A new hell

ELIZABETH POV

The sound of my clothes hitting the floor was the only noise in the otherwise silent room. Each piece I packed felt like a part of me being stripped away. The reality of the situation was sinking in faster than I could handle. I was leaving behind everything—again.

I didn’t belong here, I never had. This place, these people, it was all just a facade. An illusion of belonging, a lie that I had to swallow for so long. Now, as I packed my few belongings, trying to ignore the heavy feeling in my chest, the last thing I needed was more drama. But I knew it was coming. It always did.

I hated the way my hands trembled as I zipped up the small duffel bag. It wasn’t like I had much to pack — a few clothes, some skincare, and a pair of worn sneakers I hadn’t replaced in years.

I was still trying to make sense of what had just happened when the door flung open behind me.

“Wow.” Jessica’s voice cut through the room like a blade dipped in venom. “Not even five minutes and you’re already packing your bags like a good little whore.”

I didn’t turn. I refused to give her the satisfaction.

She leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, her face twisted into that familiar mask of entitlement. “Do you even know who he is? Or are you just spreading your legs for anyone with a black card and a chiseled jaw?”

“I’m not doing this with you, Jess,” I muttered, shoving the last of my clothes into the bag.

Her heels clicked against the hardwood as she entered. “You think you’re clever? You think you’ve won?” she spat. “Let’s see how long your little fantasy lasts when Christian Reed finds out you have a child.”

My hands froze.

She circled me like a vulture. “Oh, don’t look so shocked. Everyone in this godforsaken house knows. You really think a bastard kid is going to keep a man like that? He’s going to throw you away the second he finds out. If he hasn’t already.”

I turned to her slowly. “Why are you really mad? Because he chose me even when he knew it was supposed to be you? Or because for once, you weren’t the prettiest thing in the room?”

Her eyes flared. “Don’t flatter yourself, Elizabeth. You’re nothing. You were never supposed to be anything. He was supposed to marry me.”

“You don’t even know him,” I said, my voice low.

She stepped closer, voice trembling with rage. “I don’t need to. He’s powerful, he’s rich, and he was mine until you slithered in and ruined everything.”

“I didn’t ruin anything.” I zipped the bag with finality. “You can’t ruin what was never real.”

She laughed bitterly. “You think he’s going to love you? Build a life with you and your charity-case child? You’re not even close to the kind of woman he needs.”

Something sharp twisted in my chest, but I didn’t let her see it.

Jessica’s lips curled into a smug smile. “Let’s just wait and see how long you last. Because when he finds out what you’ve been hiding, don’t come crying back to me.”

“As if I ever would,” I whispered.

We stared at each other for a long moment, the silence crackling between us. Then she turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

I exhaled, letting the breath I didn’t realize I was holding slip from my lungs.

There was no time to fall apart.

I grabbed the bag and walked out of the room, forcing each step forward like I hadn’t just been threatened by my own sister.

At the foot of the stairs, Christian Reed stood waiting.

Tall. Impeccably dressed. Cold.

He didn’t say anything. Just glanced at his watch.

“You’re late.”

I clenched my jaw. “Barely.”

His gaze swept over me — not lingering, not kind. Just calculated. Like he was checking to see if I’d crack.

I didn’t.

He turned and walked out. I followed.

There was a sleek black Aston Martin DBS Superleggera waiting in the driveway. The kind of car that looked like it didn’t belong anywhere near this crumbling estate,a quiet statement of power.

His driver opened the passenger door and slid in.

Once he was in the driver’s seat, the door shut with a soft click, sealing me into this new reality.

None of us spoke as the car purred to life and pulled away.

I watched the house disappear in the rearview mirror, but I didn’t feel sad. Just… disconnected. Like I’d already left that place long ago, and now my body was just catching up.

After several minutes, I finally spoke. “Where are we going?”

He didn’t glance at me. “Someplace better.”

“That doesn’t tell me anything.”

He finally looked over, one brow arched. “You’ll see.”

Arrogant. Distant. Like he was used to being obeyed without question.

My heart thudded quietly, and my thoughts spun. I had no idea who this man — Christian Reed — really was. Why he agreed to buy me, or what he expected from me.

And for the first time in years, that terrified me.

****************

The car slowed to a stop in front of a towering penthouse that looked like it belonged in a movie—sleek, modern, and intimidating. Daniel stepped out first and opened the passenger door for me.

I got out, my thrifted heels clicking against the marble driveway.

“Follow me.” Christian said without so much as a glance in my direction.

I trailed slowly behind him, the distance between us feeling more emotional than physical. At the entrance, several men in dark suits stood like statues. Guards. security. They bowed slightly as we passed , some muttering quiet greetings.

None were acknowledged.

Inside, the air smelled like polished wood and old money.

A woman probably in her sixties stepped in to view. She had an apron around her neck, her grey hair tucked neatly into a bun.

“welcome back son.“

Christian pace didn’t slow,

“Nana,” he said, “that’s my wife, show her around and my study as well—she should meet me there in one hour.”

Nana’s brows lifted in mild surprise. “Should I come with her?”

He stopped. Turned. And for the first time since we arrived, his eyes found mine.

Cold. Empty. Unreadable.

“No,” he said, “Her. Alone.”

My stomach twisted under his stare, but I didn’t look away.

“Don’t be a minute late,” he added, and he was gone—disappearing down the hall.

*********

Exactly an hour later, I stood outside his study. My heart thumped, my hand trembling as I turned the handle.

The door creaked open— and the sight that greeted me nearly knocked the air from my lungs.

Christian sat in a leather chair, his head tilted back, eyes half-closed.

A woman was on her knees between his legs, sucking his dick like she was starving for it—no shame, no hesitation. The sound of it made bile rise in my throat.

I gasped.

The woman looked up, lips red, glistening.

“Who the hell is this bitch?” The girl stood up, dragging her clothes over her body, she’s so tall and skinny.

Christian didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look surprised. He just stared at me, calm as ever.

“Watch your mouth, Shasha,” he said casually, zipping his pants up without shame. “That’s my wife.”

Wife?

I felt sick. Heat crawled up my throat.

She laughed, “Wife?! She looks lik—“

“Get out,” he said coldly.

“Baby but we weren’t done—” She sing song in a stupid voice, I could throw up any moment.

“I said get out!” He growled, rising from his chair. In one swift motion, he grabbed her arm and shoved her toward the door. She stumbled, landing with a yelp.

I gasped. Did he really just—

Before she could say another word, he slapped the door in her face.

“Fuck off!” He spat behind it.

Then he turned to me and flicked on the light.

I could see everything now—his disheveled hair, lipstick smeared on his neck and jaw, his shirt half open, chest rising and falling like he hadn’t just been getting blowjob two seconds ago.

His eyes met mine.

“You couldn’t knock?” he asked, his voice low and sharp.

“I’m sorry” I stammered.

“You’ve barely spent an hour here, you’re already causing trouble, Elizabeth.” The way he said my name, it didn’t sound like a name. It sounded like a threat. Like he owned it. Owned me.

He stepped closer, slow and deliberate.

“If you are going to live in my house, you need to learn your fucking place. You’re here for me. You belong to me now. Understand?”

My stomach turned.

“Answer me!” he snapped.

“Yes,” I breathed, nodding slowly.

He tilted his head slowly “Any question?”

I hesitated, then forced the words out.

“Will I stop seeing….things like that?”

“No,” he said without missing a beat. “Being married doesn’t mean I will stop bringing hoes home. Get used to it.”

The room spun for a second. Cold settled in my bones.

From that moment, I knew I was doomed.

“I was going to explain how this marriage will work. But you ruined that.”

He walked past me, his scent lingering, his presence overwhelming.

“Leave. I’ll call for you when I feel like dealing with this.”

My legs moved before my mind did

Out the door, down the hall. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I needed to breathe somewhere far away from him.

Somewhere away from that room, away from the smell of sex, power, and something worse—humiliation.

My heart pounded in my ears. I felt like I’m shrinking.

I found the guest room Nana showed me earlier, and I shut the door quietly behind me. I didn’t cry. I wanted to. I wanted to curl up and disappear. But I didn’t.