Unconventional

Misery

Hours later, the door swung open with a loud creak, and Emilio stumbled in, a cloud of stale smoke and cheap cologne following him. His eyes were slightly glazed, a grin plastered across his face as he surveyed the cabin. Jennifer was still in the kitchen, tidying up after the children, and she could sense the shift in the atmosphere as he entered.

"Hey, babe," he called out, his voice a little too cheerful. "You wouldn't believe the night I had."

Jennifer didn't look up from her task, her heart sinking as she caught the unmistakable hint of alcohol on his breath. "What did you do?" she asked, keeping her tone neutral.

"Oh, just a little fun," he said, waving his hand dismissively as he sauntered toward her. "You know how it is. I was thinking about you, though."

She raised an eyebrow, finally turning to face him. "You were? What about?"

He leaned against the counter, his grin widening. "You should be more romantic with me. You know, spice things up a bit. If you want my attention, you've got to give me a reason to want to stick around."

Jennifer's stomach twisted at his words. "Emilio, I don't care what you do. You can go out with whoever you want."

His smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "You should care," he replied, his voice suddenly serious. "Because I'm the only one who's taking care of you and those kids. Without me, you'd be lost."

Her heart raced, anger bubbling to the surface. "You think I need you? You think I'm grateful for this life? For being locked away here while you do whatever you want?"

He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "You'd be begging for help if I wasn't here. You think you could survive on your own with four kids? Who would pay the bills? Who would provide food? I'm the one holding this family together, whether you want to admit it or not."

"Maybe I don't want to be part of this family," she shot back, her voice rising. "Maybe I want something different. Something better."

He laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that echoed in the cramped kitchen. "Good luck finding that, Jennifer. The reality is, no one else is going to take you and those kids in. No one else is going to care for you the way I do. So don't forget that."

Jennifer felt her breath quicken, frustration boiling within her. "You're not doing this out of care; you're doing it to control me. You think I'm just going to sit here and let you dictate my life?"

"Control?" he echoed, stepping even closer, invading her space. "I'm protecting you. I'm making sure you have everything you need. You should be thankful I put up with you and your drama."

She took a step back, trying to gather her composure. "I'm not drama, Emilio. I'm trying to survive here."

He leaned in, his voice lowering to a threatening whisper. "And you'll survive as long as you remember who's in charge. So if you want to keep your place here, you better start showing me some appreciation. You want me to want you? Then you need to give me a reason."

His gaze held hers, and in that moment, Jennifer felt the weight of his words sink deep into her bones. He was right about one thing: he held all the power, and that power left her feeling trapped.

With a deep breath, she nodded, her heart heavy with resignation. "I'll remember," she said quietly.

As Emilio stepped back, satisfied, she turned her gaze to the floor, her mind racing with a mix of anger and fear. She needed a plan. She couldn't keep living like this, and somehow, she had to find a way to reclaim her life, even if it meant playing along for now.