Chapter 7

Zoe shifted slightly to block his view of the fireplace.

"Some scrap paper. Am I not allowed to burn it?"

"You can burn the whole house down if it makes you happy, Zo."

His playful reply drew only a bitter smile. Perhaps he'd forgotten all those love letters he'd written.

"You've been so unhappy lately. There's a gala tomorrow night. Come with me."

She was about to refuse when a notification from the immigration office appeared on her phone. Her application had been approved. She could leave whenever she wanted.

For a long moment, she looked at Sebastian before finally saying, "All right."

One more happy memory, then she could bring their relationship to a close.

The following evening, she attended the gala as his assistant once again. Standing a little way off, she watched him surrounded by people, a bitter smile on her lips. She'd waited eight years. Now, with her departure so close, she still had no legitimate place at his side.

Though she never drank, she drained her glass of red wine in one swallow. Its sharp, astringent taste dulled the pain in her chest.

The band changed tunes, beginning her favorite song just as a slender hand appeared before her. She looked up at Sebastian in surprise, her heart suddenly contracting.

"May I have this dance?"

His eyes sparkled as he repeated the words he'd used the first time he'd asked her to dance. She instinctively placed her hand in his, remembering their freshman dance and how he'd led her onto the floor with everyone watching.

Dancing with him unsettled the calm she'd struggled to find. For a moment, even her resolve to leave began to waver.

"Mr. Lawson's assistant doesn't usually stand out, but she's beautiful when she dances."

"Didn't he always have male assistants? Isn't he worried his wife will get jealous?"

"Everyone knows he adores his wife. However pretty this assistant is, she can't compare to the woman who helped him build his business from nothing."

The remarks cut through Zoe. Yvonne was praised for standing by him while he built his business, while Zoe, who'd wasted five years in prison for him, was only fit to be his obedient kept woman.

Her heart sank, her hand turning cold in his. She abruptly pulled away and turned to leave, but Sebastian caught her before she could go. Before he could ask what was wrong, a voice came over the speakers.

"Zoe Harper, for causing one death and minor injuries to two others while driving under the influence, you are sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay 3.5 million in compensation. Do you accept the judgment, or do you wish to appeal?"

Footage of her sentencing appeared on the ballroom's enormous screen. Everyone heard her answer.

"I accept the judgment. I won't appeal."

An uproar swept the room. The blood drained from Zoe's face as she began to shake. Her trial had been closed to the public. How had the footage ended up here?

People stared at her with contempt, as though she were something filthy. She wanted to run, but her legs had no strength left, and the images kept coming: photographs of her face swollen and bruised from beatings, footage of her head being shaved, pictures of her head forced into a toilet. They even showed her naked, being blasted with a high-pressure hose.

"Oh my God. That's Mr. Lawson's assistant? She's a murderer."

"A drunk driver, too. She deserved what she got. Even out of prison, people like her are a menace to society."

Zoe felt herself dragged back into those five dark years. Every stare seemed to strip the gown from her body.

"Don't look... Please, don't look..."

She stumbled toward the screen, trying to block the enormous display with her slight body. Why were they humiliating her like this? Why couldn't they just leave her alone?

Sebastian stood frozen by the photographs and videos. Whenever he'd visited her in prison, there had been unexplained injuries on her body, but she'd never tell him what had happened. Eventually, he'd stopped asking. He'd never imagined she was living through anything this horrific.

Guilt and anguish for her swept aside every concern about his reputation or status. All he wanted was to protect the woman who'd borne it all for him.

"Smash that fucking screen! If a single word about this gets out, you'll answer to Lawson Group!"

His bodyguards smashed the expensive screen to pieces with a few blows. Sebastian rushed forward and pulled Zoe tightly into his arms, his eyes bloodshot.

"Zo, I'm sorry... I had no idea how much you suffered in there. Don't be afraid. I'm here. No one will dare do this to you again."

She clung to his arm, leaving deep marks in his skin. Seemingly oblivious to the pain, he kept murmuring gentle reassurances in her ear until her eyes finally lost some of their vacant look.

With her head bowed and her arms wrapped tightly around herself, Zoe followed him through the crowd. The walk was short, but every step felt like treading on broken glass.

Just as she thought she could escape, several people rushed out of nowhere. Without a word, they grabbed her hair and slapped her across the face with all their strength.

"Zoe Harper, you bitch! Give me back my son!"