Chapter 4

Erik pleaded, "We grew up together. He's my only friend here. I can't watch him die. Why not adopt him instead?"

My parents softened. Ambrose said, "Erik, you're truly our child. Kindness runs in your blood."

Casting a scornful glance at me, he continued, "For Erik's sake, I'll spare you this time."

He waved a hand, and the bodyguards hauled my battered body upright. "We need a guard dog at home. Take him."

Panic surged through me. I'd fought to escape this hell. There was no way I'd return to it.

"No, I'm not going with you!" I screamed. "Kill me!"

But my protests were futile. A fist knocked me unconscious, and they stuffed me into the trunk.

...

I woke up in a damp, shadowy basement. The iron door was locked, the lone window boarded shut.

Erik's compassion was a shame, and my fears were confirmed when he ordered me to climb a ladder to fetch an antique vase from a high shelf.

As I stretched for it, he shook the ladder violently. I crashed down, the vase shattering. The shards sliced into my thigh, and blood instantly soaked my pants.

Erik dodged but got a shallow scratch on his hand.

My parents rushed in, frantic over his minor wound, summoning a doctor to bandage it. My leg bled unchecked, but Flavia didn't care.

She slapped me hard. "Useless! We brought you here to serve Erik, and you can't even do that? If he scars, I'll have your arm removed!"

I lay in a pool of blood, ignored, and was dragged back to the basement.

Catherine, hearing of the incident, hurried over. To cheer up Erik, she arranged a spectacular drone light show, three thousand drones painting his face across the night sky.

From the basement window, I watched her gentle smile. Once it had been for me, now for him. She'd forgotten I was her true fiancé.

They held a grand reunion banquet for Erik. As the center of attention, he ascended the stage, flanked by my parents. As a "family member", I was brought along, but leashed like a dog at the entrance, polishing guests' shoes per Erik's orders.

I had been starved for three days, hunger leaving me dizzy. Disobey, and I'd starve longer.

Hours of kneeling ground my knees raw, blood seeping through my thin pants. The pain was excruciating, and I fainted repeatedly, only to be whipped awake by Erik's men.

Midway, my parents and Erik emerged to see off some guests.