Chapter 7

I refused to eat anything for the next three days.

I felt like I was going mad from the extended isolation. I spent my days curled up against the corner of the empty room, oscillating between laughing maniacally and crying.

I had lost count of how many times the door opened. However, it was not Jakob who showed up this time but Xavier instead.

“Grace, eat something.” His voice was calm, but I could sense a hint of irritation underneath it that he must not have realized.

I did not react at all. I hardly blinked at the sight of him.

At last, he lost his patience. He bent over and seized my chin with his monstrously large hand and forced me to look at him.

Upon noticing how haggard I looked, his tone softened slightly.

“It’s just a cat. Why are you ruining yourself? I’ll have someone bring you a few ragdoll cats tomorrow.

“As long as you behave and listen to me, I’ll let you have anything. I’d even get you a tiger if you want.”

I sneered, “Did you think everything in the world could be solved with money?”

“What do you want then?” He frowned sharply while his eyes darkened, “Alice is pregnant! She can’t handle being upset. I have to make sure she is safe.”

“I want you to die.” I felt like my hatred for him had reached a tipping point. “You can go ahead and off yourself with your scandalous mistress and that bastard kid.”

Smack!

The sharp sound of a slap echoed in the room. Half of my face swelled up in an instant while blood seeped out of the corner of my mouth.

Then, his hand that had struck me clenched tightly into a fist. He seemed immeasurably disappointed.

“I’ve given you all the wealth, luxury, and status as the Donna for the last five years. What more could you want? Why must you challenge me over something so trivial?”

“Trivial?”

I wiped the blood from my mouth and retorted with a dead look in my eyes, “Yes, as far as you are concerned, all the love I have for you, along with my pride and feelings, are trivial. You only care about your Alice.”

When he looked at me, I recognized a complex pool of emotions in his eyes. There was anger and what seemed like a hint of panic.

However, it did not take long before he regained his icy demeanor.

“You'd better put yourself together.” He straightened his cuffs, “There’s going to be an annual charity auction held in Zurosh three days later. You’re attending with me.”

The door slammed shut.

It was only after hearing the footsteps in the corridor fade away that I tremblingly reached for a mini communication device I tucked away.

“Rosalia…”

“Donna! Thank God, you finally contacted me!” Her voice was excited.

“Rosy is dead. After she scratched Alice, Xavier… He killed her.”

There was a few seconds of overbearing silence on the other end of the phone.

Then came the sound of her holding back tears and sniffling.

“I’m so sorry, Rosalia. I’ll apologize to Annie myself.”

“Please don’t say that, Donna. I couldn’t possibly blame you.” Her voice was choked up as she said, “Annie is still in the sanatorium, waiting for her cat. If she finds out how you and Rosy were treated…”

“I can’t wait any longer, Rosalia. Has Noah seen the letter yet?”

“Mr. Gill has already given his word that he would make the arrangements. All you need to do is show up at the auction in three days, then he’ll have someone ferry you away.”

Noah used to be Xavier’s Underboss. However, he retired three years ago because he couldn’t see eye to eye with Xavier.

Before retiring, he assured me that if I ever wanted to cut ties with the Whitmores, I could go to him.

At the time, I hardly took it to heart because I was dedicated to Xavier. I thought it was a joke.

Little did I know that this supposed joke would be my lifeline.

“Alright.” I gripped the device tightly, “Tell him I'll be there.”

Three days.

Just three more days until I got out of this disgusting hellhole.

I would avenge you, Rosy.