Chapter 3

Caleb opened the cellar door. Dim light spilled in from outside, falling on me as I curled up in the corner. I had gone a day without water or light. My lips were cracked, and my face was as pale as a sheet. Even my breathing was faint and weak.

He froze at the doorway, eyes widening when he saw me. "Nala!"

He hurried over. His fingers hovered by my cheek, wanting to touch me but stopping halfway, as if he were afraid I would shatter at the slightest contact. "How did you end up like this? I only wanted you to calm down…"

Only then did Pam's words come back to him. I had severe claustrophobia.

Two years ago, his business rival crushed him, kidnapping me to force him out of a bid. They locked me in a pitch-dark container for three whole days. That was when I became afraid of the dark.

Now, Caleb had pushed me into the abyss with his own hands.

"Nala, I…"

His voice trembled, and he was so ready to pull me into his arms until Sadie walked in.

"How strange. I checked the surveillance, and she seemed fine all day. How did she end up like this all of a sudden?" she mused.

Caleb stiffened, then turned to look at her before lowering his gaze back to me. Slowly, his expression darkened. He straightened up, suspicion creeping into his voice. "You were faking it?"

Sadie pretended to be shocked. "Wow. As expected from someone who's received higher education. No wonder she used to be an actress…"

She paused, then glanced at him. Seeing how gloomy he looked, she added fuel to the fire. "Mr. Ingram, don't blame her. She probably just wanted you to worry about her. She didn't have a choice."

His face twisted, hesitation completely wiped away by her words. He drew a deep breath and turned toward the door. "Take her out. Mr. Stone Senior's people are waiting outside with their car."

The bodyguards quickly stepped forward and hoisted me off the floor. I didn't even have the strength to stand on my own, so I let them drag me outside. Caleb didn't want to see me and went straight upstairs.

Then, out of nowhere, Sadie came over with a bottle of liquid. "Her lips are all cracked. She needs to drink something!"

With that, she twisted the cap off and barked orders for someone to pour the liquid into my mouth without mercy. The sharp taste burned my throat. I choked, tears streaming down my face, but she kept forcing me to drink until every drop was gone.

Meanwhile, Walter's assistant, Avery Jones, had been waiting outside for a long time.

When he saw me walking over, pale and weak, he instantly panicked. In a few quick steps, he hurried over and respectfully took me from the bodyguards. "Ms. Brown, are you okay?"

I shook my head, about to get into the car, but Sadie suddenly grabbed me. She leaned close, whispering in a volume only both of us could hear. "Don't worry, Nala. If you die at Mr. Stone Senior's villa, I'll make sure someone handles your body for you."

Her smile was bright. "As for the three of us, we'll live happily ever after."

With that, she shoved a signed divorce agreement into my arms. "He didn't want to divorce you at first because he felt guilty, but I told him I didn't want to be a hidden mistress. I want to be his legal wife, the mother of our child. So, he signed the agreement almost immediately."

She even touched my belly. "You couldn't even keep a man's heart with this, Nala. How pathetic."

Holding that divorce agreement, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. For the first time, I genuinely felt grateful to her.

"Thanks."

The luxury car pulled away from the Ingram residence. I rolled down the window and looked at Sadie's smug face in the rearview mirror, a smirk tugging at my lips.

The show was just getting started.