I used to think if death ever came for me, I would welcome it with open arms. It wasn’t that I couldn’t take my own life, but there were no sharp objects anywhere in the villa on Valentino’s command. I was also under 24/7 surveillance by both security cameras and the watchful maids that lingered around me at all times.
Death was not an escape option from the horror that was my life.
But as I watched those two strange men approach me, my heart did something it hadn’t done in three years. It began to beat, jackhammering away in my chest so hard I thought I was going to have a cardiac arrest.
I did not want to die…
I had no plan, no clear escape route. My mind was a chaotic swirl of terror and determination. I had to think fast. If only there was a way to confirm. Shit! I didn’t have my phone with me. My gaze snapped to Aella as I scrambled away from the approaching bodyguards.
“Wait! Just call him!” I yelled, stretching out trembling, pleading hands in desperation. “Please, I know Valentino loves you more. But you can prove it, yes?” Even my voice trembled, but I pushed on, “J- Just call him and see—”
“I’m giving you both this bitch to do as you see fit.” Aella cut me off, ignoring my pleas completely. “Whoever tortures her the most gets a reward of two million dollars this very evening!”
Immediately, one of the men lunged toward me and I screamed as I fell over myself trying to get away. Their eyes gleamed determinedly at the promise of money but determination settled in my gut beside the fear.
I did not want to die!
Adrenaline surged through me, fueling every inch of my body as I scrambled backward, falling over the concrete table beside me. The vase that was on it shattered on the floor and my hand darted toward the largest shard I could find, fingers trembling as I wrapped them around the jagged edge. The pain of it slicing into my palm barely registered over the fear coursing through me.
“Stay away!” I screamed, holding the shard out in front of me. My voice was hoarse, shaking, but filled with raw desperation.
The bigger of the two men paused, a smirk tugging at his lips as if amused by my pathetic attempt to defend myself.
“She’s got some fight in her,” he said, turning to Enzo.
“Not for long,” The other man replied, stepping forward.
The two men surged forward, but to my utter shock, it wasn’t them who got to me first. Aella and her clique took matters into their own hands and descended on me, a chaotic flurry of clawing hands and mocking laughter.
They tore at my clothes, ripping the fabric away as I thrashed and screamed, trying to fight them off. I fought like I hadn’t fought in years, not since three years ago when I was dragged kicking and screaming from that church into a black SUV.
But my strength was no match for their numbers, and soon I was left exposed and trembling. My dignity was stripped away along with the last shreds of fabric.
Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. I refused to let her see me cry. “Valentino will—”
“Valentino will what?” she snapped, cutting me off. “You’re nothing to him. You think you can waltz in here and steal what’s mine?” Aella sneered, her eyes glinting with malice. “Since you’re so desperate for men, you can have a few, you slut.”
Aella stepped away and as promised, she ordered her bodyguards to defile me till I bled all over the floor.
Valentino did arrive that day, albeit late. His eyes were wide and unmoving as he took in the gruesome scene. And Aella, so foolish, ran to meet him.
“My love, I found this impostor dressed up like me to try and steal you from me. She called herself your wife, can you imagine?! Look, I took care of her for you.”
She smiled up sweetly and proudly, unaware of the murderous rage brewing in Valentino’s mind.
