Before Her Heart Was Taken

Tiffany had lost count of the punishments—each one crueler than the last.Took her a minute to even remember what set it off this time.Rosalind Talwyn, her so-called foster mom, had called out of nowhere, whining for money. The same woman who ditched her ages ago to chase some random foreign guy. Now that he'd bailed, Rosalind came crawling back, full of drama, acting like the victim.Tiffany was still arguing on the phone when Charlotte Pusey strolled in and caught the tail end.Charlotte. Hector's long-lost first love.She'd moved to Zweizerland with her parents back in high school and popped back up earlier this year.The second she and Hector locked eyes, the sparks were back.Charlotte hated Tiffany. She always had it out for her, sneaking around and stirring crap up.Called her a curse. A nobody's kid. Said she was just like Rosalind—a gold-digging tramp who'd chase anything with a heartbeat.Tiffany snapped. Shoved her.Then just stood there, stunned, as Charlotte smi

Tiffany went to a private college in Westvale—one the Coxons basically owned. Everyone knew Hector was her "brother."The advisor scanned her screen. "This program's in Zafaria. It's tough. You won't be back in Dalvona till it's over. You sure?"Tiffany nodded. "Training's in Southport next week, right? I'm good."The advisor paused. Tiffany wasn't just any student."You tell your brother? Your dad? This is kinda last minute. Maybe I should loop them in—""No need!" she cut in fast. "They already know. Super supportive. Said it'd be a great opportunity. All good.""Alright then, you're in."Tiffany finally exhaled.The Coxons ran everything—politics, business, the whole deal.Back when Benjamin was head-over-heels for Rosalind, there were talks of making Tiffany part of the family for real. But thanks to his messy ties with Veronica—and Hector losing his mind over it—the divorce never happened.Officially, Benjamin called her his foster kid.As for Rosalind? After she betray

"Hector, you—" Charlotte started.He turned and raised a hand to shut her up. She bit her lip, fuming, but stayed quiet.Tiffany couldn't even process their tension. All she felt was the light brush of his finger on her collarbone.A soft whimper slipped out as she leaned up, instinctively chasing his touch. Her skin burned for contact."Hector, please... just hold me. That's all."Like some desperate stray, she clung to him, shameless and shaking.Somewhere inside, she screamed at herself to stop. But her body didn't listen."You really want it that bad?" Hector smirked.His fingers drifted lower, undoing her buttons one by one. "No one's around. Strip down, and maybe I'll give you that hug you're begging for."Tiffany jolted, the haze snapping.Charlotte couldn't take it. "Hector!" she shouted.He didn't flinch. Just knelt there, staring down at Tiffany."I've never been the patient type," he said. "And looks like you're falling apart too."That sick bastard.He'd done

Smack!Tiffany hit the floor hard.Hector's chest was rising fast. "Shut up! Just shut your filthy mouth! You're no better than that trashy mom of yours!"He yanked her up by the hair and dragged her out. "Tough girl, huh? Think you can leave me? Let's see what snaps first—your bones or the door to the basement."Cold chains locked around her ankles. Then—nothing. Just pitch-black silence.She crumpled, pounding the door with everything she had. "Let me out! You psycho! Freakin' rapist! I swear I'll kill you! I'll kill you! Ahhh!"Her mouth tasted like blood.No answer.She collapsed. When you hit rock bottom, even crying gives up on you.No clue how long she was stuck in there.All she remembered was the panic creeping back, claustrophobia choking her. She refused to beg. So she smashed her head into the floor. Blood sprayed.Passing out seemed like a win.Dying? Even better.She curled into a corner and kept slamming her head into the wall. Over and over."Tiffany! What

Bang! Bang! Bang!Hector kept swinging, rain hammering down as his cane slammed into her legs.Thuds. Screams. They echoed off the mansion walls.Her blue jeans turned crimson, blood spreading fast.Rain rinsed her torn skin, made it pale—then the bleeding started all over again.By the time it stopped, she couldn't scream anymore. Her legs were dead weight.Even with the rain, her body still jerked from the pain.Esteban and the bodyguards? They couldn't even watch.Hector dropped the cane. "Lock her in the basement. No sunlight till Charlotte walks again."Tiffany didn't panic.She never even woke up.First came the cold sweats. Then fever. Then seizures.Eventually, she couldn't feel her legs at all.Time blurred. The basement was just shadows and pain.The door creaked open sometimes—probably Esteban with meds.She couldn't tell. Had no clue how long she'd been down there.Just pain. Then blackout.Again and again—until someone hauled her into a car.Tiffany's eye