Chapter 5: WELCOME TO MY WORLD OF TORTURE

Torture?

I wanted to laugh.

He thinks threatening me with it would make me quiver?

if only he knows what I've been through I'm sure he won't be threatening me with it .

"Seriously, Ethan? You're just going to let her off like that?" Mrs. Marcus cut in.

Ethan pushed me slightly away from him the moment she finished speaking.

My legs twisted.

I stumbled and staggered. My eyes shut as I expected to hit the floor.

But I never did.

Ethan's strong hands caught me halfway.

He wrapped an arm tightly around my waist as though he was afraid of letting me fall.

He lifted me abruptly causing my hands to rest on his chest .

A loud gasp escaped my lips.

Our eyes met again but this time he didn't look away.I couldn't look away either.

I felt trapped in his cold gaze, but that very moment was cut short when Mrs. Marcus shoved me from behind, causing me to fall.

My breath hitched as I landed on the floor.

My spine struck the edge of the couch behind me.

Pain surged through my body.

I raised my eyes and met Mrs. Marcus's cold stare.

"You think you can creep your way into this mansion and into my son's life and—"

"Enough, Mom," Ethan's voice cut through the room.

Silence descended.

"But she can't stay h—"

"This is my mansion, and I decide who stays and who leaves," Ethan interrupted coldly.

my chest thudded.

Did he just stood against his mom? and for my sake?

He tucked one hand into his pocket and stretched the other toward me.

My face turned pink.

I bit my lower lip.

For the first time in years, someone had defended me... and he's doing it before his mother.

Slowly, I placed my hand in his.

He pulled me to my feet.

I glanced at Mrs. Marcus.

Her face was red with anger.

"Ethan! Are you siding this vile woman over me?" she demanded, shooting daggers at me.

Ethan remained silent.

She glared at him, clearly furious. She picked up her handbag and stormed toward the door, but before leaving, she turned and pointed at me.

Her mouth trembled, but no words came out. she hissed and stormed out of the mansion without saying a word.

I smiled, and turned to Ethan. I stared at his face.

I just didn't know where to starts from so I slowly stretch my hands to his face.

He caught them halfway, pushed me to the wall and grabbed my neck.

I gasped sharply.

His jaw tightened, .

For a second, he looked like he was about to commit murder.

His grip around my neck tightened, choking me directly, like someone possessed by a demon.

My hands flew to his, hitting them to make him let go.

"You think you've won?" he growled.

"What are you do...doing?" I cried slapping his hands.

He didn't let go.

Tears welled in my eyes as I struggled.

"Pl... ple... please," I begged breathlessly.

His grip tightened even more; my gaze slowly turned to Mr. Sterling, who was standing by the door, watching.

"He... hel... help," my voice came out low.

Mr. Sterling lowered his head and looked away.

"Ethan, please," I cried, tears blurring my vision.

He scoffed and lowered his face

"Those fake tears make me sick," he whispered.

"Pl... please, I... I'm dying" I cried, It did the magic, and he slowly let go of me.

I slumped and collapsed on the floor, holding my neck and coughing.

I lifted my eyes to his face as I struggled to catch my breath.

He looked away the moment our eyes met.

For a second... I thought I saw guilt in his eyes.

But it disappeared so quickly that I wondered if I had imagined it.

"This is just the beginning of your suffering," he said and stormed upstairs without glancing at me.

My heart sank.

Just when I thought he might be the only person I could lean on...he turned out to be a devil.

"Are you okay, miss?" Mr. Sterling asked.

I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes and nodded with a forced smile.

He stretched out his hand to help me up.

But Ethan walked in at that moment and slapped his hand away.

Mr. Sterling quickly bowed and stepped aside.

Ethan bent to my level and raised my face with the tips of his fingers.

He turned my face from side to side like a master inspecting a slave he wanted to purchase.

Then, suddenly, he leaned in.

My throat tightened,

He frowned and look away...it felt as though he hated what he was about to do, then he slowly.. brought out a tube, opened it, and squeezed a little of its contents into his palm.

I blinked and wanted shift backward but his hands caught my shoulder, stopping me from moving .

He stretched his hand toward my neck, and d hesitated for some seconds.

he pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly and sluggishly brought his hand to my neck, applying the ointment softly and carefully to the area he grabbed.

My breath shook.

I stared at him and on question rested in my heart

What does he really want?

First, he hurts me, and the next second he's offering a remedy to the problem he created.

why's he doing this?

I shut my eyes and tears fell down slowly.

"Does it hurt?" he asked suddenly.

I opened my eyes and stared at the two-sided man before me.

My eyes searched his face.

"I... I..."

"You're so shameless," his voice cut through my words.

Mr. Sterling chuckled behind him as if he knew what Ethan was going to say.

"huh?" My jaw dropped.

He slowly rose and threw the tube at me.

"You wanted to say, 'Yes... it hurt, right?" he mocked.

"you asked me?"

He tucked his hands.

"What was I expecting from a whore like you anyway? If you could submit yourself to a man while fully aware he moaned someone else's name just because maybe...for money or powe, what can't you do?!" Ethan spat.

My stomach sank.

My face burned red with embarrassment and humiliation.

Mr. Sterling and one of the cleaners laughed softly.

More tears trekked down my face.

I knew I was stupid for allowing him to touch me.

But making fun of what happened right in front of everyone... wasn't that going too far?

"But..."

He pulled my face to look at him.

"What happened last night meant nothing to me. Emma is the only woman I want... and the only one I'll ever want," he said coldly before walking out without sparing me another glance.

My arms slowly wrapped around my knees as more tears streamed down my cheeks.

My heart burned with pain.

Now, I think the meaning of his words... "Welcome to my world of torture." is finally settled in.

"Look at her, poor thing."

"She thought she could slip into the master's bed and expect him to respect her?"

"She's vicious. I really don't like her."

The maids whispered among themselves as they went about their duties.

From that day on, I became the center of every conversation in the mansion.

Thinks grew worst.

Ethan stopped coming home regularly.

On the few days he did, he returned very late and left before I even woke up.

Tears and loneliness became my only comfort.

Emma on the other end calls almost every day, flaunting the gifts Ethan bought for her.

The handbags.

The jewelry.

The expensive presents.

the pictures from their dates and vacations..

strangely, I found myself wanting her text and messages because that's the only place I can see Ethan's face and feel comfort.

I wondered why she haven't call or texted today.

just that moment my phone buzzed.

I picked it up swiftly.

It was a series of photos and videos from Emma.

My hands weakened the moment I opened them.

She and Ethan were at the beach together, smiling and cuddling each other.

A bitter smile spread across my lips.

Then I noticed the caption beneath the photo.

"Look, sis. Here's your husband in the hands of the woman he truly loves... You're nothing but a replaceable spare!"

It wasn't up to a minute before my phone buzzed with another notification.

It was another message from Emma.

"Want to know where your will be husband is tonight?"

I narrowed my eyes and saw a location pin beneath the message.

My fingers trembled as I stared at the screen.

Before I could blink, another text popped up.

Come and watch him choose me over you... again.