Chapter 2

When I woke up, there was no one by my bed. My throat burned with dryness, so I pushed myself up to get out of bed.

Just as I walked into the living area, I found Charles on the sofa, leaning over to wrap a bandage around Susie’s wrist. His movements were gentle, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Does it hurt?"

"It's alright." Susie was wearing my pajamas. She raised her eyes, saw me, and immediately put on an aggrieved expression. "Selena must have been so scared. That's why she hurt me. You mustn't blame her."

Hearing this, Charles grew impatient. "You don't need to make excuses for her. I know she did it on purpose..."

At his words, the glass slipped from my hand and shattered against the floor. Charles looked up at me, his face instantly darkening.

"Good. You're awake." He walked over and threw a psychological evaluation report and two video recordings down in front of me.

In the video, I crashed through the glass and fell to the ground. Susie hypocritically tried to help me up, but the moment she touched me, she clutched her wrist with a sharp cry.

The conclusion on the report was glaring. [The donna's fear response is exaggerated, suggesting feigned vulnerability to gain attention.]

"This is a professional judgment given by the doctor," Charles said coldly. "Your so-called trauma, most of the time, is just you acting! You're only doing this to hide the fact that you're a coward and refusing to take on the responsibilities a donna should bear!"

I stared at that line of text, my fingers tightening bit by bit. "You believe this?"

"I believe evidence." He stood up. "Starting today, you must accept the special training arranged by the family."

"Can I refuse?"

Charles looked at me, his tone leaving no room for argument. "A donna can never refuse to become stronger!"

Looking at his firm gaze, I knew that as long as I stayed here, I would never be able to resist his orders. So I accepted my fate and let Susie lead me to the training ground at the back of the estate, comforting myself that it was almost over. Soon I would be free from this kind of life.

She stood by the iron gate, raising her hand to signal two masked men to enter the field.

They held leashed wolves, short blades in their hands, closing in step by step. Although I knew this was just training, the sound of iron chains in the wine cellar still echoed in my ears. My fingers gradually lost feeling, and my breathing grew faster.

"Continue," Susie said. "Get a little closer."

The wolves strained against their chains and lunged at me, while the masked men charged toward me at the same time. I stared fixedly at the exit, forcing myself to steady my breathing.

When the blade forced its way before my eyes, I dodged to the side, grabbed the man's wrist, and used his momentum to knock the knife down hard. The masked man collapsed with a grunt of pain. I kicked him aside, spun around, and bolted for the exit.

Susie’s face instantly changed. "Stop!"

I didn't stop and instead rushed straight out.

Charles arrived just in time. Seeing the training staff lying on the ground, his first words were: "Why did you hurt him?"

I froze for a moment. "Didn't you tell me to fight back?"

Susie, however, had a look of deep worry on her face. "An excellent donna should remain calm in the face of danger, but her reaction is too dangerous. Today was just training, but if she attacks family members like this in the future, what then?"

Charles was silent for a moment, then nodded and ordered, "Suspend her permission to go out, and hand her phone over to security for safekeeping."

I wanted to protest. After all, I had done exactly what he asked, so why was he treating me like a prisoner?

Despite my violent struggling, I was still escorted back to the bedroom. Two guards were stationed outside the room, and even seeing a doctor required Charles’ permission.

I used the excuse of needing to change my dressing to have Marco deliver a new prescription. When Marco handed me the medical supply kit, his fingers tapped the base twice—the signal that a secure burner phone was concealed inside.

That night, I pulled up the estate's security map and found an abandoned escape route in the underground wine cellar. A message from Marco also came through.

[Everything is ready. When do we act?]

Without a second thought, I replied, [Wait until the next time he tests me. Let him taste what it feels like when everything spirals out of control.]

I tucked the engagement brooch Charles had given me into the very back of the drawer. Just then, he happened to push open the door and walk in, his tone unusually gentle.

"As long as you cooperate with the special training, I will stay by your side and help you become the most perfect donna."

I looked at him. "What if I can never become the perfect donna?"

He thought I was finally softening, reaching out to drape an arm around my shoulders. "That's not an option. I'm not going to let you run away."

I kept silent.