Chapter 4

Cyrus' POV

My fingers were bleeding from prying loose stones from the wall. I'd torn my nails and split them down to the quick, but the pain and blood didn't matter. I kept moving, carrying Marissa on my back and forcing myself forward, determined to get her out of there alive.

But I hadn't eaten in so long that my body was already dangerously weak. Black spots danced across my vision, and with every step, my legs felt less steady. I stumbled through the forest until I finally found a hollow inside a large tree. Carefully, I lowered Marissa into it and made sure she was hidden from sight.

She was pale and barely conscious. Desperate to keep her alive, I picked up a sharp stone from the ground and sliced open my wrist. Then I pressed it to her lips and let her drink my blood.

The blood loss made my head spin even more. I shook my head, forcing myself to stay conscious, and used the last of my strength to make my way back toward the path we'd escaped along.

The kidnappers hadn't gotten what they wanted, so there was no way they would simply let us go. With both of us in such weak condition, Marissa and I would never make it out of the forest together. It was only a matter of time before they caught up with us.

The only way I could keep her safe was to draw them away from her.

I knew there was a hunter's trap near the tree hollow, and I was certain someone would find Marissa by the next day. As long as I could lead the kidnappers in the opposite direction, she'd have a chance to survive.

Once I was sure she was hidden and safe, I turned and headed back toward the path.

That was my last thought before everything went black.

Just as I'd expected, the kidnappers found me and dragged me back. They blamed me for ruining their plans by helping Marissa escape, and the man whose head I'd smashed was especially vicious. He glared at me with pure hatred, clearly determined to make me pay.

They hung me up and whipped me with a saltwater-soaked whip, demanding to know where Marissa was. I clenched my teeth and refused to tell them.

That only enraged them further.

What followed was a brutal beating unlike anything I'd ever endured. They cut into my skin with blades, then poured saltwater and pepper water over the wounds. They drove needles beneath my fingernails and subjected me to every form of cruelty they could think of.

They took out all their anger and frustration on me, watching with sick satisfaction as my body convulsed from the pain.

For seven straight days, I was subjected to torture that felt like it would never end. By the time I was finally rescued, I could barely recognize myself.

The moment I saw the people who had come to rescue me, the first thing I asked was, "How is Marissa?"

No one answered.

I was taken to a private hospital for treatment, and I kept asking the same question over and over, but no one would tell me anything. They wouldn't even let me leave the hospital.

For three long months, I was kept there, completely cut off from Marissa and the outside world.

Then, one day, a car from the Caldwell family finally arrived to take me home. I thought I would finally get some answers, but the moment I stepped out of the car, I was met with Marissa's cold, disgusted stare.

Instead of asking if I was okay, she accused me of being selfish. She said that when we were in danger, I'd abandoned her and escaped on my own. She told me she hated me and never wanted to see me again.

According to her, the only reason she was still alive was that someone else had rescued her.

Then, just as I was trying to process her words, I saw her expression soften.

But she wasn't looking at me.

There was another boy standing beside her. His name was Damian.

From that day on, the two of them were almost always together, looking every bit like the perfect couple. And I became nothing more than the person Marissa believed had abandoned her when she needed me most.

I desperately wanted to explain what had really happened to Marissa, but Aria Whitmore, Elena's longtime assistant, stopped me before I could say a word.

There was a trace of pity in her kind eyes as she led me to the study, where Elena was waiting. She explained that Damian was the only son of the Davenhurst family and that, compared to a poor nobody like me, his family was in an entirely different league.

Then she told me to stay away from Marissa and stop deluding myself into thinking I could ever marry the daughter of the Caldwell family.

My mind went completely blank.

I opened my mouth, desperate to explain that I hadn't abandoned Marissa. I hadn't selfishly run away and left her behind.

But before I could get the words out, I realized no one cared about the truth.