**Chapter 20: The Ultimatum**

Kieran stood before Ellie, his heart pounding in his chest. He had reached his breaking point, and he knew it. The days of humiliation, the endless tasks, and the cruel words had taken their toll. He felt like he was drowning in her cruelty, suffocating under the weight of her expectations. Ellie looked at him, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and contempt. She seemed to sense that Kieran was on the edge, that one wrong move would send him tumbling over. And she was eager to see him fall. "Kieran, I've been thinking," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "I've been thinking that it's time for us to take our relationship to the next level. I've been thinking that it's time for you to make a choice." Kieran felt a surge of fear. He knew that Ellie's "choices" were never really choices at all. They were ultimatums, veiled threats, and clever manipulations. He knew that he was in grave danger, that he was playing with fire. "What do you want me to do?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Ellie smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I want you to choose between two options," she said. "Option one: you surrender completely to my will. You do as I say, without question or hesitation. You become my foot slave, my plaything, my property. You give up all rights to yourself, to your body, to your mind. You become mine, completely and utterly." Kieran felt a shiver run down his spine. He knew that if he chose option one, he would be giving up everything. He would be surrendering his autonomy, his dignity, and his self-respect. He would be Ellie's puppet, her toy, her foot slave. "And option two?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Ellie's smile grew wider. "Option two: you leave," she said. "You leave this house, this family, and me. You start over, from scratch. You try to rebuild your life, to rediscover yourself. But be warned, Kieran: if you choose option two, you'll never be able to come back. You'll never be able to see me, to talk to me, to be near me again. You'll be cutting ties, completely and utterly." Kieran felt like he was standing at a crossroads. He looked to the left, and he saw a life of slavery, of humiliation, of utter submission. He looked to the right, and he saw a life of uncertainty, of struggle, of rebuilding. He didn't know which path to choose. Ellie seemed to sense his hesitation. She took a step closer to him, her eyes burning with intensity. "Kieran, I want you to know that I'm not going to make this decision for you," she said. "I'm not going to force you to choose. But I will say this: if you choose option one, I'll make sure that you'll never regret it. I'll make sure that you'll be happy, in your own twisted way. But if you choose option two...if you choose option two, I'll make sure that you'll never be able to come back. I'll make sure that you'll never be able to forget me." Kieran took a deep breath. He closed his eyes, and he thought about his life. He thought about his past, his present, and his future. He thought about the person he used to be, the person he was now, and the person he wanted to be. And when he opened his eyes, he knew what he had to do. He knew that he had to choose option two. He knew that he had to leave, to start over, to rediscover himself. As he looked at Ellie, he saw a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She hadn't expected him to choose option two. She hadn't expected him to find the strength to leave. But as he turned to walk away, Ellie's expression changed. Her eyes narrowed, and her face twisted into a snarl. "You think you're free, Kieran?" she spat. "You think you can just walk away? I'll never let you go. I'll never let you leave." Kieran smiled, a sense of determination washing over him. He knew that he had made the right choice. He knew that he had to escape, to break free from Ellie's grasp. And as he walked out the door, he knew that he would never look back. He knew that he would never be the same again.