ALICE'S POV “ Martin sold Nina at the auction against her will. ” Melissa gulped and blurted out painfully. Despite wanting to comfort Melissa, I kept sitting still not showing her any reaction at all. This encouraged her to tell me more. Everything that she knew. “ The one who bought her at the auction that night...killed her. We couldn't even find her body. Just a - Just a... ” Melissa sniffed and paused, her eyes going wide like she was reminicising something horrible again. “ Just a what? ” I asked, bile rising in my throat. “ Just a severed finger and a note that we should try our best to find her body now. ” She closed her eyes and blurted making my breath hitch. A cold shiver ran down my spine with just having to hear and imagine something so horrifying. Why would someone do this to an innocent girl? How could someone be so cruel?

ALICE'S POV “ Walk now. Get to the bed. ” He whispered, maintaining his low tone as I rolled my eyes at his attempt of making me feel helpless. How was I supposed to go to the bed from here when I could not even see? That was what he intended Idiot. My mind yelled at me and my shoulders slumped down. His hands left my arms and he stepped back, leaving me stranded. For a moment, I thought of just taking off the belt that was making me feel blind, but his next words stopped me. “ Don't even think about it. ” He hissed coldly and I found my body stiffen. What was he talking about? Did he know what I was thinking about taking the belt off my eyes? “ Start walking. ” He urged me and I had no other option than to do what he was asking of me. That's what helplessness does to people like me. My helplessness made me his puppet on a string.

ALICE'S POV Hayes Christian was like a blood-sucker. He was just not leaving me the hell alone. I was sure that I would kill him if he annoyed me just a moment more. “ I want to leave! Can't you understand? ” I groaned out as I eyed him while sitting on the hospital bed. My foot was sprained midly. It was not hurting that much after they bandaged it. He carried me to the car and took me to the hospital earlier. The one who was making my head hurt, accompanied both of us. Maggie. I felt like throwing my legs in the air and cry out loud. Did everyone took it upon themselves to get on my nerves? “ You can't go home until the doctor says so. ” Hayes was silent, not bothering to even answer me, yet Maggie took every single chance to address me. Now who was a leech? I wanted to ask her this, but I kept my mouth sealed. Silence was better than the confron

ALICE'S POV I did not cry. There was no reason for me to cry. I just kept laying on my bed until the night lights were turned off and then the sun started illuminating everything. All I could think about was the fact that I was fooled worse than I thought earlier. But then sometimes I thought that if Damien had not picked me like this, I would have never been able to pay my Father's medical bills. So in the end, meeting Damien Knight Castillo was a worst curse and an unimaginable blessing. Sighing, I rubbed my eyes that were burning with tiredness and lack of sleep. My foot was hurting, but I never took the pain killers that doctor gave me yesterday. Sometimes, physical pain makes you forget about the emotional one. It makes you go numb to the things going on with you. That's what happened to me. My mind was numb now. Out of a sudden, I heard the door opening but I could not see anything because

ALICE'S POV Shit. I flinched for the nth time as I sipped on my wine slowly. It's been an hour already. Hayes was dragging me around like a puppet. And everytime he got busy talking to people, my eyes always found Damien's figure. He did not look at me after that. He was too lost in having conversations with people in the party along with Madison who looked stunning as always in her green dress. During this hour, the one thing I found out from all the talks was that... The party was hosted in Damien's mansion. So, Yeah. This place was Damien and Madison's home. Nothing could make me feel more guilty. I even refused to look around. I just wanted to run away from this castle which looked like a prison to me. Sipping on the wine, I stared blankly at Damien and Madison. She was smiling brightly while talking to the people in front of them. Her hand never left Damien's arm. '