All Chapters of Obsessed with Punishment: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Caroline's heart stuttered, but she kept her gaze steady. "Your tattoo? I don't have anything of yours."Laurent froze, his hand shooting out to grab her left wrist before she could slip away. He shoved up her sleeve, his breath catching at the sight. The "L" she'd once etched into her skin for him was gone, buried under a thorny rose tattoo.His fingers grazed the inked skin, catching on something rough—scar tissue, jagged and hidden beneath the art.His mind flashed to a dark possibility: self-harm.He was dumbfounded, unable to perceive the situation. A gold-digger like her would never hurt herself.He shook his head and calmed down, presuming it was just a sloppy tattoo job."How could you remove it?" he croaked, searching for clues on her face.She'd been tricked into getting his initial tattooed on her. She was smart in school but had done plenty of dumb things for love.When Laurent used to hold her, his eyes were glittering with so much sincerity that she hadn't doubted

The next morning, Caroline's phone pinged with a text.[Did he touch you last night?]After breaking up with Laurent a year ago, she'd blocked him and never groveled to reconcile.Now he was back, texting from a new number.Her lashes fluttered, her fingers hovering over the screen before she deleted the message.Right after, another text came.[Roderick's got money. Why are you dressed like that? Thought you'd hit the jackpot marrying into wealth, but he's not spending on you, huh?][You were with me for five, six years. I never let you wear cheap stuff. Even your necklace was custom-made, with freaking diamonds.]He sounded desperate, less like the untouchable CEO and more like a lovesick stray, clawing for her attention. [Hey, talk to me. Text back.][I told you to unblock me on WhatsApp. Why haven't you?]Annoyed with the bombardment, she blocked the number, but soon, another unknown number pinged.[You blocked my number again?]She blocked that one, too, but he call

The next day, Laurent introduced Caroline to his buddies.They greeted her politely but hid the mockery in their eyes. In their minds, the swan would never really love an ugly duckling. They were convinced that he was just playing.Caroline was pretty but too earnest. Her heart was on display, and that got boring fast.Laurent shared the same thought, not expecting her to change him. He'd be traveling abroad often, and they'd barely see each other.What he said to her the other day was probably adrenaline from the fire.But her love was too fervent. He couldn't bring himself to break up with her, and their relationship lasted years.She wanted no money, just his love.In their senior year of college, Laurent started managing the family business. Caroline, preparing for grad school, moved in to take care of him.Everyone at school knew she had a rich boyfriend, but no one deemed her a gold-digger, despite her poor background.She was sincere, hardworking, and brilliant.Guys s

Laurent panicked, insisting, "We broke up because you ghosted me.""I ghosted you? Why would I do that?" Caroline scoffed. "I just didn't want to make things hard for you."She was smiling, but her eyes were ice-cold.Laurent's throat tightened. "What are you talking about?""You were getting married, right?" Her heart twinged, but it passed quickly.Taking a deep breath, she added, "You were stressed about ditching me. I did you a favor by agreeing to the breakup."His pupils shrank. "You know?""Yup." Her tone was light, but her words cut deep. "Guess not many side chicks are as considerate as I was."He wanted to tell her that she was his girlfriend rather than a side chick, but his mind spun. "It's not true."She tapped the table. "No need to dress it up."The past was a storm, keeping her awake at night. She could only run from it."It's all in the past," she said. "Let's talk business instead."He couldn't focus. "So, you married Roderick to get back at me?"Her brow

The meeting room fell silent.Roderick's lips parted, but no words came out.He'd come to tear into Caroline, but her words made his insults stick in his throat.Knowing her pain, he looked away. "I keep as many women as I like. You don't get to tell me what to do. When my mom calls you out, don't talk back. You've got no right.""Then tell her that exact thing." She shook her head, drained, and tapped his chest with the files. "She told me to control you, but clearly, I can't."She moved to leave, but he grabbed her, glaring. "But I can control you."She raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?""Laurent gave me attitude because of you, right?" he scoffed, his eyes holding a mocking glint. "He still hung up on you, or is it just possessiveness?"It somehow felt good to rattle Laurent like that.Sneering, he added, "If I catch you messing around with him, pack up and get out of my house.""Oh, really?" she countered. "Anything worth hooking up over happened a year ag