Chapter 8

"No! I'm not..."

Before Marie could finish, Rylan seized her by the jaw, clamping down so tightly that she could barely move her head.

She thrashed wildly, shaking her head with all the strength she had left, but he held her firmly in place and forced her mouth open. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he poured the liquid down her throat.

Marie choked and gagged as the bitter liquid slid into her stomach. Moments later, a searing pain tore through her abdomen, so intense that she could barely remain upright.

Cold sweat broke out across her forehead, and her vision flickered in and out. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. Her legs gave way, and she crumpled to the floor, her consciousness fading as the agony overwhelmed her.

...

When Marie opened her eyes again, she was back in her hospital bed.

Through the haze clouding her mind, she heard the doctor's exasperated voice coming from near the door.

"Your girlfriend wasn't even pregnant! Why on earth would you force her to drink something like that? Thank goodness we performed a gastric lavage in time. Otherwise, the damage could have been catastrophic."

Rylan stood there, stunned.

As soon as the doctor left, he dropped to his knees beside Marie's bed and clutched her hand, pouring out one desperate apology after another.

"I'm sorry, Marie. I lost control. We're still so young. It's far too early for us to have a baby. I only did it because I thought it was best for you..."

Marie pulled her hand away, expressionless.

He hadn't done it for her sake. He was just terrified of her carrying his child and feared that Coraline would abandon him if she found out.

Marie had never imagined that Rylan, who always seemed so cool and collected, would lose all reason over a pregnancy that existed only in his imagination.

He hadn't even bothered to confirm whether she was pregnant before forcing that concoction down her throat. In his world, everything and everyone served one purpose: making Coraline happy.

Marie was nothing more than a disposable pawn—someone he could sacrifice and discard whenever it suited him. He sweet-talked her when he needed something from her, then schemed against her and hurt her without hesitation when she stood in his way.

There was nothing about him that wasn't repulsive.

Over the following days, Rylan came to her bedside every morning, seemingly determined to make amends. He spent astronomical sums on designer jewelry and rare gemstones, sent her fresh red roses every day, and even went into the kitchen himself to prepare meals for her.

Yet Marie felt nothing as the lavish gifts piled up on her bedside table.

...

Once she was discharged, Marie quietly packed her belongings and prepared to leave.

On the morning of the final exams, Rylan waited outside the examination building. His expression was tense as he looked at her.

"Remember what we agreed on..."

"Don't worry. I gave you my word, and I won't go back on it."

Rylan let out a long sigh of relief.

Then he headed toward his assigned examination room, glancing back at her with reluctance. "I'll see you after the last exam, then."

Marie watched him walk away, the light in her eyes growing colder with every step.

"Rylan, we'll never see each other again. And I'll make sure you never get what you want."

With that thought, she entered the examination hall.

The moment the bell rang, she picked up her pen and began writing at full speed. While the other students frowned over the complicated questions, she worked through them with ease, her elegant handwriting filling page after page of the answer booklet.

Warm sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing her shoulders in gold. When the final bell rang, she handed in her paper and walked out of the building.

Rylan was waiting impatiently at the entrance.

"How did it go?" he asked, flashing her an eager grin.

Before Marie could answer, his phone buzzed with an incoming text message from Coraline.

"I'm sorry. Something came up. I'll come find you later tonight!"

He tossed a hurried explanation over his shoulder and rushed off without even giving her a chance to speak. Marie watched him disappear, then let out a cold laugh.

"Just wait until the final grades come out. Then you'll see how it went."

She retrieved the luggage she'd packed in advance and headed for the campus gates. But as she passed a corner, Coraline's mocking laughter drifted toward her from nearby.

"Coraline, the second you said you wanted cake, Rylan ran off to get it for you like a loyal little dog!" one of her friends teased. "He treats you so well. When the exam results come out, are you finally going to say yes to him?"

"Are you kidding me? He's just a simp with a little spending money. You think he's good enough for me?" Coraline laughed dismissively. "I'm going to marry into royalty. Only a billionaire heir is worthy of me. But Rylan's not bad-looking, so keeping him around as my lapdog isn't the worst deal."

Marie stopped in her tracks, a sudden urge taking hold of her. She wanted to see Rylan's face when he finally learned the truth.

How would that proud, infatuated man react when he discovered that the woman he worshiped regarded him as nothing more than a pathetic lapdog?

"Rylan, this is your final punishment."

Marie didn't linger to hear another word. She stepped out to the curb, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for the airport.

She checked in, dropped off her luggage, and boarded the plane without a hitch. Only after settling into her seat did she take out her phone and open her conversation with Rylan.

She typed one final message: [Rylan, we're over.]

As the plane began its ascent, she blocked him on every platform and switched off her phone.

Everything she had once believed about their relationship had been an illusion. But her future was still hers to shape.