Lauren forced her heavy eyelids to open only to notice she was in a moving car. At first, she felt relieved thinking it was her guards that came for them but when she noticed the unfamiliar environment of the car, she panicked. Beside her, sat a still unconscious Bryan and almost immediately, her heart began to race. Bryan was in trouble. She didn’t care about herself. She was willing to suffer to whatever end, as long as Bryan was safe.  “Who are you?” she asked the driver of the fast moving car but got a cold shoulder in reply. It freaked her more. “What do you want from us?”She turned to look at the masked man sitting beside Bryan but the man wasn’t ready to give her the reply she wanted. She tried to move and only then did she realize she had been tied.  “I’ll do whatever you want. Just let the boy go. He is innocent.”This time, she earned a scoff from the man at the backseat.

Doctor Alfred was addressing the trio, telling them Bryan was fine and would wake up soon, when the door burst open and Malcolm walked in, like a king from hell, filling the room with his dangerous aura. Joyce quickly approached him but his eyes barely saw her. He halted when his eyes caught Lauren, wearing another man’s jacket.He chuckled coldly that it sent chills to everybody’s spine. So that was it. She had gone to visit her secret lover and had probably made Bryan pass out so he wouldn’t intervene in her love affair.This bitch! This pretentious woman!!He walked in strides, his eyes never leaving her for a second. Her flinching did nothing to calm his anger. how dared she! How dare she put his son in danger just so she could act dirty with another man? He just prayed he wouldn’t see this so-called other man so that would be the end of his life, whoever he was.Joyce intercepted him and held onto his arms, “This isn&rsq

“Welcome Master.” Kate greeted as Malcolm walked in but the man barely heard her. He just walked past her and made for the stairs when she dared to stop him. “Lunch is ready, Master.”He halted but only for a second, “Send it upstairs to Bryan.”Kate opened her mouth to speak but he was already gone. She hit herself. What was she thinking?! It had been three days. Three days since the little warmth that was left of the mansion died. Three days since she had prepared meals that was never touched.Three days since Miss. Byrne had been unconscious.The entire staff had been walking on their toes. Everybody was very meticulous with what they did to avoid being fired by the master. It was like Miss. Byrne took whatever warmth was left of the house when she passed out. Kate shook her head, she too missed the lively young girl who seemed to give life to everyone and everything around her. She could only hope she woke up soon.

Lauren gazed into the mirror as she peeled off her clothes, not wanting to miss a single sight of it. The once white bandages that had been wrapped on her back now had a hue of red. She sighed and even when she knew it would earn her scolding from Malcolm, she slowly peeled the bandage off her back closing her eyes at the gory sight that greeted her. Her eyes teared. She didn’t believe it was this bad. And Bryan had seen it too? It made her sob more. She didn’t want him to end up having trauma because of her. She was used to it after all.Used to being a subject of suffering and misery.Used to the fact that she wasn’t bound to have any lasting joy. She hated herself for being miserable. She hated herself for being so pitiful. She looked at the knife slash that dripped blood slowly but she didn’t move to clean it. She didn’t have the mind to. She just looked at it like she was hypnotized by it and at the same time, her eyes bled tears. Jus

Lauren was unable to hide the shock on her face. What was this man up to? Why was he fuming already so early in the morning?  “I’m sorry, you said?”  “You cannot go to the kitchen. I forbid you to.” The man reiterated.  “B-b-but why? Am I in some kind of detention?” she questioned, ignorant of the two men who glared angrily at themselves.  “Did you forget your injury, Michelle? You might end up reopening the wounds again.” And you haven’t said thank you for my gift. He almost added.  “I’ll be careful, I promise.”  “You are always clumsy. I just don’t want the news to spread that you died under my roof.”  “You don’t have to worry. I’ll take care of her. Dad.”After an eternity of silence and pleading, Malcolm finally conceded, and ecstatic, Lauren unconsciously