Chapter 3

All afternoon, I curled up in my bedroom, yet the laughter from the living room rang far too clearly.

When I looked in on them, I saw Ellis smiling as Russell fed her grapes.

“You’ve injured your arm… I’m here to take care of you and ease your burdens.”

“I need you to ease more than just that. Tonight, help me shower. That would truly ease my burdens.”

I turned away, refusing to listen, holding back the tears in my eyes.

I gathered several documents, planning to return to the company, but just as I reached the stairs, Ellis called out to me.

After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke.

“I’ve just made Russell my assistant. He’s got to work on a lot of things, and as Vice President, you should communicate with him more.

“Hand over the project you’re working on to Russell. You can take the chance to rest.”

Her casual tone sent a jolt through my chest.

I remembered all those nights I drank with the client to secure that project.

My nose prickled.

Was Ellis really giving away the results of my hard work so easily?

My clenched fist loosened again.

I drew a long breath and agreed.

She seemed surprised that I accepted so quickly.

“This is also a chance for Russell to grow. Tonight, I booked a table at your favorite Asian restaurant.”

Before I could reply, Ellis walked out with Russell.

As she left, Russell flashed a triumphant smile at me.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I finally understood.

The entire table was full of dishes, yet not a single one I liked.

Ellis even ordered seafood soup, which I was allergic to, and Russell ate it with great enthusiasm.

I didn’t touch my cutlery.

When Ellis stepped out to take a call, Russell showed his true colors, deliberately lifting the seafood soup and moving it toward me.

The bowl and spoons clattered sharply as he cried out in pain, his eyes reddening.

At that moment, Ellis pushed open the door and saw the scene.

Without giving me a chance to explain, she blamed me and demanded to know why I was so petty.

I pressed my lips together and spoke slowly.

“I didn’t do it. He moved the soup toward me himself. And I’m allergic to seafood. Don’t remember?”

Only then did Ellis seem to recall, but she remained stubborn.

She tossed out a curt, “Take care of yourself,” and left without looking back.

Night brought a sudden downpour, and as expected, I was drenched through.

By the time I returned to the villa, it was already late.

Through the half-closed door, I heard the sound of breathy, intimate gasps.

I froze, and then Russell opened the door with a sly smile.

“I didn’t expect a loyal little lapdog like you to eavesdrop. What’s wrong? Miss Stewart hasn’t let you touch her in three years, has she? Are you jealous?”

With his smugness, his bathrobe shifted, revealing the red marks scattered across his skin.

Rage made my body unsteady.

I tried to leave, but Russell shoved me, and I fell heavily to the floor as he shut the door again.

“Since you love listening so much, don’t leave tonight. Enjoy hearing exactly how I ease Miss Stewart’s burdens!”

I pushed myself up using the wall.

My injured right leg throbbed in the damp weather, each step more difficult than the last.

By the time I returned to my room, twenty minutes had passed.

I stared blankly at the ceiling before realizing my tears had already dried on my face.

The next morning, I went downstairs with swollen eyes, only to find the entire living room empty.

As I hesitated, a message arrived from an unfamiliar account.

It was a video of Ellis tied up, crying, and begging me to save her.

The sender provided an address and threatened to kill her if I delayed.

After wavering again and again, I rushed to the outskirts of the city.

The moment I stepped into the warehouse, a rope tightened around my neck from behind.

I was bound and stuffed into a burlap sack.

Crude laughter echoed beside my ears.

Someone kicked me, leaving me bruised from head to toe.

When thick flames rose around us, I finally broke free of the restraints and crawled out.

In that moment, all I felt was release.

My phone rang again.

It was an audio message from Russell.

“Make sure the kidnapping is convincing. Do everything exactly as instructed,” said a voice that sounded a lot like Ellis.