Chapter 3

3

He spoke in his usual commanding tone. "Go make me some honey water."

I ignored him, continuing to fold my clothes.

Seeing no response, Trenton frowned and marched over with heavy steps.

"Kira, are you deaf? Didn't you hear me talking to..."

His voice cut off abruptly as his eyes landed on my hair.

His face darkened instantly, his voice rising in anger.

"Kira! Who told you to curl your hair? It looks hideous!"

I looked up at him, a mocking smirk tugging at my lips.

"Trenton, does it really look hideous?"

"Or is it just because with curly hair, I don't look like her anymore?"

My words sobered him up instantly.

His expression froze before he gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Kira, what is your problem? Are you never going to stop making a fuss?"

"How many times do I have to tell you? Elena is just a good friend!"

To Trenton's surprise, I didn't argue back.

I simply said in a calm tone, "Whatever you say. I'm not making a fuss."

With that, I brushed past him and headed straight into the bedroom.

Seconds later, the sound of the front door slamming echoed through the house as he stormed off.

After finishing my packing, I washed up and lay down to rest.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with an intimate video sent from an unknown number.

On the screen, Trenton was tangled in bed with a naked woman, caught in fierce passion.

I had always believed he was a restrained, gentle man who cared little for physical desire.

Seeing that explicit clip completely shattered every illusion I ever held about him.

I realized with chilling clarity that I had never truly known the real Trenton Hayes.

Staring at the provocative video, I stayed awake the entire night.

Early the next morning, I arrived at the theater for stage rehearsals.

Director Evans called me with an anxious voice, saying something had gone wrong on stage.

When I walked into the rehearsal hall, Trenton was waiting, his voice brooking no argument.

"Kira, Elena needs this hall to rehearse her ballet routine."

"Clear out your cast and props right now. You can stay behind to be her backup dancer."

Behind him, several bodyguards were already tearing down our stage decorations.

Refusing to let weeks of hard work go to waste, I lowered my pride one last time.

"Trenton, this play is everything to me. Can you please just..."

Before I could finish, he stepped forward and patted my cheek with cruel condescension.

"Know your place, Kira. Do you really think you're worthy?"

"Your silly little play doesn't mean shit compared to Elena's ballet debut!"

I looked down with a bitter smile, swallowing the storm of emotions inside me.

For the past five years, I had danced ballet every single day, something I never truly loved.

This stage play was an opportunity I fought tooth and nail for; it was my real dream.

I had poured every ounce of my soul into this production, refining the script daily and rehearsing tirelessly.

Yet to ensure the play could still go on, I swallowed my pride and endured it.

After calming down the rest of the cast, I headed to the dressing room to change my shoes.

Suddenly, a piercing scream rang out from the wardrobe area.

"Ah! My foot! Trenton, it hurts so bad..."

Everyone rushed over and found Elena sitting on the floor, clutching her bleeding foot.

Trenton violently shoved me aside and sprinted to her side.

"Elena! Are you okay? I'm taking you to the hospital right now!"

Elena cast a tearful, accusing glance toward me, sobbing softly.

"Kira checked them before handing them to me..."

"I don't know why there was broken glass inside my ballet shoes..."

Hearing this, Trenton glanced down at the bloody glass shard on her sole.

He glared at me with pure venom, as if looking at his worst enemy.

I instinctively tried to defend myself. "Trenton, I didn't do this..."

Trenton seemed to snap completely.

He lunged forward, grabbed my arm, and forced me down onto the floor.

My knee slammed directly onto the sharp glass shards scattered across the tile.

Blood gushed from my leg as jagged glass dug deep into my flesh.

"Who else could it be besides you? How can you be so damn vicious?!"

"If anything happens to Elena's feet, I swear to God I will ruin your life!"

Without looking back, he scooped Elena into his arms and rushed out the door.

Cold sweat dripped down my forehead from the blinding pain, and the last spark in my eyes faded away.

The Trenton who used to panic over a paper cut on my finger was long gone.