###Chapter 4
“Just some things I don’t need anymore,” I replied evenly. “The house was too full. I just cleared it out.”
He nodded, then said, “Oh, right. Riley said the guest room isn’t very comfortable. You can move out for now. The master bedroom gets better sunlight. It’s good for her pregnancy.”
I looked at him calmly. “Since you’ve already decided, I’ll move.”
Then I turned around and started packing my clothes.
My quiet acceptance seemed to unsettle him. He watched as I carried my suitcase downstairs and moved into the unused maid’s room on the first floor. His brows slowly drew together.
He leaned against the doorframe and looked at me. “Vexia, there are other empty rooms upstairs. They have better light.”
I didn’t respond.
Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. His voice lowered.
“I know a lot has happened lately. I might have neglected you.”
His lips moved close to my cheek. “But don’t be jealous. Riley is only staying for a short time. After the baby is born, her husband will take her back.”
I turned my face to avoid his touch and gave a faint, mocking smile. “I’m not jealous. She can stay as long as she likes.”
His expression darkened. “Then stop targeting her. Riley has always given in to you since we were kids. And now you’re even trying to hurt her child.”
The anger I had been holding back suddenly exploded. I remembered the message I received not long ago and my voice rose.
“I didn’t do anything! It was her! She knew my dad couldn’t swim, but she still called him and asked him to rescue me. She even gave him a boat that had been tampered with. When he finally found me, the boat sank. There was only one floating plank left… Riley killed him!”
Darren’s expression turned serious. “Where did you hear that?”
For a second, I thought he might actually listen. My eyes instantly got wet. “One of your friends sent me a message.”
“My friend?” His eyes darkened and a cold smile appeared. “Vexia, you’re really something. You even tried to seduce my friend behind my back?”
Before I could explain, his phone rang.
Riley’s soft voice came through the speaker. “Darren, the baby is kicking. It hurts so much. Can you come stay with me?”
“I’m coming right now.”
He hung up and looked at me sharply. “Stay away from other men. If you betray me, you won’t like the consequences.”
Betray?
How ridiculous.
He had the nerve to say that word to me.
It was already late at night when I finally fell into a heavy sleep.
Suddenly, the sound of a door being kicked open broke the silence.
Darren rushed in, grabbed my hair and dragged me off the bed.
“Vexia, how dare you? Where did you hide her? Give Riley back to me!”
In the moonlight, his face looked twisted and frightening, like a wild animal that had lost something precious.
I had never seen him so frantic and furious.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! Let go of me!”
My explanation and struggle were useless. He dragged me across the gravel road. Pain shot through my stomach again and again. Then he shoved me into the car.
“Tell me! Where is Riley?”
“I don’t know!”
He slapped me hard. My ears rang and I almost fainted.
At that moment, his phone rang again. After listening for a few seconds, his fingers shook as he started the car. His voice was hoarse.
“If anything happens to Riley or the baby, I will show you what real hell is.”
The car ran through several red lights before stopping in front of an old warehouse.
He dragged me inside.
Riley, with messy clothes, immediately ran into his arms. Her elbow “accidentally” hit the wound on my stomach.
“Vexia hired someone to kidnap me! Why won’t she leave me alone? I’m so scared, Darren!”
Another show carefully planned by her.
I curled up in pain and looked at Darren with all my strength. “It wasn’t me. Please believe me just once…”
One of the bodyguards stepped forward. “The kidnappers already confessed. Vexia Solmere ordered them to do it. She told them to make Ms. Trelmont lose her baby because she is jealous that after Ms. Trelmont came back, she got all of your love.”
Darren stared at me like I was his enemy. “Vexia, you crossed my bottom line.”
Fear tightened around my chest. My whole body trembled. “I didn’t. I swear I didn’t!”
“You forced me.” His eyes were cold as ice. He turned to the bodyguard. “Put her in the trunk.”
“What? No, Darren. Please don’t!”
“This is your punishment.”
He knew. He knew very well that I was scared of closed space.
The bodyguards roughly stuffed me into the dark, narrow trunk.
The lid slammed shut.
Panic flooded my body. Cold sweat covered my skin. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would break through my ribs.
The car began to shake.
At first, I thought the engine had started. Then I realized the movement had a rhythm.
A sticky, slow rhythm. Mixed with a man’s heavy breathing and a woman’s soft moans. Tears streamed down my face as I gagged uncontrollably.
This, too, was part of his punishment.
