Chapter 5: WELCOME TO MY WORLD OF TORTURE

I wanted to laugh.

Torture?

What hadn't I already endured that made him think threatening me with it would make me quiver?

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

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

My legs twisted.

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

But I never did.

His 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.

A loud gasp escaped my lips the moment my hands rested against his chest.

Our eyes met.

I couldn't look away.

I felt trapped in his cold gaze but the moment was cut short when Mrs. Marcus grabbed me from behind.

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.

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.

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 with this vile woman over me?" she demanded, shooting daggers at me.

Ethan remained silent.

She glared at him, clearly furious.

Picking up her handbag, she stormed toward the door.

Before leaving, she turned and pointed at me.

"You're going to regret this!"

With that, she stormed out of the mansion.

I wanted to smile, but Ethan turned abruptly.

His jaw tightened.

His fists clenched.

For a seconds, he looked like he was fighting himself... he took few steps closer to me.

My heart raced; I quickly took a step backward

Then he suddenly charged at me and grabbed my neck.

I gasped sharply.

"You're not her! You can't be her!" His grip around my neck tightened, choking me directly, like someone possessed by a demon.

My breath hitched; my hands flew to his hands, hitting him with the strength in me.

He didn't let go of his hands.

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 watching by the door.

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

He lowered his head and looked away.

"Ethan, please," I whispered. 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 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 walked out without glancing at me.

My heart sank.

Just when I thought he might be the only person I could lean on, this is how he treats me.

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

I quickly wiped the tears in my eyes.

I nodded with a forced smile.

He stretched out his hand to help me up.

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

Mr. Sterling quickly bowed and stepped aside.

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

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

He frowned as though he hated what he was about to do.

Then, suddenly, he leaned in.

My throat tightened.

His hot breath blew on my face.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he brought out a tube, opened it, and slowly applied it to my neck.

My breath shook.

What does he really want?

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

My eyes instinctively went to his lips; memories of last night flooded my brain.

My eyes shut, tears flowed 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.It was as if he was fighting something within himself.

"I... I..."

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

Mr. Sterling chuckled behind him.

"What?" My jaw dropped.

My face burned red with embarrassment and humiliation.

He slowly rose and threw the tube at me.

"What was I expecting from a vile woman like you? I'm fully aware that I moaned Emma's name throughout last night, yet you remained quiet... Gosh, you disgust me!" Ethan spat

.

Mr. Sterling and one of the cleaners laughed softly.

I remained frozen on the floor.

The tears I had been holding back rolled down my cheeks.

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?

"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, the meaning of his words.."Welcome to my world of torture."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.

Ethan stopped coming home regularly.

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

Tears became my only comfort.

Emma called almost every day, flaunting the gifts Ethan bought for her.

The handbags.

The jewelry.

The expensive presents.

Then my phone buzzed with another notification.

It was a series of photos from Emma.

My hands weakened the moment I opened them.

She and Ethan were at the beach together.

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!"

Then my phone buzzed with another notification.

It was another message from Emma.

"Want to know where your husband is tonight?"

A location pin appeared 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.