The Beast in Fine Tuxedo

Chapter 10

Alexander Warren's cold and cruel declaration was like a rusty key, unlocking all the floodgates of fear, shame, and anger deep within me.

My mind went blank in an instant, with only one thought echoing in my head: kill him, or kill myself.

But I was powerless.

I could only watch as he, with the hands that had just violated me, picked up my phone. He deftly unlocked my simple password and found Liam’s contact information.

“What are you trying to do?” I croaked out, my voice hoarse with dread. An ominous premonition filled my heart.

He didn’t reply. Instead, he typed out a line of text on the screen right before my eyes, then quickly hit send.

He threw the phone back to me. With trembling hands, I picked it up and saw the message sent in my name:

“Liam, I’m sorry. Let’s break up. I’ve realized we’re not right for each other.”

“How dare you! How dare you use my phone to send messages to someone else!” I roared, like an enraged cub, ignoring the pain in my body. I lunged to snatch the phone back, but he easily caught my wrist.

“How dare I?” His eyes turned icy as he forced me to look at him, gripping my chin tightly. “What? One man isn’t enough for you, and now you want two?”

“You’re nothing but a r****t!” I growled, using all my strength to shove his hand away.

“Whose man are you? You’re not even human!”

“You!” Rage flashed across his eyes as he raised his hand, appearing ready to strike me.

Instinctively, I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the pain.

But the slap never landed. A few seconds later, I felt his warm breath near my face. My cheek was lightly touched.

Alexander’s lips pressed against my ear as he murmured in a tone that was both lover-like and filled with threat, “Slow down, little girl. You’ve got a sharp tongue. But don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of time. I’ll slowly teach you what obedience means. There will come a day when you

beg me.”

With that, he released me. He stood up and leisurely dressed himself, as if the violence just moments earlier was nothing more than an insignificant morning exercise.

I sat there dazed on the edge of the bed, feeling like a broken doll discarded after being played with too harshly. My soul and body both felt shattered.

The ride home was engulfed in a heavy silence.

I curled up in the corner of the car, staring out at the scenery rushing backward, feeling as though my life, too, was being dragged into an unknown and dark abyss.

As we neared my apartment, Alexander suddenly broke the silence. He handed me a black, weighty card.

“This is the business card of my private lawyer, Mr. Grey,” he said with a wicked smile. “If anyone ever bullies you or if you want to sue someone, remember to call him.”

His handsome face carried a mocking smile, as if to tell me that in this city, the law was his game, and I would never win.

I turned away coldly, looking out the window. My voice was devoid of emotion. “I won’t go to the police. Let’s pretend tonight never happened. From now on, stay away from me.”

Hearing my words, Alexander’s gaze immediately turned dark and menacing.

“I’m telling you, Ellie,” he said word by word, “the start and end of our relationship will only be decided by me!”

“Then what exactly do you want?” I asked expressionlessly, feeling as though my heart was already dead.

A wicked smile curved his lips as he lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Until I lose interest in you, you’ll come whenever I call.”

Then, he suavely pulled out a black, unlimited-credit card from his wallet and held it out to me.

“Take this card. The password is your birthday. If you see something you like, just buy it. If it’s not enough, ask me for more.”

Looking at the card, a symbol of transaction and humiliation, my stomach churned. What did he think I was—a prostitute he could buy with money?

Furious, I slapped the card out of his hand.

“You make me sick!” I growled.

He looked at the black card lying on the carpet and laughed instead of getting angry.

“Good. I hope you stay this stubborn—it’ll save me quite a bit of money.”

The car stopped in front of my apartment building. Without another word, I opened the car door and fled.

The first thing I did upon returning was rush to the nearest pharmacy to buy a box of emergency contraceptive pills.

Under the pharmacist’s curious gaze, I swallowed the tiny pill with trembling hands, washing it down with bottled water.

Then, I went home, filled the bathtub with scalding hot water, and soaked for two whole hours.

I hoped to wash away his scent, his traces, and all the memories of that horrible night.

But I knew there were things that would never be washed away.

The next day, the sun shone brightly, and the sky was a stunning blue. On the campus of New Moon City University, the lush green grass and the air brimming with youth and hope seemed to mock my existence. None of it mattered to me anymore.

I wandered aimlessly on the sports ground. Just then, a familiar voice reached my ears.

“Ellie.”

I looked up and saw Liam standing not far away, his eyes filled with weariness and confusion.

I walked toward him slowly, taking in his features. His delicate face was marred by heavy dark circles, and he looked haggard.

Seeing him like this, a sharp mix of guilt and pain surged within me.

“Liam, I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice filled with deep regret and a sense of farewell only I could understand.

He tried to approach me, reaching out to hold my hand, but I instinctively stepped back, avoiding his touch. A flash of hurt and disappointment crossed his eyes.

“Ellie, that text message—it wasn’t what you really wanted to send, was it?” he questioned me, unwilling to give up, his voice tinged with pain and confusion. “What happened? We can face it together.”

I lowered my head, not daring to meet his gaze. I couldn’t tell him that while he was sending me hundreds of messages and anxiously searching for me, I was in another man’s bed. That the girl he cherished and wanted to protect had become so dirty and unworthy.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated mechanically.

Then, I turned and fled the sports ground, leaving a bewildered and heartbroken Liam behind.

I knew I didn’t have the courage to face him, nor could I give him an explanation.

All I could do was sever this relationship with my own hands, pushing him away and keeping him far from the abyss that was about to engulf me.

It was the only protection I could give him, the last and only one.