Chapter 2

2

I had always known deep down that I was nothing more than Mason's plaything.

When I turned twenty, I loved him the most.

Back then, I had the naive delusion of romance. I ignored social norms and loved him with blind, stubborn devotion.

After all, we were only ten years apart.

Mason used to love how clingy I was. He loved hearing me say I loved him, and he would smile warmly and stroke my hair.

I genuinely believed what he told me: as long as I stayed obedient, I would be the happiest woman in the city.

Until that day, when I impulsively went to his office.

He had strictly forbidden me from entering his private office, so I waited outside for a long time.

"Mr. Lockwood brings a different woman every time, but this one is definitely the prettiest."

Different women?

I looked up and saw two employees whispering in the corner.

"That's Veronica Drake, the Drake heiress. Of course she's special. But they've been in that office for so long―what do you think they're doing?"

In that instant, my mind went completely blank.

Without thinking, I pushed open his office door and rushed inside.

The main room was empty.

I walked toward the inner suite. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and I saw a scene I would never forget.

Dizziness washed over me. I lost my balance and slammed into the doorframe, nearly collapsing.

Hearing the noise, the woman looked over and instantly shrieked, pulling the sheets up to cover herself.

Mason, on the other hand, merely gave me a brief, surprised glance.

He calmly got dressed and adjusted his clothes. His eyes were cold and calm, but I knew he was furious.

"Summer, didn't I tell you never to come into my office?"

I finally understood why he always demanded obedience. The moment I disobeyed, my happiness vanished.

Mason showed no panic, no guilt, only annoyance and cold interrogation.

He sent Veronica away. Before leaving, she glared at me with pure hatred.

She spat on the floor. "Bitch."

I stared at her blankly, then slapped her across the face without warning.

Her screams grew louder, and she lunged at me in a wild rage.

I quickly lost my strength. What started as a brawl quickly turned into a one-sided beating.

I thought Mason would step in to help me.

Instead, he stood casually by the window, watching it all unfold with utter detachment.

Only when my face was covered in blood and I was curled up on the floor in pain did Mason finally tell her to stop.

After Veronica left, Mason crouched beside me and pinched my chin. His gaze was deceptively gentle, making me tremble in terror.

The next second, he released my chin and struck my face with a brutal slap.

Blood dripped from my cuts. I couldn't tell whether my body or my heart hurt more.

"A small lesson. Don't ever be disobedient again, Summer."

"As long as you behave, I will still care for you the most."

Only then did I realize that his so-called love was nothing but my own delusion.

We were never equals.

He picked me up from the gutter.

And in return, he demanded absolute submission.