Chapter 3

The reply came almost immediately.

“Don’t worry. We’ve been holding the spot for you.”

“Report to London in five days.”

My nose stung, and the tears came again.

For years, Dominic had kept me locked away at home like a bird in a gilded cage. My one job was to give him an heir.

The miscarriage six months ago had shattered me, body and soul. I had taken round after round of medication and treatments, trying to recover as fast as I could.

I had sealed myself off completely. All my professional skills had been shelved, and I had turned down the company’s overseas offers time and again.

Thinking about everything I had given up for Dominic, I felt like the biggest fool alive.

“Stella Quinn, from now on, you live for yourself.”

I dragged my heavy suitcase out the door and wandered the streets with nowhere to go.

The sky opened up without warning, drenching me in seconds. The cold seeped straight through to my bones.

It wasn’t until I stumbled into a hotel that I felt any warmth at all.

The rain caught up with me. By midnight, I was burning with a fever.

Half-conscious, I heard my phone buzzing over and over.

But I was too exhausted. My fingers slid across the screen again and again without ever hitting answer.

The next morning, I turned on my phone to ninety-nine missed calls.

I bolted upright.

A text from Dominic had just come through.

“Stella, where the hell are you? You cause a scandal like this and have the nerve to run?”

“Do you have any idea how much damage you’ve done to me and Ashford Corp? You shameless bitch!”

My heart plummeted, and my ears began to ring.

Another notification popped up. A trending headline.

“Dominic Ashford’s wife caught in cheating scandal. Ashford family disgraced.”

As if I already knew what I would find, I tapped the link with shaking fingers.

Every photo was of me. Naked.

I gasped.

Before I could react, the door to my room was kicked open.

Dominic’s men rushed in, pinned me to the bed, and bound me tight.

My mind went blank. I wanted to scream, wanted to explain, but my throat was locked shut. Not a single sound came out.

The Ashford Estate.

I was forced to my knees.

“Stella, do you have any idea what you’ve done!”

Dominic roared at me. “You’ve been married into this family for five years. You know the Ashford family code.”

My heart gave a violent lurch.

The Ashford family code had always been brutal, especially when it came to the heir. Not a whiff of scandal was tolerated.

When a transgression occurred, punishment was carried out without exception.

I raised my head, tears streaming down my face.

“Dominic, please believe me. I have never done anything to betray you!”

“Those photos were fabricated!”

Dominic closed his eyes. After a long moment, he placed a cane into his father’s hand.

“Father, I’m sorry. I chose the wrong woman. Please carry out the punishment.”

The thin cane came down hard. My back tensed, and then there was nothing but searing pain.

I was still weak from the fever the night before. My body couldn’t take it.

After a few dozen lashes, my back was torn open. I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

“I didn’t... I didn’t...”

I whispered, barely alive. Dominic looked down at me, his eyes burning with rage.

“You still deny it! Seems like this isn’t enough for you!”

The cane struck again, and this time, my vision went black. I nearly lost consciousness.

A rush of warmth flooded between my legs.

Blood.

Screams erupted around me. I couldn’t hold on any longer, and my eyes drifted shut.

A pair of familiar arms scooped me up and rushed me out.