Chapter 2

2

I saw the finality in his eyes and my body shook with violent tremors. Hot tears fell like lead, and I felt a wild beast screaming inside my soul.

"Xander Sterling, who do you think you are? I'm calling the police! I'm going to report you!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs.

Xander let out a cold laugh. He stepped forward and forced my jaw open with his strong hands. "You want to call the cops? Do it after you drink this!"

In the next second, as I watched in horror, he poured the liquid into my mouth.

The chemicals burned a trail down my throat. I struggled like a trapped animal, but it was useless.

A piercing, searing pain erupted in my throat. I let out a mangled scream of pure agony.

Within seconds, my cries weakened. The pain spread like wildfire through my neck.

When I tried to scream again, I realized no sound was coming out.

In that moment of realization, every organ in my body and every drop of my blood seemed to howl in despair.

I used to think Xander was my savior, the man who pulled me out of the dark abyss.

Now, he was the one shoving me back into a deeper, darker hell.

Perhaps he was shocked by the state I was in.

Xander untied the ropes and pulled me into his arms.

His eyes were red, and he kept whispering "I'm sorry" over and over in a raspy voice.

"Just hold on, it'll be over soon. It'll be okay."

"Don't be afraid. I'll look after you. I'll stay by your side forever..."

"This is the last time, I promise."

"Once I pay her back this way, we won't owe her anything. Just trust me."

He seemed to be explaining things to me, but he was mostly just trying to comfort himself.

I pushed him away with every ounce of strength I had, tears blurring my vision. I wanted to scream at him, but my voice was gone.

The intense pain throbbed in my chest. I desperately shoved my fingers down my throat, trying to make myself throw up the poison, but nothing came up.

Seeing this, Xander's expression shifted to a brief moment of pity before he grabbed me again.

"Don't do that, Seraphina. It doesn't matter if you can't sing. You have me, and that's enough..."

I glared at him with bloodshot eyes. My heart felt like it was being shredded by a dull blade. I had never hated a man more than I hated him right now.

I hated his hypocrisy, his cruelty, and most of all, my own helplessness.

Startled by the sheer hatred in my eyes, he let go of me, his hands trembling with a sudden panic.

I collapsed onto the floor, the pain in my throat making it hard to catch my breath.

But the despair in my heart was far more agonizing.

It was over. Everything was over.

Years of sweat and tears had vanished into thin air.

I stared blankly into space, tears rolling down my cheeks in silence.