Chapter 3

I was freezing. My clothes were still wet, and the floor beneath me was stained with blood.

I didn't know how much time had passed when a splash of icy water hit my face.

Eula stood over me. She looked down at me with a sarcastic smile.

It had been four days since I last ate. My body was so weak I couldn't even lift a finger.

My throat was so dry it felt scorched, and every breath came with a searing pain.

"Tsk, tsk, look at you. So pitiful," she sneered.

She lifted my chin with the tip of her toes.

"Kneel and beg me. Who knows, maybe I'll show you some mercy."

I coughed weakly. The unusually high temperature in my body warned me that I was burning up.

Even as I shivered, I clenched my jaw and refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me broken.

I forced a smile and stared her down.

"No wonder Scott loves you. You're just as despicable as I imagined," I said.

Her expression darkened instantly. She yanked my soaked hair and uttered, "You're so arrogant. Do you really think he cares about you? He doesn't!

"You're just a toy to me. I can do whatever I want with you, and he'll go along with it.

"It's your fault for getting in my way."

"What way?"

Eula froze when she heard Scott's voice.

He was standing by the door and frowning slightly as he took in the scene.

Eula panicked for a moment but quickly played the victim.

"I was just checking on Natalie, but she cursed at me and said I was getting in her way."

Scott's expression changed. He pulled her into his arms protectively. He then kicked me hard in the stomach.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. You're not getting in anyone's way. You're my everything. If she still doesn't know her place, maybe the punishment wasn't enough."

The kick sent me into a violent spasm. I coughed up blood, and my stomach ached intensely.

It wasn't over yet.

Scott ordered someone to bring a skimpy dress. They forced it onto me and fastened a collar around my neck.

I was dragged to the back of his car and chained to the rear.

"Come on, let's take her for a stroll." he said before wrapping his arms around Eula as they got into the car.

The car moved slowly down the busy street, forcing me to stumble along behind it.

People stopped and stared. Phones came out.

Some laughed, while others pointed and whispered to each other.

A few men took the chance to grope my exposed body.

I tried to back away, but the collar yanked at my neck until I could barely breathe.

The car window rolled down.

Eula peeked out. Her voice was filled with mock concern.

"Do you think this might be too much for Natalie?"

"Silly girl." Scott chuckled.

"She was so cruel to you, and you still feel bad for her?" He added.

The car stopped at a red light.

A ragged homeless man came toward me and started groping me without shame.

I struggled desperately to avoid his touch, but it was pointless.

He pinned me down and started removing my clothes with brute force.

I thrashed around and screamed.

"Help! Please, somebody help me!"

He leered and bared his rotting, yellow teeth.

"Quit screaming, pretty face. No one's coming for you."

"Let me go! Get off me!"

From inside the car, Eula's laughter was louder than the chaos outside.

She clapped her hands with delight.

"Scott, this is hilarious!"

I saw myself in the rearview mirror. I looked helpless while the homeless man grew more excited.

Scott didn't react.

He glanced at me once before turning to Eula. He let her rest her head on his shoulder.

"As long as you're happy," he said softly.

Just as the homeless man tried to go further, the collar around my neck suddenly tightened. The car had started moving again.

The pulling force was violent. My neck jerked backward, and my body was dragged along.