All Chapters of Obsessed with Punishment: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The crowd's sneers cut through the air, but Sandrine shoved through, greeting her. "You're here, Caroline. Thought you'd bail.""I'd never miss your invite." Caroline hooked her arm through Sandrine's, her tone warm and easy, unlike the fawning others. "Missed my bus stop and had to loop back. My head is a mess.""You're killing me," Sandrine laughed. "I told you I'd have my brother pick you up, but you refused. Ethy, get over here.""Can you not call me that?" Ethan Velez pushed through the crowd. "Evening, Caroline."He winked at her and added, "Might be rough tonight. I'll take you two to a private room."Sandrine elbowed him in the chest. "What's that supposed to mean?""Laurent is coming," he explained. "I don't want things to get awkward."Having grown up with Laurent Holt, he knew the messy history between him and Caroline. Her marriage to Roderick had stunned him as much as it had Laurent.A woman who'd tamed the wild Holt heir, settling for a trainwreck? It didn't add

Caroline shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"Laurent didn't answer, his silence heavy. After a long pause, he muttered, "High society's not a cash machine you just tap into.""True." She nodded, recalling how he had rejected her request for ten grand.Everyone else seemed to cash in on this world, but she could get neither love nor money.Frowning, He studied her face for a while, then moved to the front to drive. She let him and didn't try to escape again.Silence settled in. It was suffocating.She turned away, staring blankly at the night passing by the window. Her heart sank with it.20 minutes later, the car pulled up to a gated community.The villa looked like a dark fortress. Not a single light glowed, and the windows were locked tight.Curious, Laurent leaned out the driver's window."Roderick is not home?""Nope.""He hasn't come back?""Not one day. This isn't his home. Just one of his properties."Laurent felt a sting of relief and rage.Roderick's absence

That was a slap in the face.Margaret's smile wavered, guilt seeping through.It turned out, Caroline had gone to attend Sandrine's birthday party, not out with some guy.The Reeds exchanged nervous looks, sweating bullets.Margaret grabbed Caroline's arm, trying to smooth things over. "Look at this mess. I'm getting old and confused. Please pardon me, Mr. Velez. It's an honor for my daughter-in-law to receive your invitation. We'll invite you guys over another day to return the favor."‘Daughter-in-law, huh?’ Laurent snorted, glancing at Caroline.From Margaret's attitude, he caught a glimpse of Caroline's miserable life with the Reeds. He just didn't get why she still chose to stay.It grated on him as he watched how Margaret held onto Caroline's arm. He tried to say something, but Caroline beat him to it. "Margaret, you misunderstood me."Margaret stiffened. "What? I didn't...""You thought I was cheating, so you called people to stake me out, right? Good thing Sandrine sho

"Sorry!" Caroline scrambled to pick up the files, grabbing Roderick's too. "My bad." "Are you blind?" Roderick snapped, then froze at the sight of her tear-streaked face. "What's with the waterworks? I didn't do anything. Such bad luck!"And he had to admit that she was striking, even in distress.His words hit her somewhere raw, and her tears fell harder.He pulled a tissue from his pocket and pressed it to her face. "You're welcome. I don't wanna deal with broke people. Just leave."She wiped her tears, her nose red from crying, shoved the files back into Roderick's hands, mumbled a thank you, and walked away.He muttered, "Women are such a hassle, stirring up drama at the hospital."His voice caught mid-sentence as his gaze landed on the files. The name on the report wasn't his."Crap!" his assistant hissed, trailing him. "That woman has taken your text report by mistake."...At home, Caroline gaped at the report. "Erectile dysfunction?"She recalled what had happened

'What the hell did she mean?' Roderick snapped his head up, staring at Caroline's stunning face.He had to admit Laurent's taste for women.Their circle had no shortage of beauties, but none were as vibrant and tenacious as she was. Touching her came with a cost.Roderick simmered with rage. After a long pause, he pointed at her. "Sometimes, I wish I could tear off your face."That way, Laurent wouldn't keep sniffing around like a dog.She climbed out of bed and grabbed a broom from outside. Then she started cleaning up the mess like a servant.To her, dignity meant nothing. She only cared about living well and earning her keep. She had accepted their dislike the moment she stepped into the house. She'd find a way to prove her worth.Roderick watched silently, stunned by her efficiency. He wanted to stop her, but she was already dumping the mess into the trash.They had a robot vacuum, but it couldn't handle hard shards like this.She was like another robot.He pictured her c