Semua Bab THE RUIN OF CASSY BEAUMONT: BOUGHT AND BROKEN: Bab 11 - Bab 20

CASSYThe camera captures it. "Perfect," the photographer says. "Absolutely perfect."Sienna dismisses the photographer. We're alone. "Come here," she says.I crawl across the bed. She pulls me down next to her, wraps an arm around my waist. "You did well tonight," she says. "I'm proud of you.""Thank you, Ma'am," I'm not sure why I felt good. "You're welcome." Her hand strokes my hair. "Do you understand yet? What I'm doing to you?""You're breaking me.""Yes. But not just that." She turns me to face her. "I'm rebuilding you into someone better. Someone that understands consequences. That understands other people's pain.""By making me suffer?""By making you FEEL." Her hand cups my face. "You spent your whole life not feeling anything for anyone beneath you. Now you're beneath me. And you're going to learn exactly what that costs."She kisses me deeply. It is so hot, I almost forget where I am, and what this is. When she pulls back, we're both breathing hard."We're going home," sh

CASSYWashington Square Park is crowded for a Tuesday afternoon. I'm standing near the fountain, my hands shoved in the pockets of the Burberry coat Sienna insisted I wear.My phone buzzes.Sienna: I'm here. You're not alone.I don't respond. I'm scanning faces, looking for a stranger, probably someone from my past who wants to twist the knife Sienna has already buried in my chest.Then I see someone who looks familiar… Mum? She looks different, even younger. Her hair is different… lighter, styled in soft waves instead of the severe bob she used to wear. And she looks HAPPY? What the hell is going on???I can't process what I'm seeing right now. "Mum?"Bridget Beaumont lowers her sunglasses. "Cassy?" she breathes. "Oh god, Cassy."She rushes toward me, her arms outstretched to hug me like we're in some movie reunion scene. Like she didn't disappear six months ago without a word leaving me and Delilah to bear the consequences.I step back. "What do you want?"She stops a few inches fro

SIENNAShe's still asleep curled on her side. The collar catches the dim light from the window. My mark, my possession. I told myself this was about revenge, making her understand what she did to me, what her family did to mine. I told myself I'd break her, rebuild her, teach her what it feels like to be powerless.And I have… but somewhere along the way, the script changed. Somewhere between the first night at the gilded cage and last night when she chose to stay, this stopped being about revenge and started being about something dangerously close to need.I feel the need to pour myself a drink even though it's not up to 6 AM yet. The whiskey burns but it doesn't help, because I've been here before.I remember Emily Richardson, 24 years old. She looked so much like Cassy it was unsettling. I told myself that's why I bought her… because she reminded me of the girl who destroyed me in that cafeteria.But Emily wasn't Cassy. Emily was soft and eager to please. She fell in love with me w

DELILAHI can't sleep because every time I close my eyes, I keep seeing the photos. Cassy on her knees, collared, looking at Sienna Vale like she's the only thing in the world that matters.My brilliant, beautiful, cruel sister who once had the world at her feet… reduced to this. And the worst part? She doesn't even see it. She thinks this is penance. She thinks she deserves this.Maybe she does… I don't know anymore, but I can't keep living in this apartment, pretending this is normal like I don't see what's happening right in front of me.At seven AM, I hear movements in the house, I guess Sienna's up. She's always up early. She runs on coffee, control, and probably spite.I get dressed and walk to the kitchen. Sienna is there, as expected. Sitting at the breakfast bar with her tablet and coffee. She glances up when I enter. "Good morning.""We need to talk," I say.Her eyebrow raises slightly. "About?""About my sister and what you're doing to her."Sienna sets down her tablet. She

CASSYAfter the confrontation, I walked away from Delilah and locked myself in Sienna's bedroom… the penthouse is too quiet.I hear Delilah moving around in the guest room. Opening and closing drawers. She's probably pacing, processing what just happened the same way I am but we don't talk.I lie on Sienna's bed… our bed, I guess, and stare at the ceiling. The collar is still around my throat. I could take it off, after all Sienna isn't here but I don't take it off because even when she's not here, I'm still hers.Around nine PM, I hear the elevator and my whole body tenses. I know it's Sienna. So I sit up, smooth down my hair, adjust the collar so it sits perfectly. Old habits I have been trained to respond to.The bedroom door opens. She looks exhausted but when her eyes find me on the bed, something in her expression softens. Just barely."Hey," she says."Hey," I say back.We look at each other for a long moment. The confrontation hangs between us."I'm sorry," I say finally. "Abo