6

His cold eyes were fixed on her without saying a word.

Silence fell over the hallway, so complete that even the whispers of those present disappeared entirely.

As for Celia Winters, she stood frozen in place, her trembling hands still holding the edge of her jacket. Her body was swaying from dizziness, while she tried with all the strength she had left to remain standing and not fall in front of him.

As for Evelyn Winters, she seized the opportunity immediately, and approached Junior with calm steps, painting a gentle smile on her lips.

"So you are Mr. Junior Hamilton."

He nodded without answering.

Evelyn sighed with feigned sadness.

"I just ran into my sister here by chance, and I only wanted to greet her and ask why she hasn't visited her family since she got out of prison."

She lowered her head as if she were in pain.

"But she insulted me... and called me a whore."

The whispers of those present rose.

As for Evelyn, she continued in a tone full of regret:

"She even told me that she just seduced you."

Then she shook her head quickly.

"Of course I didn't believe her... so I tried to find out the truth."

She looked at Junior with eyes full of concern.

"I'm just afraid she will wrong you again... and be sent back to prison."

She paused for a moment, then added with a polite smile:

"Please don't mind what happened between us... and please don't send her back to prison."

Her words seemed kind...

But she deliberately repeated the word prison over and over, until looks of contempt began to turn towards Celia.

Celia lowered her head even more.

She was trembling.

And she no longer knew if it was because of the alcohol...

Or fear.

Junior raised his eyes to her.

He kept staring at her for long seconds.

Then he suddenly said, in a cold voice that carried no mercy:

"Didn't you want to sleep with me?"

Celia's eyes widened.

She raised her head towards him quickly.

"What...?"

He took another step closer to her.

"Isn't that what you told your sister?"

She shook her head violently.

"No... I didn't say..."

But her words choked before they could be completed.

Junior grabbed her wrist hard.

She gasped in pain.

She tried to step back, but he pulled her towards him easily.

"Then..."

He said in a sarcastic tone.

"I will grant your wish."

Celia's face turned completely pale.

"No...!"

She tried to free herself from his grip, but her weak body didn't help her.

She was hitting his chest with her trembling hands while crying.

"Please... let me go..."

"I swear I didn't say that..."

But Junior didn't answer her.

He carried her in his arms amid everyone's astonishment, and headed with her towards his private suite on the upper floor.

As for Evelyn...

She smiled maliciously as she watched the door close behind them.

She whispered to herself:

"After tonight... she will have nothing left."

Junior opened the suite door with his foot, then entered and closed the door behind him.

He put Celia down on the ground.

But as soon as her feet touched the ground, she quickly stepped back.

She was trembling violently.

She placed both hands on her jacket, as if trying to protect herself.

Junior approached her slowly.

As for her...

She was stepping back one step after another.

Until her back hit the wall.

There was no way left for her to escape.

He stopped directly in front of her.

Then he raised his hand towards her shoulder.

Celia gasped.

"No..."

She tried to push him away, but he grabbed the edge of her jacket, wanting to pull it off to confirm to himself that she had been deliberately seducing him.

And suddenly...

The jacket slipped off one of her shoulders.

And his hand froze in place.

A part of her back appeared before his eyes...

It was not normal skin.

It was full of scars.

Long scars...

And intersecting...

Old and recent.

Marks of whipping...

And wounds that had not completely healed.

Celia trembled when she realized that her scars had been exposed.

She let out a choked gasp, then quickly grabbed her jacket and wrapped it around her body.

She collapsed to the floor crying hard.

"Please..."

"Don't look at them..."

"Please..."

Her tears were pouring non-stop.

And she started shaking her head frantically.

"Don't hurt me..."

"I won't resist..."

"Just... please... don't touch me..."

"Please..."

Silence fell.

Junior stood in his place, as if he had lost the ability to move.

He couldn't take his eyes off those scars.

It wasn't one scar...

Nor two...

But dozens of scars that could not possibly be the result of an accident.

He raised his gaze to her.

She was hugging her body with her arms, trembling as if she were living an old nightmare.

For the first time...

He took a step back.

Then he said in a low but decisive voice:

"Put your clothes on."

Celia slowly raised her head, her tears still covering her face.

He turned his back to her.

And added without looking at her:

"Get out."

She couldn't believe what she had heard.

She got up with difficulty, adjusted her clothes with trembling hands, then opened the door, sobbing.

And before she left, she heard his voice for the last time.

"If you come near me again..."

He paused for a moment, then continued coldly:

"You won't be as lucky as you were today."

Celia closed her eyes tightly.

She whispered in a voice that was barely audible:

"It will never happen again... ever."

Then she hurried out of the room, while Junior remained standing in front of the window, as if what had happened had left no trace in him.