Chapter 1

I had been married to Xavier for five years.

For those five years, he had been my tormentor.

There was a time when I loved him with every fiber of my being, offering him my heart and soul without reservation.

But to him, I was nothing but trash—something to be discarded, loathed, and utterly despised.

Eventually, I chose to stop loving him. I decided to let go of myself, and in doing so, let him go as well.

Yet, after everything, there he was—on his knees, begging for another chance.

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The room was dimly lit.

I struggled to keep my eyes open, my entire body pulsing with agony. My lower lip was bitten raw, stained with fresh blood.

I turned my head toward the man standing beside me and pleaded in a weak, raspy voice.

"Xavier, I’m begging you... let me go."

The corners of Xavier’s mouth curled into a chilling, razor-sharp smirk.

"Let you go? Ha. You’re dreaming."

"Begging me?" He let out a dry scoff, as if he had just heard the world’s most pathetic joke.

He continued, "Take a look in the mirror. Look at how wretched you are now—worse than a stray dog."

He grabbed me and dragged me toward the floor-length mirror.

I collapsed against the cold glass, a disheveled and broken mess.

"Open your eyes and look! Look at how hideous you’ve become!"

Xavier forced my eyes open, demanding that I stare at my own reflection.

The woman in the mirror was a map of scars.

And in that moment, she was kneeling on the floor.

Like a dog whimpering and begging for mercy.

I broke. A piercing, agonizing shriek escaped my throat.

"Xavier, why... why are you doing this to me!"

"Why!"

Xavier’s narrow eyes seemed to burn with a hellish fire.

He spoke through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with venom. "You actually have the nerve to ask me why? You framed Chloe, arranged for those men to violate her, and robbed her of the chance to ever be a mother! And my sister... because she saw what you did, you ran her down and turned her into a vegetable!"

I shook my head, desperately trying to deny the accusations.

"No... it wasn't me. I swear I didn't do it!"

It wasn't the first time I had denied it, but Xavier had never believed me.

This time was no different.

"You’d better remember this," he hissed, his grip tightening. "The only reason you’re still breathing is to atone for what you did to Chloe and my sister. Whatever they suffered back then, I’m going to make sure you experience it a thousand times over."

Xavier choked me, forcing me to repeat "I’m sorry" over and over again.

The despair in my heart was a tide that threatened to drown me.

The only person who knew the truth was his sister, Celine.

But after the accident, Celine had fallen into a persistent vegetative state.

Because of that, Xavier had thrown me into the basement, where I had withered away for three long years.

In his eyes, I was a woman of pure evil.

Xavier laughed then—a cold, cruel sound right against my ear.

"Clara, you hurt the woman I love. I’m going to make your life a living hell."

"Xavier, you’re a monster."

"You’re the one who turned me into this."

Pain flared through me, so intense I thought I might die. I stared at him with bloodshot eyes as he turned and walked away without a single glance back.

Chapter 2

When I opened my eyes again, everything was a sterile, blinding white.

This wasn't the basement. It was a hospital.

The sharp scent of antiseptic stung my senses. I pulled at my dry, cracked lips and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

I really thought I was a goner.

The memory of Xavier’s departure flashed through my mind, and I instinctively touched my stomach.

Two months ago, I had discovered I was pregnant.

I wondered if the baby was still there.

"Relax, the baby is still with us."

The comforting words came from the side.

Startled, I turned to see a nurse standing by the bed.

The baby was still there.

I hadn't miscarried.

A weak smile touched my lips, a flicker of relief shining in my eyes.

Perhaps...

Perhaps Xavier realized he was wrong. Maybe he decided to let me go, and that’s why he took me out of that dark hole and brought me to the hospital.

Then the nurse added, "Your uterine lining is quite thin. It’s very easy for you to have a miscarriage."

Those words hit me like a bucket of ice water. I shivered.

I instinctively shielded my belly, silently vowing that I would do everything in my power to protect this child.

The nurse had barely left when the sharp click of high heels approached from the hallway.

The moment I saw the intruder, my pupils drifted and I hissed three words through my teeth.

"Chloe!"

Chloe’s red lips curled upward as she swayed her hips, walking toward my bedside like a serpent.

She gave a glamorous smile. "Don't look at me like that. After all, I’m the one who saved your life."

The irony was too much. I let out a cold laugh.

"Saved my life? Chloe, stop acting so damn righteous."

Chloe only smirked in derision.

"If it weren't for me, how do you think you’d have the chance to leave that basement and lie here? The child in your womb—I’m the one who saved it."

A dark premonition surged in my mind. "What do you mean?"

Chloe’s eyes flashed with a sinister light as she stared me down.

"It means you’re going to be a good girl and give birth to that child. I’ll be the one taking care of it. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been violated. I wouldn't have lost the chance to ever be a mother!"

Fury and hatred boiled over. I glared at her.

"You’re dreaming! I’d rather die than give my child to you! Xavier would never agree to this!"

"And whose idea do you think this was? It was Xavier’s! From the moment you give birth, you’ll never see this child again. But don't worry, I’ll treat the little thing very well."

She emphasized the word 'well' with a chilling bite.

"I will find every possible way to torment and destroy it."

My heart constricted.

How could anyone be so genuinely evil?

"What happened back then had nothing to do with me! I was framed!"

Chloe suddenly said in a breezy, casual tone, "Oh, I know you were framed. Because those men... I’m the one who hired them."

It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck my brain. I was frozen, murmuring, "It was you... you set me up?"

"No!" Chloe’s expression suddenly twisted.

"The one who was supposed to be kidnapped and humiliated was you! If there hadn't been an accident—if those men hadn't raised the price on the spot—I wouldn't have fought with them, and they wouldn't have... they wouldn't have done that to me!"

"This is all your fault!"

I couldn't believe the horrific truth.

"You’re insane! You brought that on yourself and then dragged me into the mud. And Celine’s accident... you made Xavier believe I did that, too!"

Everything finally clicked.

I realized that all the suffering I had endured for so long was nothing but a play written, directed, and starred in by Chloe.

"Chloe, I’ll kill you!"

Rage consumed me. I lunged forward and swung my palm, landing a heavy, resounding slap across Chloe’s face.

A bright red mark bloomed on her cheek. But in the next second, a man’s thunderous, furious voice echoed through the room—

Chapter 3

"Damn you, woman!"

I met Xavier's predatory gaze, and in the next heartbeat, a heavy backhand sent me crashing to the floor.

My face erupted in a searing, burning pain.

Lifting my eyes, I saw Chloe nestled in Xavier’s arms, weeping softly.

Yet, the look in her eyes was one of pure, unadulterated triumph.

Xavier looked down at me with nothing but loathing and fury, completely indifferent to my swelling, bruised face.

"Clara, if I ever see you lay a hand on her again, I’ll chop your hands off myself!" he warned. "The only reason you’re still breathing is because Chloe pleaded for your life."

"Give birth to the child and let Chloe raise it, otherwise..."

Xavier didn't finish the sentence, but his cold, ruthless eyes said everything that needed to be said.

"It’s not like that! Please, just listen to me..."

My mouth was filled with blood the moment I spoke, but I still reached out to grab the hem of his trousers, desperate to explain.

Xavier let out a cold snort and kicked me away without hesitation.

Then, he led Chloe out of the hospital room.

Tears blurred my vision and traced hot paths down my cheeks.

Whether it was years ago when I became Xavier’s wife, or now when I carried his child...