Chapter 2

The call ended abruptly.

I felt foolish, especially because I felt powerless and unloved by anyone. The cold rain soaked through my clothes as I walked down the street.

Considering my condition after donating blood to Isabella wasn’t too good. My body felt unbearably weak, and I could already feel my vision blurring.

Just as my knees gave out beneath me, my hand was suddenly caught by someone.

A steady and warm grip.

I looked up and froze, immediately realizing that he was not Sebastian. I swallowed the bitter feeling again and replaced it with a smile and said, "Thanks."

“Are you okay, Sandra?” He looked at me with clear concern.

I whispered, needing to be sure: "Dylan?"

He gave me a reassuring nod. "Why are you here?" I asked, still shaky.

He looked at me gently. "I have a client," he said softly. "A victim of domestic assault. She's in the hospital nearby. I came to take her statement..."

He hesitated for a moment, then added, "As I left the hospital, I saw you unsteady in the rain. I wasn't sure at first, but I just couldn't stop following you."

Under the black umbrella shielding me from the rain. I could look at him, my university friend and an outstanding lawyer now. Back then, I was just like him. But I went into the marriage with Sebastian, that’s when my bright life was suspended as well as my career plan.

I managed to create some space between us and slightly diverted my attention from him.

“I’m fine,” I replied, hugging my body. “Could you just help me hail a cab?”

Honestly, I felt a bit uncomfortable meeting him in such a state. I wanted to resolve this quickly, go home, and everything would be okay.

“You’re soaked like this. Listen to me, Sandra. Let me take you home.” He looked at me deeply, like a solid rock, which was exactly how he was.

Finally, I nodded.

My body, now shivering, couldn’t give me the energy to argue with him. Dylan draped his suit jacket over my shoulders and gently guided me into the car.

During the ride home, Dylan spoke again. “Sebastian is not a good husband.”

I looked at him, trying to process what he said. Dylan surprised me because he wasn’t the type of person to talk badly about others.

“I still remember how incredible you were back in university. I thought you’d become one of the top lawyers of our time. You’ve changed too much… for someone so unworthy.”

Dylan cursed in a low voice. This man, who was close to me, had made me feel better with his attention.

I agreed with everything he said, nodding. Sebastian should indeed feel lucky to have me. Didn’t I always treat him well and care for him?

Finally, we arrived at the house. "Thank you for driving me, Dylan."

"If you need my help, you can contact me, Sandra." Dylan said gently.

His words surprised me a bit because he was genuinely concerned about me.

As I got out of the car, I saw Sebastian standing at the entrance, watching. His handsome face was shadowed, his gaze sharp.

For some reason, he wasn't at the hospital with Isabella today.

I swallowed slowly, feeling the weight of the tension, and walked toward the house. I didn’t even realize that I was still wearing another man’s suit jacket.

"Where have you been?" I heard Sebastian ask.

The moment he saw me, I knew he was focusing his gaze on the black suit jacket draped over my shoulders.

I don’t make a sound, walking past him and into the house. "Or should I ask, who were you with today?"

Today, Sebastian felt different than usual. He never cared, he never asked anything about me. The conversation always started and ended with Isabella.

I was so tired of facing him.

"Sebastian." I called his name.

Sebastian always acted cold toward me. This time, our eyes lock on each other. His large body was positioned above mine.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

I tried to escape from this situation, pushing against his hard body, but to no avail. Even as I struggled, he didn’t care. His piercing eyes and deep voice echoed.

“You betrayed me, Cassandra?” He began accusing me, and I was already amused by his words.

Betrayal? Why is that even being discussed when he took care of another woman for nearly three years?

“Get out of my way, Sebastian. I’m so tired.” I ordered him. Even with his sharp gaze, he didn’t do what I wanted.

Suddenly, he threw me onto the sofa. Panic surged through me. I scrambled to get up, but he was faster, grabbing me and pinning me down. He trapped me between his legs. Then he seized both of my wrists and pinned them above my head with one hand. His body radiated heat, and it made my skin crawl.

I kept my eyes open, but Sebastian held my chin and forced me to look at him. “Don’t even think about betraying me, Cassandra.”

I tried to reason, my voice shaking: “There’s nothing between us. Let me go.”

He wasn’t listening. His hands were rough, yanking at my clothes. I tried to fight back, but his grip was unrelenting.

He bit at my ear and growled into it: “Isn’t it a child what you’ve been after all this time? I have the right to consummate our marriage.”

He knew exactly where to strike, targeting my most vulnerable spots.

”You’re already so wet, so you must like this. Right? Slut.” He humiliated me.

A tear slipped down my cheek. My legs kicked out desperately, but he anticipated it, locking me in place even tighter.

"If you ever defy me again," he hissed, his voice venomous, "I promise you, Bellamy’s company won’t exist by tomorrow."

His threat cut deeper than any wound.

He didn’t see me as a person—only as a possession, an outlet for rage.

The rough lovemaking on the sofa ended an hour later. My body weakened, I felt an immense exhaustion and lay on the sofa. From here, I saw his back moving away.

I lay there, empty. That night, I lost not only my virginity, but everything that once made me feel human. 

Eventually, I forced myself to move. Every step hurt. My body ached in places I never imagined. Between my legs, a dull throb served as a cruel reminder of what had just been taken from me.

I staggered into the bathroom, barely staying on my feet.

I turned on the shower, letting the water beat down on my skin. I scrubbed myself raw, over and over, desperate to remove his touch.

How did I feel after satisfying my curiosity about making love with the man I had loved all this time?

It gave a very strange sensation. A storm might have suddenly appeared, making my heart feel like it was pierced.

I was filled with emptiness that made me realize that the love from that man would never be mine. He did it because he considere me just as his property, he wanted to assert that so I couldn’t resist.

I might never get his love, but I have the right to escape from a situation that felt like poison to me.

After I understood that, I picked up my phone. I called him repeatedly until he finally answered my call.

“What’s up? You’re bothering me.”

His cold voice made my whole body react, causing pain. I cleared my throat and squeezed the phone tightly.

All the emotions I had bottled up I could no longer contain.

“Where are you?” I said flatly.

I remembered it well, after he did what he wanted with me roughly last night. He just left me without saying a word. He didn’t even turn back.

“With Isabella.”

A cold grin appeared on my face. Already knew about it, clearly.

I can sense my emotions exploding, pushing me to act on everything I’ve been avoiding.

"Ah, right." I thought I managed to say it calmly, but the pain still lingered. "Will you be by my side and take care of me if I get sick?"

He didn’t need to think to answer my question. "Do you think you can get sick? You need to keep donating blood to Isabella."

Silence.

A sour smile curled my lips.

His answer only made me more certain. Thank you, God, for allowing me to hear the answer I wanted. There would be no more doubt. 

Then came his impatient voice. "Don't call me for things like this again. I'm busy. Don't waste my time."

I closed my eyes for a moment, steadying my breath.

"I won't," I whispered. "This is the last time."

I stared ahead at the rain falling against the window. This was the final conclusion of everything I’ve been through.

I immediately hung up the phone. What would come out of his mouth was just nonsense I didn’t want to hear.

Mentally exhausted from this toxic relationship, I wanted to end it quickly.

My phone call was connected to Dylan. Right now, I needed his help. “Can you help me divorce Sebastian?”

“You want to divorce him?” Dylan’s voice was full of surprise. Some noisy sounds were heard before quickly quieting down.

“Yes. I want to divorce him.” I was sure.