Chapter 1

1 I stole the used condom of that Hollywood pretty boy, Shane Riley.

I jammed a pillow under my lower back all night, wincing with the pain, just so I could get pregnant.

When he found out, Shane acted totally weird.

He didn't yell.

He put down his prayer beads, the ones he never took off.

He took care of me, even more than before.

Everything was perfect until I was six months along.

He looked at the ultrasound, the one where you could see the tiny hands and feet.

His face was full of disgust.

"That condom? I left it there on purpose," he said.

"The stuff inside? I had seven of my security guys collect it, just to teach you a lesson."

"I raised you. I didn't raise you to be this messed up. Once we figure out who the father is, you're marrying him. End of story."

The next day, they took me to one of the guard's houses.

I was forced to sleep with all seven of them, one after the other.

It was torture.

Finally, Shane came to get me.

Numb, I got off the last guy, barely covered, and walked over to thank Shane.

......

"Slap!" Shane hit me hard across the face.

"You disgusting slut! You do this in front of me? What I taught you went in one ear and out the other!"

My head throbbed, but I couldn't feel the pain in my cheek.

I just stared at Shane, numb and confused.

Disgusting? This is how I'd lived for the past two years. If I disobeyed, I got hit. If I fought back, they broke my fingers and toes. If I tried to run, they'd put a shock collar on me and chain me up. Compared to that, what did "disgusting" even mean?

And hadn't he wanted this?

I didn't speak.

Shane's face turned red.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the door.

I panicked. I looked at the door �C the door I had tried to reach so many times, only to be dragged back.

I fell to my knees, shaking, and started begging.

"Please, I'm begging you, please don't! I don't want to go. I don't want to leave. I just want to stay here."

The first time they dragged me back, I screamed Shane's name, hoping he'd save me. They cut part of my tongue off and broke three of my fingers.

The second time, I cried for my uncle. They knocked out four of my teeth and ripped out my fingernails.

The third time, they shocked me until I almost died.

It happened so many times that my body learned to fear the front door. Even the feeling of a dog collar around my neck, the pull towards the exit, was enough to send me into a frenzy. I'd beg him not to make me leave, even as the chain dug into my skin.

Shane stopped, staring at me, stunned.

"Perry! Are you insane?"

I didn't hear him. I kept kowtowing, clinging to his leg, trying to appease him. My smile was stiff and grotesque.

Shane's face darkened.

He kicked me away.

"Perry! Do you have to be so pathetic? Two years, you even have a kid, and you still can't let go of this sick obsession!"