Chapter 3 Equality

Kenneth's gaze was indifferent and devoid of warmth.

For him, their interaction seemed like an obligation he resented.

Recalling his cold demeanor during their earlier phone conversation when she actually begged for help, Selena tried to pull away.

However, Kenneth swiftly held her wrists, pinning them above her head. His voice was cold and firm. "Selena, don't test my patience," he said.

The second he finished speaking, he drew closer toward her.

Selena was in so much pain that she almost burst into tears. To stop herself from making any sound, she bit her lip, causing her body to tense up.

When Kenneth saw how she reacted, his eyes turned ever darker. He then grabbed her waist, pinned her down, and proceeded to do whatever he wanted to her body.

Once they were done having sex, Selena thought that he would leave right away, just like he always did. However, something about him seemed different tonight. He pressed her head against the pillow and started fucking her again.

Halfway through what he was doing, he whispered to her, "If you cause trouble for me again, I will make sure that you're banished from my household, Selena!"

As the minutes passed by, Selena passed out because she could no longer bear what he was doing to her.

For the rest of the night, she had trouble sleeping.

In her nightmare, she dreamt that the kidnappers asked her why Kenneth didn't care if she lived or died. And she told them that he didn't care about her life simply because he didn't love her.

Thereafter, the kidnapper pushed her off a cliff.

Stirring awake, Selena sat upright, breaking into cold sweat.

When she looked at the pillow and the bedsheet, she found that they were drenched in sweat. She sat there, staring at an empty space for a few minutes before she took a shower, despite her injuries.

Upon finishing breakfast, Selena drove to the company.

The second she got off the elevator, she heard one of her colleagues. "Miss Adams, I've finished cleaning your office!"

Selena stopped in her tracks and looked up ahead to see what was going on.

There was this woman standing at a distance, her elegant attire accentuating her long, cascading black hair.

Selena had often seen Giselle from behind, shielded by Kenneth, but never her face.

She found herself curious about the features of the woman who held Kenneth's undivided attention.

Feeling Selena's gaze, the woman gracefully turned to face her.

When their eyes met, a realization dawned on Selena. The contrast between her and Giselle was stark.

Where Selena radiated a brightness akin to the sun, Giselle exuded the serene glow of moonlight. They were indeed worlds apart.

"Miss Adams, meet Miss Owen," a colleague introduced warmly. "And Miss Owen, this is Giselle Adams."

Giselle's eyes held a fleeting, knowing look, but she greeted Selena with a soft smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Owen."

Selena responded coolly, "It's still quite early for a visit, Miss Adams."

Giselle's composure faltered slightly, sensing Selena's sarcasm.

Even though she hated the very idea of it, she maintained her kind demeanor.

"Ken brought me here early today. My apologies."

Even though she was apologizing, she sounded so conceited.

The familiar way she referred to Kenneth wasn't lost on Selena.

Sensing the tension, the female colleague decided to lighten the mood between the two.

"Miss Owen, Miss Adams will be joining as the new Marketing Department Director. She'll hold a position equivalent to yours. However, Mr. Powell mentioned that Miss Adams will directly report to him," she said to Selena.