Chapter 3

3.

"Amber!"

Their voices overlapped as they yelled her name.

Zachary knelt down without hesitation to pick her up. When he saw her bleeding arm, his eyes turned to ice.

At the same time, a sharp slapping sound echoed through the hall.

My father's hand struck my face with brutal force.

"Layla Montgomery, have you lost your mind?"

His chest was heaving with rage. "You're just as low-class as your mother! Amber is your sister. How could you lay a hand on her!"

He didn't hold back. The slap sent me stumbling to the floor.

My lips moved, but no sound came out. Tears fell from my eyes involuntarily.

I thought my heart was already dead, but it still felt like it was being ripped apart.

Amber lay in Zachary's arms, her eyes red. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

"I shouldn't have hoped we could be friends. I'm so sorry…"

As she spoke, blood dripped onto her dress.

Zachary's eyes were filled with pain for her. The veins on his forehead popped as he spoke in a voice like a winter storm. "I'm taking her to the hospital."

As he walked away, I finally found my voice.

"Zachary, I didn't touch her. She threw herself down."

I stared at his back, my voice trembling. "I'm hurting too. Please…"

Zachary didn't look back.

The man who once promised to stand in front of me no matter what happened only paused for a split second.

Then he left without turning his head once.

The family servants grabbed me and dragged me toward the chapel.

The chapel was small and suffocating. My father ordered the lights to be turned off so I could 'reflect' on my sins.

"You aren't going anywhere until Amber is safe!"

The sound of the door slamming shut felt like a physical blow. I pounded on the wood, screaming at the top of my lungs. "Let me out! I didn't push her!"

I suffered from severe claustrophobia.

The dark reminded me of the days I spent alone in a cramped apartment after my mother died.

When I first moved to London, I was constantly bullied at school.

Once, they locked me in a bathroom stall and poured red ink all over me while screaming insults I couldn't understand.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong… it's all my fault…"

"Please, just let me out!"

I had screamed until my voice broke. The dried ink made my clothes stick to my skin.

But no matter how much I begged or banged my head against the door, they just laughed.

The only English words I could recognize were 'homewrecker' and 'slut.'

I had been so desperate that I almost used a pocketknife to end it all.

Then Zachary kicked the door open. He looked cold and furious as he picked me up.

He wrapped his suit jacket around my torn clothes. His scent immediately made me feel safe.

His eyes were as dark as ink, and for the first time, his calm expression cracked with pure hatred for those kids.

Zachary gently covered my eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry I was late."

I don't know how he got me out of there. I just remember sleeping for a long time. When I went back to school, the bullies were gone.

I banged my head against the chapel door again, not stopping even when I felt blood trickling down.

The feeling of suffocation returned. I clawed at the skin on my neck, the dizziness and pain finally breaking my spirit.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

Before the person on the other end could speak, I sobbed into the receiver. "Zachary, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hurt Amber… it's all my fault. But I'm so scared. Please come save me…"

I gasped for air, tears mixing with the sweat in my hair. "Please, I'm begging you. Come get me."

But then, I heard a light chuckle.

Zachary's voice was utterly indifferent. "If I knew you were going to hurt her, I wouldn't have gone easy on you in London."

He was tenderly wiping the blood from Amber's forehead, his eyes full of malice for me.

"Amber is too kind. She feels guilty every time she pranks you, and then she begs me to go save you. Someone like you doesn't deserve it."

Amber let out a soft sob. "But she's my sister. Even if she killed my mom and wants to steal you and Dad, I still can't stand to see her suffer…"

She hid her smug expression and lowered her head. "Zach, you're all I have left."

Suddenly, Amber kissed his Adam's apple.

Zachary's breath hitched. He grabbed the back of her head and kissed her deeply. "I will never betray you."

The sound of their heavy breathing was magnified in my ear. I heard Zachary moan her name over and over again.

My phone slipped from my hand. The screen shattered, right across Zachary's face on the wallpaper.

I shook violently and began to bite my own arm. I didn't stop until there wasn't a patch of healthy skin left.

A single tear slid down my cheek.

I never imagined that the bullying and attacks I faced in London were things he knew about all along.

I thought I was the one bringing him trouble. Every time he 'got hurt' protecting me, I felt terrible.

I worked day and night to pay his medical bills, once even passing out on the street at 3 AM.

It was all a joke.

I bit my lip until it bled, laughing through the tears.

"Zachary Thorne, you really are something else…"

After a long time, the shattered screen lit up again.

I numbly reached for it, ignoring the glass shards cutting into my fingers.

I stared at the message from my father. "The Sterlings said they want you married by the end of the month."

"And they want the wedding in Chicago."

Chicago was Caleb Sterling's hometown, a thousand miles away.

My father, seemingly afraid I would back out, added some 'comforting' words. "Layla, someone with your background marrying into that family is a dream come true. Don't be ungrateful."

He paused, then typed, "Amber gave up this great marriage for you. Be satisfied."