EXCEPTION

Agonizing pain ripped through my body, penetrating every cell as tears streamed down my cheeks, pleading for him to stop. But Blaine's face twisted into something monstrous, his eyes gleaming with fury. I hugged my body tightly, trying desperately to stifle my sobs. 

"Please... Blaine, stop." My voice trembled, broken. "I-I just want to eat. What am I supposed to do? I'm hungry. My stomach hurts..." I dared to glance at him, hoping he would soften and his rage would subside. But all I could see in his eyes was burning hatred until, without warning, he ripped off his black belt and began lashing me as if I had committed some heinous, unforgivable sin.

"You stupid, worthless bitch! How many times do I have to tell you? Don't eat anything!" His voice thundered through the room, his anger savage. "The grand party is tomorrow night! You have to be the most alluring woman there! Do you think stuffing your face is going to help with that? Eating will make you fat and ugly!"

His words cut deeper than the belt. Blaine shoved me toward the counter, my body colliding with the cold marble. My eyes darted to the food piled high in front of me—steak, fries, the very things that had driven him into this rage. He jabbed a finger at the plates. "Look at that! What you see there is trash! You can't gain more weight, Adeleine! Do you understand?!"

I bit my lip, struggling to find my voice as my hands shook in fear. "What do you want me to do? I'm starving. This food won't make me fat—look at me! I'm wasting away!" 

My plea seemed only to enrage him further. Blaine grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head down until my face was pressed against the cold, hard countertop. Pain exploded through me, both physical and emotional, and I whimpered. "Please... stop, Blaine. It hurts…"

His grip tightened, his voice a cruel hiss. "You have no right to talk to me like that! I didn't marry you so you could have your own mind. I married you to obey me, to serve me. Now clean this mess up and ensure you're the most expensive woman in the room tomorrow night."

His words sent a chill down my spine. *Expensive?* I repeated the word in my mind, not fully understanding. "W-What do you mean by 'expensive woman'?"

"You heard me." His sneer was evil, his tone dripping with a malicious intent I couldn't quite grasp. "Tomorrow night, several wealthy investors will be attending the party. One of them is particularly interested in you. His name is Chris."

"What are you talking about?" My voice wavered, dread settling in my gut.

"He offered me twenty thousand dollars." Blaine's tone was casual as if he were discussing the weather, but his words were laced with something vile. "In exchange, you'll spend three nights with him."

My blood ran cold. "Are you serious? I'm your wife! You can't do this to me!"

"Shut your filthy mouth!" he roared, reverberating like thunder. His words hit me harder than any of his blows ever had. "I don't love you. We're married because of your father's business, remember? Don't expect anything more from me." 

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. "No," I whispered, barely able to speak through the lump in my throat. "No, Blaine. I've endured this toxic marriage for four years. You can hit me, abuse me, starve me, but I'm not going to that party. I'm not a whore for you to sell."

His face twisted into an expression of pure rage. "What did you just say?" His hand came down hard across my cheek, the slap reverberating through my skull, knocking me off balance. "You're mine! If I tell you to do something, you'll do it!"

Blaine grabbed my throat, choking me as he shoved me against the wall. My vision blurred as I struggled to breathe, to form words, but before I could, his fist connected with my stomach, and I crumpled to the floor, gasping for air. The pain was unbearable, tearing through me like fire.

"Stop..." I managed to choke out, my body trembling uncontrollably. But Blaine wasn't finished. He grabbed a glass bottle from the counter and hurled it to the floor beside me, shards flying everywhere. My heart pounded as he knelt, picking up one of the jagged pieces and holding it to my face.

"You see this?" His voice was dangerously low, his breath hot against my skin. "One wrong move and I'll scar that pretty face of yours for good."

I stared at him, numb. For four long years, I had endured this hell: the abuse, the starvation, the rapes, the constant belittling. I had never fought back. Blaine was too powerful, too connected, and I was too terrified. But something inside me snapped that night.

Without thinking, I reached for a piece of the shattered glass, my hand trembling, and stabbed it into his arm. Blood immediately blossomed from the wound, and for the first time, Blaine cried out in pain.

"You bitch!" he screamed, clutching his arm.

For a split second, satisfaction flickered through me, but it was short-lived. His expression darkened, and I knew I had crossed a line. I scrambled to my feet, every muscle in my body screaming in pain, and bolted for the door.

I didn't know where I was going. We had only moved into this neighborhood a month ago, and Blaine had never let me out of the house alone. My mind was a blur of panic, and all I knew was that I had to get away. I could hear Blaine's furious shouts behind me, getting closer with every step.

Suddenly, I spotted a large house at the end of the street. It was massive, much larger than ours, with stone walls and gleaming chandeliers visible through the windows. I didn't think twice. I darted toward the house, slipping around the side and hiding under the cover of a large oak tree. My chest heaved with exertion, my lungs burning as I struggled to catch my breath.

But Blaine's voice grew louder, and I knew he was too close. Desperate, I darted to the house's front door, praying it was unlocked. To my relief, it was. I slipped inside and closed the door quietly behind me, my heart pounding.

I was about to make a run for it again when I collided with something hard. I looked up, my breath catching in my throat as I realized I had run straight into a man's chest. He was tall, with striking platinum blonde hair streaked with gray and cold, icy blue eyes that seemed to pierce through me. His chiseled features looked almost ethereal. He glanced at me from head to toe, with an obvious shock on his face.

"Who the hell are you?" His voice was deep and commanding, but I detected a flicker of surprise beneath the sternness.

"Please... hide me..." I gasped, tears spilling down my cheeks once again. "Please, I'll repay you, I swear, just help me. He's going to kill me."

I hadn't realized I was gripping his coat until he gently pried my fingers off, his eyes scanning me with wariness and concern. Without a word, he grabbed my arm and pulled me into a nearby room, shutting the door behind us.

"Thank you for helping me. I—"

"Don't say a word. Just stay here." His baritone voice halted me as he put his finger against my lips to muffle my words. 

With his assurance, a wave of relief washed over me. For the first time, someone dared to protect me, even though we were strangers. 

As the man closed the door, I scanned the room, my eyes landing on a large screen displaying multiple security camera feeds, complete with audio. It covered every corner of the house. My attention snapped to the view of the living room, and I gasped as I saw the man approaching Blaine with a calm, calculated stride.

"Excuse me? I'm looking for a woman in a white dress. She may have passed through here," Blaine said, his fury barely concealed. I could feel the heat of his anger, even from my hiding spot.

The man crossed his arms, giving Blaine a cold, piercing look. "Let me make two things clear," He said, his voice calm and cutting. "First, entering someone's home without permission is trespassing. Second, you're in the wrong place."

Blaine's face darkened with frustration. "But I saw her come in here!" He insisted, his voice laced with arrogance.

"Why would I let a stranger into my house?" The man replied icily.

"Are you calling me a liar?" Blaine's voice dripped with venom.

"Pretty much," the man said with calm indifference.

I swallowed hard, my heart racing as Blaine stepped closer, wearing that smug look I knew all too well. It was the look he gave when he thought he had the upper hand, the same expression he used to manipulate and threaten others.

"Helping her will be your downfall. She's not your problem, and you should know better," Blaine warned, his eyes gleaming with menace. But the man didn't flinch—his composure unshaken, as if he held some quiet, unassailable power. I had never seen anyone stand up to Blaine like that.

"You should know your limits when stepping into my home," the man's voice dropped, taking on a threatening edge. "I told you, no woman entered this house."

Blaine sneered, brushing past him as if he wasn't a threat. "If she's not here, then you won't mind me taking a look around. Don't try to stop me if you're telling the truth."

Panic surged in my chest. He was going to find me. But then, something unexpected happened. The man swiftly pulled out a gun, aiming it at the back of Blaine's head.

"One more step, and I'll put a bullet right between your eyes," the man said, stepping in front of Blaine, the barrel of the gun now pressed against his forehead. "When I say you're in the wrong place, leaving is the smartest move. Unless, of course, you want to die."

I clapped a hand over my mouth, barely containing my disbelief. Who is this man?

My heart pounded in my chest, his words echoing in my mind. I started to wonder—had I traded one monster for another? Would this man, too, become my tormentor? Or was he something different, someone capable of offering me the protection I desperately needed? I could only hope I hadn't just escaped one nightmare to fall into another.

Ceaseless pain kept penetrating every cell in my body as my tears continued descending, begging him to stop. His countenance turned vicious again, his eyes filled with fury as he stared at me. My arms tightly embraced my body as I struggled to hold back my tears.

"Please... Blaine stop. I-I just want to eat. What am I supposed to do? I'm hungry. My stomach hurts." I glanced at him, hoping his rage would subside. But all I could see was his fury until he took off his black belt and began beating me mercilessly as if what I did was a horrendous crime punishable by death.

"You, fucking bitch! How many times do I have to tell you, do not eat anything! The grand party will commence tomorrow night, and you must be the most alluring and gorgeous woman! Eating will make you fat and ugly!" He hollered with his eyes burning with anger. He shoved me to the counter table made of white marble, with steak and french fries stacked high on it. "Look! What you see there is trash! You can't gain more calories, Adeleine! Do you understand?!"

"What do you want me to do? I'm hungry. This food will not make me fat. Look at my body! I'm losing weight!" My hand shivered in fear as I stated those words. He grabbed my hair roughly and pushed my face into the table, and I winced from both physical and emotional agony. "Stop! Please... it hurts, Blaine..."

"You have no liberty to talk to me like that! I married you not to be tactless but to serve me and do whatever I ask you! Now, clean up, and tomorrow, make sure you are the most expensive woman!"

The last words perplexed me. "W-What did you say? An expensive... woman?"

"You heard me, Adeleine. You're not deaf." He sneered as if a wicked intention lies within. "More than five wealthy investors will join the party. One of them has an interest in you. His name is Chris."

"W-What are you implying?"

"He offered me ten thousand dollars. In return, you have to be with him for three nights."

"Are you dead-ass serious? I'm your wife! You can do that to me!"

"Shut the fuck your mouth! I don't love you!" He screamed, making me even more exhausted as I recollected what really brought me into this toxic relationship. "We are married for the sake of your father's business, remember? Don't expect too much from me. Now, go back to your room and prepare yourself for tomorrow."

"No!" I dissented with courage. "I spent four years with you, enduring this toxic relationship, but not this time, Blaine. You can hit, abuse, or leave me out here to rot, but I'm not going to the party! I'm not a damn floozy for you to sell!"

"What did you say?!" He became even more furious, propelling him to slap me violently across the cheek. "You're mine! If I say so, you must obey!"

He choked me, pushing me until I bumped into the wall.

"S-Stop—"

He punched my stomach, making me wince in pain until I tumbled to the floor. The excruciating agony caused me to cry out for mercy again. And before I could defend myself, he threw a glass bottle over the floor on my nearest side, shattering it. He knelt, took the broken bottle, and pointed it toward me, inducing me to shut my mouth with utmost fear.

"You see this? I won't hesitate to cut your beautiful face if you ever transgress me again." He threatened me.

I'm used to it. I let him physically, verbally, and emotionally abuse me for four years. But inside those four years of hell of enduring this tortured life, I never once dared to defy him. He wanted me to be perfect in all aspects, which is impossible. This is why even my eating routine had been controlled by him. No matter how hard he beat me, I could do nothing to protect myself or prevent him from abusing me. I have been destroyed, starved, raped, and tortured, yet never once had I fought back because Blaine is not just an ordinary man but also an affluent and notorious with numerous contributions to several companies.

But today is the apogee of my suffering. And I will end it.

I grabbed a piece of a broken bottle beside me and stabbed it to his arm, enough to draw a wound and blood.

It was his turn to whimper in pain. "Fuck! Screw you!"

I smirked inwardly when I saw his expression, but the satisfaction only lasted a couple of seconds when I witnessed his face morph into a mask of rage.

I quickly stood up with all my strength and ran away from him toward the exit door. I don't know where to go since I'm unfamiliar with this place. We are in the Los Monterio Subdivision and moved here last month. I never had a chance to wander around because my husband forbade me to go out without him.

My parents betrothed me to Blaine Harrison to save our company from financial doom. They didn't even ask for my consent, and even if I had a chance to voice out my verdict, I knew they would never hear my words, not even my sentiments. And that's how my life began, to be stuck in a man I don't love, to be his slave, his prisoner, his toy who does whatever he wants without any protest, without any hope of escape.

My thought was interrupted by the voice behind me calling out my name. It's Blaine. I could feel the anger for every shout he made until my body quivered again in fear. He's chasing me now!

I've no exact destination, and I'm stuck between relinquishing and bearing another grave punishment or running until my feet cannot move anymore, maybe even dying of exhaustion.

Suddenly, I caught a luxury house nearby; it was too big compared to our house. It's made entirely of stone; its exterior is embellished with gold and crystal chandeliers. In short, I've found a temporary hideout, although I'm uncertain if it's safe.

Without reluctance, I ran outside and beelined to the right corner where there was a giant tree and bushes; I hid underneath the large branch and took a deep breath, my breathing still heavy from running. But Blaine's voice became even closer, which compelled me to enter the house's main door.

The extreme apprehension inside me as I stepped in was too strong, but I didn't have another choice aside from hiding. I locked the door and was about to run again when I suddenly bumped into someone's chest. When I looked up and realized it was a man, I froze. The man standing before me had platinum blonde hair with gray roots and blue eyes, which seemed cold yet beautiful. His chiseled features looked almost ethereal. He glanced at me from head to toe, with an obvious shock on his face.

"Who the fuck are you?" He queried, surveying my entire appearance. "Why are you here in my house?"

"Please.... please, hide me..." My tears started anew as I pleaded for help, hoping he would hear my entreaty. "I'm gonna repay you after this. Just please... please help me. I need you to let me stay here until he gets away."

I was so desperate, and I didn't notice I clutched his black coat tightly until he took my hand and immediately dragged me into the left corner. We went inside the room, and I finally glimpsed an emotion from him— a worry.

"Thank you for helping me, I swear—"

"Hush now, woman." His baritone voice halted me as he put his finger against my lips to muffle my words. "Don't say a word. Just stay here."

With that reassurance, I felt relieved. For the first time in my life, someone has the courage to protect me despite being strangers.

The man closed the door. I scanned the entire surrounding until I caught a huge CCTV monitoring screen with audio, enough to watch and hear what was ensuing in every corner of this house. My concentration was locked on the view of the living room, and I gasped to see the man slowly approaching Blaine.

"Excuse me? I'm looking for a girl wearing a white dress. Maybe she passes by here." Blaine wore controllable fury; I could sense it by just standing here. "Have you seen her?"

The man tossed him a frigid yet intimidating stare as he crossed his arm. "Let me clarify two things. First, entering a place without the owner's consent is trespassing. Second, you entered the wrong place."

"But I saw her enter this house!" Blaine's expression darkened.

"Why would I let a stranger in my house?" The man responded coldly.

"Are you trying to say that I'm lying?"

"Kind of."

I swallowed hard as I watched the scenario, especially when Blaine ambled closer to the man with a smug look, the typical expression he used to carry over someone.

"Helping her will make your life hell. She's none of your concern, and you should know that." Blaine tossed him an evil stare, but the man didn't flinch at his words. And I swear he's the most collected man I've ever seen, as if he held robust power, and whoever stood against him would regret it.

"You should know your boundaries when stepping into my house." The man's voice turned stern, and his aura became threatening. "I told you, no woman entered my house."

"If she's not here, allow me to inspect your house. Don't dare to stop me if you're telling the truth." Blaine sneered, then he walked passed the man.

I swallowed the bubble of trepidation building inside me. Blaine is going to find me now. But then I was completely wrong because the next thing that happened stunned me. The man effortlessly took off a gun from his side and pointed it at Blaine's back head. "One more move, and I'll implant a bullet directly into your head." He walked in front of Blaine, pointing out the gun on his forehead. "If I said you entered the wrong place, the best response is to vamoose immediately, not unless you wanna die."

I covered my mouth with my hands in disbelief. That sufficed my curiosity. What kind of man is he?

My heart thumped aggressively while the words he articulated kept reiterating in my head.

Now I'm starting to wonder if I will be stuck again with another cruel man who will abuse me unceasingly after owing a debt of gratitude. But I hope he's contrary to my mind.