Chapter 3

3.

Annabelle was standing right in my path. Her glass had fallen, and shards were scattered everywhere.

"Oh, Vanya! I'm so sorry..." she gasped, taking a fake step back.

I looked at the jagged glass directly in front of my knees. My heart sank. I instinctively looked at Xavier.

He was lounging on a sofa nearby. Seeing my hesitation, he just smirked. "I thought you wanted the project? Are you scared now?"

I clenched my fists until my nails drew blood. Then, I exhaled and slammed my elbows down onto the floor.

The moment the glass sliced into my skin, my mind went blank. I swallowed the scream before it could leave my throat.

Blood began to soak through my sleeves. My knees were already shredded, the fabric of my leggings grinding into the raw meat of my skin.

The pain made me want to die.

By the time I reached Xavier's feet again, I collapsed. I couldn't hold myself up for another second.

Annabelle shrieked and dove into Xavier's arms. "Xavier, it's so scary... there's so much blood. I can't look!"

Xavier's voice immediately softened as he comforted her. "Don't be scared, baby. I'm right here."

Then he turned to me, his eyes turning back into ice. "Did you do this just to freak her out? Clean this mess up!"

I struggled to lift my head, my voice raspy. "Xavier, I didn't..."

"Clean it up in thirty minutes or the project is dead," he barked.

As I watched him walk away, I finally broke. My head hit the floor with a dull thud.

As my consciousness faded, I felt a crushing pain in my chest.

How did the man who used to worship me become this monster?

Our first meeting wasn't romantic.

I remember the day my stepmother kicked me out for eating too much. I was walking along the river when a ring rolled to my feet.

I picked it up and tried to return it to its owner. He just said, "It found you. Why don't you keep it?"

I shook my head and tried to leave, but he stopped me with a simple question: "Want to grab dinner?"

That was the first time in years I had actually felt full.

Xavier had smiled at me then. "Stay with me, and I'll make sure you're never hungry again. Deal?"

I didn't say yes then, but his face stayed in my mind.

We met again at a gala my father forced me to attend. Xavier was the guest of honor, and my father was bowing to him like a servant.

That night, I was drugged with too much wine and sent to a hotel room.

Through the haze, I saw him leaning against the headboard.

"I've been looking for you. I didn't expect to find you like this. I hope you haven't forgotten my offer."

I knew my father had sold me to his bed. With tears in my eyes, I asked, "If I stay, will you give me money?"

He laughed softly. "Marry me, and you'll never worry about money again."

I had smiled then. I was so happy.

After that, he treated me like a queen, giving me a life of luxury I couldn't imagine.

His love was so intense it made me forget who I was. I forgot the girl who used to beg for scraps.

I fell deeply, truly in love with him.

But on our wedding night, my grandmother was in a car crash. I rushed to the hospital the moment the ceremony ended. Thankfully, my childhood friend, Jasper Rhodes, got her there in time.

When I finally got home, the guests were gone. All I wanted was to ask Xavier for help with the surgery bills.

He sneered at me. "You've got guts. Meeting your lover on our wedding night and then coming back to ask for cash?"

He didn't listen to a single word of my explanation.

He pinned me to the table and punished me until dawn.