softened his heart, Phoebe would slip away from him. He wasn''t gonna give her that chance.


    He lowered his head and kissed her lips. His kisses were always filled with a sense of violence and possession, making it impossible to resist.


    Phoebe trembled slightly. After finally breaking free from the suffocating kiss, she realized that Theodore had already stripped off all her clothes.


    The room''s heating had just been turned on, and the cold air seeped into her pores, making her shiver. "If I obediently put on the dress, you''ll let me out, right?" Phoebe uttered. Theodore silently handed the dress to her. Phoebe bit her lip, torn between putting it on and not putting it on.


    She knew Theodore well. If he wanted her to wear it, there was no other option. As long as she obediently put it on, she could lock him in the golden cage when he wasn''t paying attention. Once she got her freedom back, she''d definitely mock Theodore for being a big fool and lock him up for three days and nights, making him reap what he sowed!