MY FIRST RULE

EPISODE 2: MY FIRST RULE

Later that evening, I dressed properly—covered from my head down to my toes—ready to play the role of the submissive wife my husband expected me to be.

Logan’s friends weren’t as cruel as he was.

Most of them were married—except one.

His best friend, Christopher Clifford.

Christopher didn’t believe in marriage. In fact, his first rule in life was never to fall in love. He despised it—almost as much as I despised Logan and cursed myself daily for being trapped in such a sickening marriage.

“Hello, Alice… how are you doing?”

He approached me first, completely ignoring his friend.

“Hey… I’m fine,” I replied.

We were standing too close, so I took a step back.

“Nice.”

He reached into his bag and brought out a rose and a box of chocolates.

“This is for you.”

I hesitated. My hands refused to move. I just stood there, frozen—until my husband intervened.

Logan urged me to take the gift and go upstairs to enjoy myself.

I assumed he didn’t mind.

So I happily took the chocolates and the rose upstairs, just as he had said.

Hours later, I noticed it was almost dinner time. I quickly slipped into my shoes and went downstairs.

Gena had already set the dining table.

But something felt wrong.

There was only one plate on the table.

Moments later, Logan walked in behind me and grabbed my waist. I flinched at his touch. His face hovered close to mine as he pushed me down into the chair.

Gena uncovered the dish.

Melted chocolate.

I tried to turn my head toward Logan, but his grip tightened, forcing my face forward.

He leaned close and whispered into my ear.

“Eat it.”

At first, I thought he was joking.

But there was a thin line between teasing and punishment—and Logan never joked.

When he spoke, it was either obey… or suffer the consequences.

“I’m sorry… I can’t,” I whispered, resisting.

“You can’t?”

He chuckled darkly.

“Awwn… but I thought you loved chocolate?”

A wicked smile spread across his face.

Of course I loved chocolate—but not like this.

“Logan… whatever I’ve done, please forgive me.”

Instead of arguing, I apologized. I always did.

“No,” he said softly, caressing my face.

“Baby, I can only forgive you after you eat this.”

He pushed the plate closer.

With no other choice, I swallowed the melted chocolate until my stomach protested. I looked up at his face, desperate.

But what I saw there was satisfaction.

He enjoyed this.

My pain thrilled him.

“Water!”

He snapped his fingers. Gena rushed in with a glass of water.

I thought it was finally over—until she returned with two more plates of chocolate.

“Are you tired?” Logan asked calmly.

He already knew the answer.

“Yes… I’m sorry,” I begged, folding my hands.

He said nothing. He simply ordered me to finish the remaining plates before deciding whether to forgive me.

It didn’t matter how much I explained.

It never did.

I forced everything down. Chocolate smeared my lips and face. Logan leaned forward and wiped me with his handkerchief.

“Good girl,” he said, satisfied.

Then he left.

Wasn’t he the same man who had asked me to accept the gift from his friend?

Why was I being punished for obeying him?

Gena once again mentioned divorce.

I immediately shut the topic down and rushed upstairs.

I thought everything was over.

I was wrong.

The moment I entered the bedroom, my foot landed on something sharp. I looked down.

Roses.

The entire floor was covered in roses—their thorns exposed.

Logan sat calmly on the bed, adjusting his reading glasses.

“Welcome,” he said.

“Hi… what is all this?” I asked, trembling.

“I thought we settled everything.”

I tried to step forward, but he stopped me.

“Stand there.”

He pointed at the roses.

“Do you know what I want?”

“What exactly do you want?” I asked, frowning.

He smiled.

“I heard you like flowers.”

“Step on every thorn… and come to me.”

His voice thundered.

As long as I remained his wife, the torment would never end.

I stepped forward.

The thorns pierced my feet. Blood flowed, but I said nothing. I endured every step until I reached him.

He looked down at my bleeding legs and grinned.

For a moment, I thought he would feel remorse.

Instead, he called Gena to dress my wounds.

Soon after, he received a suspicious phone call and left the room.

Gena begged me once again to leave him.

She was right.

And I was wrong.

But did I have the courage to abandon my home and start afresh?

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Alice chose to stay in her abusive marriage despite all warnings—will she eventually break free?

Who called Logan? Is he hiding an affair?