Chapter 3

“Tell me, how do you teach someone as filthy and shameless as her a lesson?”

…

I huddled in the snow. My body was covered in bruises.

The neighbors whispered and sneered among themselves. Some mocked me, some laughed.

“This girl looks so proper, but behind the scenes, she’s completely shameless.”

“Griffin’s son is such a good man. How could he fall for someone like her?”

In all the noise, I felt someone spit right on my face.

I was freezing, and my teeth chattered, but my heart felt even colder.

Cole watched me being humiliated.

He did not look sorry. He looked satisfied.

I forced my teeth to stop chattering and mustered all my remaining strength to speak.

“Cole, aren’t you even willing to hear my side of this story? Are you just going to take her word for it?”

Cole sneered.

“What’s there to explain? Sophia, I don’t want to hear any of your lies.”

His eyes were full of disgust.

“You only disgust me. The thought of being with you makes me sick. Once this is over, the first thing I’ll do is get a full medical check.

“If I’ve caught any filthy disease from you, I’ll make sure you pay for it.”

Quilla patted his back gently to comfort him.

“Cole, don’t get angry over something like this. Getting sick over it isn’t worth it.”

I curled up on the ground. My face was blue from the cold.

Every breath felt like sharp thorns scratching my throat.

I forced out a few words.

“Quilla, am I the shameless one, or are you the one turning everything upside down?

“I’m giving you one last chance. If you don’t tell everyone the truth now, you’ll never have another chance to make it right.”

Quilla flew into a rage when she heard that.

“Sophia! After all this, you still have the nerve to threaten me?”

She bared her teeth and cursed.

She ran toward me, lifted her foot, and aimed it at my head.

When she almost hit me, Cole grabbed her just in time.

“Quilla, stop!”

His voice was low but urgent.

My heart skipped a beat.

I thought maybe Cole still cared for me.

But what he said next was colder than the winter snow.

“Stay away from her. A girl from a nightclub could carry all kinds of diseases. Don’t get your shoes dirty.”

The last bit of hope I had died the moment he spoke.

I could no longer feel the cold. All that was left was a numb emptiness.

Quilla pulled her foot back. She had a wicked smile on her face.

“Cole, I can’t believe you wasted time on her. This filthy liar tricked you for so long and still won’t admit it. It makes me furious. I almost want to kill her myself!”

She looked at her men and gave a nod.

“Tie her up tight. I don’t want her acting out later.”

The men rushed forward. They ignored my struggles and bound my hands with a rough rope.

I stared at them in panic. A bad feeling rose in my chest.

“Quilla… what are you doing? Hurting someone on purpose is a crime. Even if I’ve done something wrong, you have no right to abuse me!”

Quilla laughed like she had heard the funniest joke.

She crouched down and leaned toward me. Her face was full of excitement.

“Dealing with shameless trash like you is not abuse. It’s protecting everyone else.”

Before I could process her words, she raised her foot.

This time, she did not hesitate.

Her heel smashed into my face.

Bright sparks shot across my vision. Blood poured from my nose.

The metallic taste filled my mouth.

I did not even have time to cry out before darkness swallowed me.