The Beast in Fine Tuxedo

Chapter 7

Alexander's cold declaration struck like a heavy hammer, leaving me trembling all over. Tears slid uncontrollably down my cheeks, like beads on a broken string.

What escaped my lips wasn’t wailing, but a small beast-like whimper forced out by extreme fear.

My tears seemed to stir no pity in him. Rather, they acted as some kind of catalyst, igniting an even stronger

desire for conquest in his eyes.

"Why are you crying?" he said shamelessly, a hint of mockery in his tone. "If you’re in need of a man, you could consider me."

Those words shattered the last traces of my dignity, like a resounding slap across my face.

Anger and disgust overwhelmed my fear in an instant.

Using all my strength, I reached for the car door, desperate to escape this hellish enclosed space immediately.

The moment he saw my hand tugging at the door, his gaze turned dark and menacing.

He growled lowly and reached out his long arm, grabbing me by the waist from the front passenger seat. Roughly, he seated me across his lap in an extremely humiliating position.

"Did I say you could leave?" he asked through gritted teeth, his eyes surging with terrifying rage.

"Let go of me!" I cried, my voice trembling with despair.

He snorted coldly, retorting with disdain, "You're so unwilling to be with me? What's so good about that kid from law school?"

"You’re a beast!" I screamed, pounding his solid chest with my fists in vain.

My resistance seemed to set ablaze the madness in his eyes completely.

Alexander’s sharp gaze fixated on the hem of my dress, slightly disheveled from my struggle. Without hesitation, his other hand seized the neckline of my dress.

"Not agreeing?" he growled hoarsely, "Then let me enjoy it for free."

The sound of fabric tearing, sharp and grating, echoed distinctly in the small car cabin.

He violently ripped the zipper of my coat, and the cold air instantly kissed my exposed skin.

I was on the brink of despair, letting out a piercing scream.

Just then, a sharp knocking—"Knock, knock, knock"—sounded against the car window.

The crisp knocking pierced through the stagnant and frenzied atmosphere inside the car like a sharp sword.

Alexander froze mid-action, all his movements coming to a halt.

His face still bore traces of fury, but his gaze now carried a hint of irritation from the interference.

He released me and impatiently adjusted his own clothing.

Like a broken doll, I slid off him and onto the seat. Hugging my torn clothing tightly, I shrank into the corner, trembling and helpless.

With a victorious smirk, Alexander threw his expensive suit jacket at me, signaling for me to cover myself.

"Alexander." A steady male voice came from outside the car.

Alexander lowered the car window, frowning as he looked at the man standing there. "Marcus, why are you here?"

The man outside, appearing a few years older than Alexander, bore some resemblance to him but exuded a more upright and stern demeanor.

He glanced at Alexander’s startled ex-wife standing not far away and then at me, curled up, sobbing softly in the car. Instantly, he understood what had happened.

"Alexander, can you restrain yourself?" Marcus’s voice was laced with suppressed anger.

"Brother, stay out of my business."

"If I keep out of it, you’ll become uncontrollable!"

Alexander remained silent, his face stony with dissatisfaction at having been interrupted.

Marcus turned to me, his gaze softening with compassion and pity. "Miss, are you alright?"

I shook my head in fear, unable to stop the tears from streaming down.

Marcus opened the car door, shouting angrily at Alexander, "Let her go home!"

Alexander remained still, his eyes cold and fixed on me.

Marcus, now thoroughly enraged, shouted again, "You’ve gone too far! Isabella is still standing outside, you know!"

Seizing this opportunity, I stumbled out of the car, not even pausing to put on my shoes. Barefoot, I ran off into the distance without looking back.

"Ellie!" Alexander’s angry voice called from behind, "Wait! I’ll have my assistant take you home!"

I ignored him, my heavy steps moving forward as though in a trance, my gaze hollow, as if my soul had been ripped away.

Ahead, my eyes fell on Isabella, his ex-wife. She stood elegantly under the streetlamp, her expression a mix of tension and composure, like a breathtakingly beautiful statue.

When she saw me running out in disarray, a complicated emotion flashed in her eyes—sympathy, numbness, and perhaps a melancholy acceptance?

She didn’t even dare knock on the car window. She must have known what her man was doing inside, yet she chose silence and endurance.

In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sadness. How many nights like this had she endured, trapped with such a well-dressed beast?

Finally, I reached the safety of my home. I locked myself in my bedroom, sliding down against the door, and cried my heart out. The tears poured out like a flood, releasing all the grievances, fear, and pain of the night.

After crying, I went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Scalding water cascaded over me as I scrubbed every inch of my skin, desperate to erase any trace of him. Every spot he had touched felt repulsive to me.

Once out of the shower, I slipped into clean pajamas and collapsed on my bed like a lifeless shell.

Picking up my phone, I saw numerous missed calls and message notifications. They were all from Liam.

"Ellie, are you home? Did he do anything to you?"

"Please reply when you see this. I’m really worried about you."

Exhausted, I stared at his messages, unable to muster the energy to reply. What could I say? That I’d narrowly escaped being assaulted by a powerful man in his car? The weight and filth of this secret felt unbearable to share, especially with Liam.

The next day, I took a leave of absence from school yet somehow found myself back on campus. I needed a semblance of normalcy, a place filled with sunshine to remind myself that I was still alive.

Walking distractedly along the tree-lined path, I heard a concerned voice behind me.

"Ellie!"

It was Liam, rushing up to me with worry etched on his face. "What happened? Are you alright? Did something happen last night?"

Looking into his clear, caring eyes, my heart ached with sorrow and fear, but I couldn’t speak a word of it. I could only shake my head as tears brimmed in my eyes.

"My mind’s a mess. I just want to be alone for a while," I finally croaked, my voice hoarse.

"Is it because your family found out about that night? It’s all my fault. I’m sorry, Ellie," Liam apologized, guilt written across his face.

"It’s not because of you," I replied vaguely, pushing him away gently. "Liam, please, let me have some time to myself."

Watching his wounded figure walk away, I was overwhelmed by an unbearable sense of loneliness and despair.

That night’s ordeal had torn my life apart completely.

The road to light seemed forever blocked.