CHAPTER 3
"I'm not jumping into this recklessly," Sandra said again in a calm, deliberate tone. "I've thought about it for a long time. I did my homework. That's how I found out about The House. I've walked through the place. I went during its busiest hours. I've seen the people. I know what it is and what it isn't. And Damon made it clear I'll be closely looked after, especially tonight."
The arrival of their food forced a short pause, but none of them reached for their plates. The atmosphere had shifted — lunch forgotten as the conversation deepened.
"I guess… I just wanted to understand what it was really like between you and Ken," Sandra said, voice barely above a whisper.
Karla's green eyes flickered with something unreadable — regret? Pain? She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, but the gesture didn't quite mask her hesitation. Sandra caught it. She realized, with a flicker of guilt, how wrapped up in her own grief she'd been — blind to the small signs in others.
"Is something wrong, Karla?" she asked, more sharply than intended.
Karla flinched, then pasted on a practiced smile. "No. Not at all. And to answer your question… when it's good, it's incredible. I've never once regretted giving myself to Ken fully. He always looked after me. Treated me like I was the most precious thing in the world. I was everything to him. He protected me, cared for me… he was intense."
Sandra's brow furrowed. Karla kept using the past tense.
"Is that… not true anymore?"
Karla's smile brightened unnaturally. "Of course it is. Things just change with time. He's been focused on work lately, and we've fallen into a bit of a routine. It happens. Don't worry, we're not falling apart or anything," she added with a short laugh.
But the laugh didn't sit right with Sandra. Still, she let it go for now.
"If this is too personal, you don't have to answer," she said.
Karla waved it off. "No, go on."
Sandra hesitated. "What kind of dynamic do you two have? Is it mostly about control? Or do you… you know… use restraints? Pain? Discipline? Or is it just about you following his lead and trusting his decisions?"
Sophia, who had been quiet, now looked positively ill. She pushed her food around her plate, avoiding their eyes. Sandra began to feel guilty. Maybe this conversation was too much for her, but she hadn't wanted Sophia to be blindsided. She deserved to hear this from Sandra directly — not from someone else.
"It depends on what you're looking for," Karla said softly. "Yes, we do all of that — and more. I belong to him, Sandra. Fully. And he knows me. Knows where my lines are. He respects them, even when pushing me close to the edge. In the beginning, it's important to spell everything out. Be honest. Be specific. And yes, have a safe word, until you've built enough trust and understanding."
Sandra let out a breath, half-laugh, half-nervous. "I feel like I've walked into a new world. Everything sounds… exciting. Terrifying. I want to try everything. I don't even know what my boundaries are. I'll only know once I hit them."
"Then you need to be extra careful who you choose," Karla warned. "Someone experienced. Patient. Someone who understands you're new and that you need room to explore — without pressure. And whatever you do, don't leave the club with anyone. Not yet. Stay in public. Stay where there's support and protection."
Sandra nodded. She'd already resolved never to bring anyone back to her home — the space she once shared with Clement was sacred. And she wouldn't follow a stranger to an unknown place either. Not when she was placing so much trust in someone's hands.
She'd thought this through. Again and again. For months. And yes, maybe the timing — the anniversary of Clement's death — seemed harsh. But for her, it was symbolic. A turning point.
When Karla had said, "I belong to him," something inside Sandra had tightened with longing. She wanted that. Not just to be loved — but to be claimed, adored, and completely known. Clement had loved her, but this was different. This was deeper, darker. She wanted to discover just how far she could go.
"You're going to do it," Sophia said suddenly, her voice quiet. "I can see it in your eyes. You're really going."
Sandra nodded, and with it came a strange kind of peace.
Karla reached across the table, catching Sandra's free hand. "Then I'm wishing you luck," she said warmly.
Sandra blinked, then remembered something. "Hey, don't you have plans with Ken today? Didn't you say you were spending the afternoon together?"
That flicker returned to Karla's expression. She let go of Sandra's hand. "He had to cancel. Something urgent came up at work."
Sandra winced. "Sorry. I know you were looking forward to that. Unfortunately, I need to run too — I've got to mentally prepare. Even though I've made my decision, I need time to get my nerves in check."
Karla stood. "I want details. First thing tomorrow. And if I don't hear from you, I'm coming over. If you're not home, I'm calling the cops."
Sandra laughed. "Fair enough."
She stood, placed money on the table, and turned toward the exit. Sophia rose too.
"I'll walk you out," she said quietly.
Karla arched a brow at Sandra and gave a subtle nod toward Sophia. Sandra sighed. She knew what was coming.
Outside, as they reached the cars, Sophia stopped and placed a hand on Sandra's arm.
"Have you really thought this through?" she asked, her voice trembling. "This doesn't sound like you. What would Clement think? If he knew…"
"Sophia," Sandra said gently. "Clement's gone. If I could bring him back, I would. But I can't. And staying frozen in grief won't bring him back either."
Tears filled her eyes. She'd promised herself she wouldn't cry today — not this year.
"I miss him," Sophia whispered. "He was all I had."
"You have me," Sandra said, pulling her into a hug. "That hasn't changed. Clement being gone doesn't change what we have. But I need to move forward. I can't stay stuck here. He wouldn't want that for me."
Sophia stepped back, wiping her eyes. "I know. I want you to be happy. I just don't know if this is the right way. You don't know what it's like to be at the mercy of the wrong man. To feel powerless. That fear… it never leaves."
Sandra gently wiped the tears from Sophia's face. "I know what you went through, and I would never ignore that. But not all men are like that. Look at Ken. Do you think he'd ever hurt Karla? He treasures her. That's the kind of connection I want."
"But he is hurting her," Sophia said. "You saw her today. Something's wrong. She's not the same. What if he is hurting her, Sandra?"
The words hit like ice water. Sandra had noticed Karla seemed off… but abuse?
"I don't know what's going on between them," Sandra said slowly. "But I don't believe he's abusing her. Karla's strong. She'd tell us. Wouldn't she?"
"No one knew about the abuse Clement and I lived with," Sophia said, her voice brittle. "We kept it hidden. Our father fooled everyone."
Sandra exhaled. "I'll talk to Karla again. If it eases your mind. And I understand you don't approve of what I'm doing. You don't have to. But I need you to trust that I've thought it through."
"I just don't want to lose you too," Sophia said softly.
Sandra hugged her again. "You won't. We're family. That doesn't change."
Sophia gave her a faint smile. "Fine. But I expect a full update tomorrow. I'm not going to sleep a wink tonight."
"Deal."
Later that Night...
Derrick sat in his parked car outside The House, staring at the building's entrance, his thoughts churning.
For the past two years, he'd spent this night with Sandra — the anniversary of Clement's death — doing what he could to comfort her. And every time, it had nearly destroyed him.
Because he loved her. Had for years.
And Clement had known. He'd never said it, but Derrick had seen it in his friend's eyes — a quiet understanding. An unspoken tension. They'd been more than just business partners — they'd been brothers in all but blood.
And that made Derrick's love for Sandra feel like a betrayal he couldn't erase.
His own family couldn't be more different than Clement's had been. Derrick had grown up in a home overflowing with love — two parents still in love after four decades, a house full of noisy siblings and constant support.
Clement had been stunned the first time he met them. He hadn't known what to do with so much warmth.
But they had welcomed him in. Sandra too. Even Sophia, though she kept her distance.
And now, Derrick was sitting here, parked outside a place he never thought Sandra would step foot in. A place she had kept secret from him.
Something had changed in her.
And Derrick wasn't sure he liked it.