Those words made Damien's expression darken instantly. "Antonia, when did you learn to play these little games?"
"Disobedience comes with consequences. Family punishment."
"The whip or an apology to Alma. Your choice."
Either way, he wanted to see me bleed.
I reached for the fruit knife on the nightstand and dragged it across my wrist without hesitation.
Skin split open. Scalding blood surged out, soaking the white sheets red.
Alma shrieked and stumbled backward.
"Are you insane?!" Damien's face changed too, his eyes full of shock.
"Is that enough of an apology?" My voice was steady.
Alma's lip trembled with practiced hurt. "Damien, you only asked her to apologize. Why would she do this? She's making it look like we're the ones bullying her. She scared me half to death!"
She burrowed into his arms. "I told you she was faking it. She didn't even flinch when she cut herself."
"Don't be scared, Alma." He held her close, his voice soft and soothing. But the look he turned on me could have frozen steel. "Cheap theatrics. Disgraceful. You need to be taught a lesson."
"Bring the whip."
I was pinned down, arms locked in place.
The cane struck my back, each blow harder than the last.
I clenched my teeth. Not a sound.
Only when the cane snapped in two did Damien stop. "You've had your share of pain. Consider the matter closed."
"The engagement banquet is tomorrow. Make yourself presentable. Don't embarrass me again."
He wrapped his arm around Alma and walked out without looking back.
Through the heavy smell of blood, I heard the system notification.
[System upgrade progress: 95%.]
I lay facedown on the cold floor, and a memory surfaced unbidden.
Three years ago, I could have left.
I gave up that chance. For him.
Three years ago, Damien had been ambushed by a rival. He was on the edge of death.
He survived what everyone called a miracle, and he credited his own resilience.
He never knew that I had already earned enough points, that one foot was already through the exit. I traded half of everything I'd accumulated to buy back his life.
The system called me a fool.
But some things only the person living them can understand.
I remembered the tsunami. How he clawed me out of the mud like a man possessed, his fingers torn and bleeding.
I remembered craving warm ginger pudding in the middle of the night, and how he drove across the entire city to bring it back still hot.
I remembered an ordinary dinner when he pulled out an antique necklace, casual as anything. "Saw it at an auction. Thought it suited you."
And my birthday, when I mentioned offhand that I wanted to see snow. He canceled every meeting and flew me to the Alps.
That day, snowflakes fell into our clasped hands. Real and warm and ours.
But eventually the snow melted. And so did everything else.
I was jolted awake by noise. Damien walked in with his people.
"Time for the engagement banquet."
I had no interest in the engagement, but I was leaving soon anyway. It didn't matter where I went.
At the hotel entrance, Alma came up and linked her arm through mine, all warmth. "I'll take Antonia to change into her gown."
I pulled my arm free. "I can manage."
Her lips instantly pursed into a pout.
Damien glanced over, his tone flat. "She's being kind. Don't be ungrateful."
A look from him, and two of his men seized my arms and steered me after Alma into the dressing room.
The door shut. Two girls ripped my clothes off without ceremony.
The gauze on my back was torn away in one rough motion.
The wounds hadn't healed. Skin and flesh tore open all over again.
Pain blackened my vision. I had no strength to fight.
In the chaos, a kick landed square on my stomach. My body, still wrecked from Alma's poisoning, convulsed, and I spat out a mouthful of bloody foam.
Alma leaned down and whispered in my ear, a smile in her voice. "Antonia, tonight, everyone will know you're nothing but a whore."
When they half-dragged me to the center of the banquet hall, the entire room fell silent.
