Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 40

With my father forcefully fastening the belt around my mouth, imprisoning the apple covered in hay, I fiercely try to wrench it free.My desperate pleas for help are stifled, while my weary body is overwhelmed by excruciating pain, rendering me unable to mount a formidable resistance.The surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins dissipates, leaving me vulnerable as my father forcefully tightens the belt. My head is abruptly jerked backwards, ensnared in his unyielding gaze.“I should have done this a long time ago. I should have punished you every time you showed us an inkling of defiance. But your mother was too afraid that if they found you, beaten and broken, we would be executed.” My father snarls with his top lip curling upward. “Your mother is weak and if she didn’t come from old money, I would have gotten rid of her many years ago. She couldn’t birth me a son and her twat is as loose as her fucking lips.”Tears burn my eyes, leaving a trail of heartache down my cheeks as

As Ele carefully removes the wet towel from my back, I hiss when a burning sensation feverishly licks my wounds. “You are going to have some pretty scars when they heal,” Ele whispers, inspecting my back as she tosses the towel on the ground. “Don’t be afraid to show them off, Val. Wear them with pride and show the world that you survived today’s assault.” Slightly turning my neck to look at her, “is that what you do?” I whisper with my eyes trailing over her bare arms. She snorts, nodding her head, “there was a point in my life where I used to hide my scars. They made me feel dirty, reminding me of the abuse and trauma that comes with them. Now, when I think about it, I kick myself for wasting so much time hiding my battle scars like they were a dirty secret. I’m seriously contemplating getting them tattooed and flaunting them every chance I get.” As she speaks her truth, her eyes sparkle with determination and survival instinct, forcing me to believe everything she says in awe.

As we enter Theos’ room, my breath leaves my lungs in one long sigh followed by an abrupt snort as my gaze drinks in my surroundings.“What’s so funny, Little Bird?” Ace asks me as he closes the door behind us and locks it.The faint click of the bolt sliding into place dances between us as I step further into the room. “The room is plain…” I state with little hesitation as I continue to look around it. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but I can guarantee you, it wasn’t this. I thought it would have been more… Lavish, like the architecture of the mansion.”Theo has all this room, and it’s almost empty; like the look in his eyes when he found out who I truly am.“Are you telling me that this is the first time you have been in Theodores’ room?” Ace asks me and I can sense the uneasiness with a large dose of doubt contaminating his words.Turning around, I scoff, meeting the only pair of green eyes that have managed to haunt me when I’m awake and asleep. The only pair of eyes that f

As the sound of footsteps drums across the marble floor in the en suite, I slightly sit up to turn around and make sure that they belong to Ace. The last thing I need right now is Theo entering the room while I’m naked and feeling vulnerable.“Your little friend Eleni Drakos has given you a departing gift.” Ace mumbles, holding up a black dress attached to a coat hanger. He turns it around to show me the back, “it’s backless.” He adds dryly.“Ele,” I correct him. “She doesn't like to be addressed by her full name.”I reply, feeling the agitation that enveloped my nerves dispel from my body and turn my head to the front, closing my eyes.“I seriously couldn't care less. I will continue to call her Eleni.”“How thoughtful of her. Is she doing okay?”“Better than you is all I can say.” He replies through gritted teeth, making it apparent he does not care for Ele. Changing the subject, “nice shirt, by the way,” I mumble.“Not another word, Little Bird,” he growls darkly, hanging the dre

“Leave us!” Ace orders one of Theos’ henchmen who is stationed outside Eles’ room.“Mr. Drakos gave me strict instructions not to leave my post, and he would have my head if he found out that I left my post because you demanded it.” Theos’ henchman responds, straightening his posture.A deep, throaty chuckle pours from Aces’ mouth, and he leans in close to the poor guy, who doesn't know he’s already a dead man in Aces’ eyes.“If you don’t move your fucking arse, you big for nothing imbecile, your mother and your sisters will be gift-wrapped and given to Dejan Kovac to traffic in Serbia.”His comment makes my insides turn to ice, and if I didn’t already know that Ace doesn’t like to harm women and children, I’d believe him undoubtedly.Theos’ henchman clenches his jaw as his shoulders sag with defeat. With his head bowed, he walks away, muttering under his breath in his mother tongue as he punches the air.“Your fifteen minutes start now, Little Bird.” Ace mumbles, opening the door for