Chapter 3

3

Elias's hands paused on her waist. He let out a ragged breath.

"Mabel, I need a child. I need a wife to act as a shield."

"My family is old-fashioned. They keep pressuring me to marry. Having a legal wife will shut them up."

"But you know you're the only one I truly want."

They started kissing again, more intensely this time.

I backed away until my spine hit the cold hallway wall.

Every sweet word he'd ever said to me was a lie. This was all just a game to him.

Disgust boiled in my throat. I ran back to my room and cried until I was empty.

Later that night, Mabel walked into my room. She had the smile of a predator.

"You saw us, didn't you? If you're smart, you'll leave him now."

She traced the edge of my vanity, stopping at a photo of Elias and me.

"He's loved me since college. I only married his brother because of a misunderstanding."

"He took those holy vows just to keep himself pure for me."

I gripped the bedsheets until my knuckles turned white.

"Then you came along. His mother was nagging him to marry, so he picked you."

I looked up at her, my voice like whetted steel.

"I'm leaving. You don't have to keep talking."

"Don't act so superior," she spat, her eyes turning nasty.

"Women like you don't walk away from a billionaire easily."

"But I'll give you a little push."

Suddenly, she staggered backward and screamed, throwing herself toward the top of the stairs.

Elias appeared out of nowhere and caught her before she could fall.

She collapsed into his chest, sobbing hysterically.

"She pushed me... she said I shouldn't be here... I'll just leave..."

"I didn't touch her," I said firmly.

Elias turned to me, his eyes bloodshot with rage. He swung his hand and slapped me across the face.

My head spun. The taste of copper filled my mouth.

"You monster! You can't even handle your own family!"

He grabbed my hair and forced me down to the floor.

"Apologize to Mabel. Right now!"

I braced myself against the floor, my neck straining. "I didn't push her. I won't apologize for something I didn't do."

Elias's pulse was thumping in his neck. "I've spoiled you too much."

He dragged me by the arm toward the front door.

"Go outside and think about what you've done!"

"You aren't coming back inside until you beg for her forgiveness!"

The door slammed shut in my face.

I was done. Every ounce of love I had for him was gone.

I sat on the porch steps as a fresh cramp hit my gut.

I pulled out my phone with shaking hands and called a car to take me to the hospital.

After a few hours of fluids and rest, I felt better.

My phone was vibrating constantly with missed calls and angry texts from Elias.

"Where the hell are you?"

"Mabel is having nightmares because of you. Get back here and apologize!"

I laughed and blocked his number.

I was leaving for good in forty-eight hours.

After I left the hospital, I realized I hadn't seen my parents in months.

I went to a high-end mall to buy them some gifts.

I was looking at a bottle of limited-edition perfume when I heard a familiar laugh.

Elias was there, his arm around Mabel's waist. They were shopping for designer bags.

When he saw me, his expression shifted to pure fury. He stormed over.

"Why did you block me?"

I put the perfume back and looked at him blankly. "We're broken up. There's no reason to talk."

"Stop lying," he said, gripping my wrist hard enough to bruise.

"You followed us here because you're desperate for my attention."

"Let go of me!" I struggled against his grip.

"I'm here to shop. It has nothing to do with you."

"You?" He looked at my casual clothes and sneered.

"Everything in this store costs six figures. You think you can afford this?"

He jerked my arm, making me stumble.

"Since you're here, you're going to apologize to Mabel in front of everyone."

Just as I was about to scream, a shadow fell over us.

A large, powerful hand clamped onto Elias's wrist. With a quick twist, he forced Elias to let go.

A warm arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me into a protective embrace.

"Sorry I'm late, darling," a deep voice said above my head.

I looked up into a pair of stunning, dark eyes.

It was Silas Thorne, my arranged fiancé.

He looked even more handsome than his photos, and his eyes were full of concern.

Silas looked at Elias, and his voice was cold enough to draw blood.

"You're touching my fiancée. Do you want to lose that hand?"

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