Chapter 3

3、

Back at the condo, Garrett clung to my suitcase, apologizing profusely.

"I swear I had no idea my mom would pull something so insane. She knows she messed up now."

"If you never want to see her again, we'll cut all ties with her."

"Babe! Please, don't walk away from us like this!"

I didn't waver, simply telling him that if his mother truly stopped her toxic antics, I might reconsider the divorce.

For now, I needed peace and quiet.

Garrett tried hard to show remorse over the following days, driving me to work, picking me up, and cooking every meal.

It seemed as though Rhonda had finally backed off.

One evening, Garrett texted me saying he had to work mandatory overtime, so I took an Uber back to my downtown apartment alone.

As I walked through the lobby, the front-desk security guard stopped me.

"Miss, a group of rather aggressive-looking men went up to your floor earlier. They had a keycard, so I couldn't stop them."

I frowned, thinking the guard had mistaken someone else for my guests, since I had never given my keycard to anyone.

I texted my parents a quick message about my day and took the elevator up.

The moment I unlocked my front door, I froze in horror.

The living room was packed with hostile strangers.

Before I could react, they surrounded me instantly.

Terrified, I stepped back and yelled, "Who are you, and what are you doing in my home?!"

"Get out right now, or I'm calling the police for trespassing!"

One of them swiftly slammed the door shut and locked it.

The burly man in the lead grabbed a fistful of my hair and slammed my head viciously against the entryway wall.

"You little bitch! Did you really think we'd let you get away with this?"

A blinding spike of pain exploded across my forehead.

I frantically reached into my bag for my phone to dial 911.

Catching on, the man ripped the bag from my hands and smashed my phone into pieces against the floor.

He yanked my head back by the roots of my hair.

"Still trying to call the cops? I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"

A flurry of punches and kicks rained down on my body.

I curled up tightly, trying to protect my head, but blood still trickled from the corner of my split lip.

After catching his breath, the man snarled viciously.

"My aunt already sold this place to me! What right do you have to take it back?"

He shoved a sale contract right into my bruised face.

"Sign this damn contract and hand over the title today!"

Aunt? Sell the condo?

The sickening realization hit me―he was referring to Rhonda.

Garrett's claims about his mother learning her lesson were complete and utter lies!

Enduring the agonizing pain, I glanced subtly toward the hidden security camera mounted in the corner of the ceiling.

"I will never sign that contract. I never agreed to sell you my home!"

Rhonda stepped out from behind the crowd of men, planting her hands on her hips and spitting right onto my face.

"You stubborn little bitch! Clearly, you haven't had enough yet!"

She turned to the thugs with a cruel smirk.

"Don't hold back on my account. Beat her within an inch of her life!"

"Once she's out of the picture, my son can marry someone who actually knows her place!"

Encouraged by her words, the man delivered heavy kicks straight into my ribs and stomach.

The excruciating pain knocked the breath out of my lungs, leaving me unable to scream.

Grabbing my limp hand, the man forced my signature onto the paper and pressed my thumb into the inkpad.

He waved the signed paper in the air triumphantly.

"The apartment is mine now. You can get the hell out!"

Seeing that I was still conscious, Rhonda's eyes gleamed with sadistic malice as she lunged forward to rip at my clothes.

"Strip this bitch naked and throw her into the hallway! Let's see how she ever shows her face in public again!"

My eyes widened in sheer horror.

"Don't touch me!"

With a single nod from the leader, two men pinned my arms firmly against the cold floor.

With a twisted sneer, Rhonda violently shredded my blouse.