They Locked Me In a Tower. All To Please Her Chapter 03

They Locked Me In a Tower. All To Please Her Chapter 03

Father said nothing.

I already had my answer on the balcony.

My things were piled in the corner. Thrown. Crude.

A cashmere coat on the floor. Covered in footprints.

A model I’d spent three months building. Shattered.

Worst—the garbage can. Torn design drafts.

My fingers shook as I picked up the pieces. Stained. Ruined.

“That was for the competition. Who threw it out?”

Ella’s eyes welled up. Soft. Apologetic,

“Sorry, Mila. I thought it was scrap paper.”

I laughed. Furious.

“You studied design. You can’t tell the difference?”

“Sorry. My fault. I shouldn’t have moved in. Shouldn’t have touched your things.”

She started hurt herself.

Father rushed to hold her. Turned on me,

“Mila. It’s just a drawing. Redraw it.”

“Why are you being so vicious?”

My breath stopped.

That draft took six months. Research. Materials. Countless sleepless nights.

All my effort.

Redraw it. Just like that.

My phone buzzed. Paris Design Academy.

[Ms. Vance, are you sure you want to give up this residency?]

[If you decline, you cannot reapply for three years.]

I gripped my phone. Looked at my parents holding Ella.

Even my last reason to stay was gone.

I replied to the email.

The lock clicked.

Dorian walked in. Knox and Daisy behind him.

One carried a cake. The other, a gift box.

Knox saw Ella’s red eyes. His face went dark,

“Mila. You bullied Ella again.”

No question. No hesitation. Just blind favoritism.

Ella tugged his sleeve. Timid.

“Knox, it’s not Mila’s fault. I was stupid. I broke her draft.”

Knox didn’t blink. “What draft?”

Ella pointed at the garbage, “The one she wanted to enter. I threw it out.”

Knox glanced at the pieces. “It’s scrap.”

My head snapped up. Voice shaking. “What?”

His tone was light. Like it was nothing.

“I already submitted it for Ella. For this year’s Red Dot Award.”

Something snapped in my head. Ears ringing.

I stared at Ella. Furious. Breaking.

“You plagiarized my work again!”

Ella flinched. Hid behind Knox.

He shielded her. Eyes accusing.

“Mila. Watch your mouth.”

“Ella has severe trauma from what happened.”

“The doctor said she needs to relive it. Win this time.”

“Only way to overwrite the trauma. Get her out of depression.”

“Then let her draw her own! Why use mine?”

Tears fell.

“That’s not one draft. It’s a whole series!”

“If she submits it, the rest is disqualified. That’s five years of my work.”

Guilt flickered in Knox’s eyes.

But only enough to soften his voice. Not enough to stop.

“Mila. Just this once. Ella’s parents saved me.”

“We can’t watch her stay trapped forever.”

I laughed. Tears falling.

“So this is why you keep helping her humiliate me?”

The debt wasn’t mine. But I was the one paying.

“I won’t let her plagiarize again. I’m reporting it.”

I reached for my phone.

Dorian tackled me.

My head hit the table. Vision went black.

“Knox. Lock her on the balcony. After tonight, Ella wins.”

He dragged me by the collar.

Knox hesitated.

Daisy held Ella, who was banging her head against the wall,

“Hurry! She’s having an episode!”

Knox stopped hesitating. Held my legs down.

I thrashed. Eyes red.

Father brought rope. Father brought tape.

I looked at them. Then stopped moving.

Like livestock. Tied up. Dumped on the balcony.

Knox looked down at me. Patted my head. Perfunctory.

“Calm down here. It’s Ella’s birthday. After the party, we’ll talk.”

He locked the balcony door.

They left. Crowding around Ella. Cake. Gifts. Laughter.

The door closed.

But they had no idea. That was the last time they’d ever see me.