Chapter 3

Things I should and shouldn't have done, coerced or seemingly voluntary – I had done too many things that made me despise myself.

But now, all I wanted was to end it all quickly.

So, once again, I obediently put the young woman's shoes on.

Perhaps my obedience had deprived Liam of his fun.

Enraged, he dragged me into his room and, in front of me, stripped Chloe of her clothes. I had witnessed this scene many times; sometimes, Liam even demanded I personally 'instruct' them. As before, I tore open a condom wrapper and handed it to him.

But this time, Liam roughly pushed it away.

"Not needed this time."

My hand trembled, and I withdrew it. Liam's actions didn't stop, but for the first time, he looked up at me. I didn't look at him; I was too tired to even bother.

Liam got angry again. He locked me in the bathroom. That night, the snowstorm outside was fierce, and the noises from outside were loud. I sat there, listening all night.

In a daze, I was jolted awake by a frantic phone call.

"Miss Vance? Your mother has been in a car accident and is currently in critical condition. Please come to City General Hospital immediately."

My heart immediately sank.

"Liam!"

I started banging repeatedly on the door, trying to drown out the sounds from outside.

Liam, wrapped in a bathrobe, opened the door. His loose collar revealed hickeys, and the woman in his arms clung to him, not letting go for a second.

"What's wrong?"

"My mother was in a car accident. Can you please take me to the hospital?"

I knelt on the floor, begging him, tears streaming down my face. I was terrified he wouldn't take me if he was annoyed.

Chloe scoffed, pointing to the dark, snow-filled sky outside. "It's three in the morning, and it's snowing heavily. Normal people are all staying indoors. Did the car crash into your mother's house?"

Liam chuckled along, not even bothering to look up. "Ashley, you're resorting to even this kind of lie? What, are you tired of hearing us?"

Liam locked the door again.

The more I yelled, the louder the sounds from outside became.

Completely out of options, I grabbed a nearby stool, smashed the window, and climbed out. Sharp glass shards sliced my leg, and it instantly bled profusely. It was too late, and with the snow, I couldn't find a taxi. I could only run forward like a zombie, leaving vivid crimson blood trails in the snow.

"Beep-beep," a black Porsche Cayenne pulled up beside me.

"Get in."

Inside the dimly lit, cramped car, the man remained in the driver's seat, never once turning to look at me. I kept thanking him profusely, but he didn't say another word. Just as I was about to get out, I heard him say:

"Ashley, you have other options besides Liam. If you've thought it through, remember to find me."

A gold-embossed business card was handed to me. I took it with both hands, thanking him repeatedly. But at that moment, my mind was entirely consumed with my mother, and I put it in my pocket without a closer look.

I stumbled into the emergency room. Before I could even ask, I saw nurses pushing a gurney with a body covered by a white sheet out of the operating room.

"Hasn't Eleanor Vance's family arrived yet?"

"The person's already dead, and her daughter still isn't here. What an eye-opener."

The two nurses continued chatting, their words effortlessly piercing my heart.

I rushed over and pulled back the white sheet. Her once delicate face was now covered in scars; her body and legs were riddled with wounds, big and small.

Regarding Liam, for ten years, every minute, I had resented her. I had even wickedly wished for my whole family to die. But now, with her truly gone before me, all I felt was heartbreak.