Chapter 3
“How’s the recovery going? Feeling better lately?” Vivienne asked with a sweet smile, but all I saw was a snake hiding behind a mask.
My voice went cold. “What do you want this time?”
She pouted, eyes misting over. “Come on. I don’t bite.”
The door swung open. Sebastian walked in.
Vivienne immediately threw herself into his arms, crying. “Sebastian, the photo from when we were eighteen–she tore it up!”
My stomach clenched.
“I just wanted to visit and talk with her,” she sobbed. “But as soon as I took out the picture, she…
“I didn’t!” I shouted.
Two torn pieces of paper drifted to the floor. My eyes widened. It was the Crownpoint Debutante Gala photo–their coming–of–age memory–now split in two.
I stumbled out of bed and stood before him, swaying. My voice was even. “Mr. Blackwell, I know my place. I’ve never tried to reach above it.”
His eyes flickered
-was that disappointment? But before he could say a word, Vivienne’s driver stepped forward.
“Mr. Blackwell, I saw her snatch the photo from Miss Vivienne and rip it. She also said…”
He hesitated, then finished: “She said Vivienne was a shameless whore, and if she couldn’t be your wife, no one else could.” Sebastian’s expression turned ice–cold. He stared at me, jaw clenched. “So this is what you meant by not climbing? I must’ve treated you too well. You really think I can’t live without you?”
He snapped at the assistants: “Slap her. Don’t stop until she admits she was wrong. The louder the slap, the bigger the bonus.”
They jumped at the command, like it was some twisted game. My face swelled quickly. Blood mixed with tears and dripped down my chin.
Still, I stayed silent.
Each time the slap landed, Sebastian asked, “Do you admit it now?“`
*
Each time, I gasped out, I… did nothing wrong.”
His fury grew. He turned and walked out. “Then
keep hitting her until she does.
I lost count of how many times they struck me.
I’m
Vivienne strutted over, her sharp nails scraping my swollen cheek. “So naïve. Even if I’m married, he’s always loved me. You think he’d touch you if it weren’t for your disgusting scent? Dream again, and you’ll die before you even realize it.”
My vision blurred with pain, but I smiled faintly.
No need to warn me. I’d already chosen my way out.
That night, I lay in bed recovering. But Sebastian didn’t let me be, He crawled into bed, ripping at my clothes, his breath hot and heavy, addicted beyond reason.
I didn’t want his hands on me, not on my last night here.
Just as I was about to resist, someone knocked.
