Scarred Seductress

Beyond Betrayal

Weeks Later

“Please… please, just let me go, please…” Samantha cried in her subconscious, her mouth too weak to form the words as the bathroom door creaked open, a towel wrapped around the figure's torso as he stepped out. Her heart sank.

“I asked you to f*****g strip!” he roared, moving toward Samantha and sweeping his gaze over her—ignoring her face, focusing mainly her thighs. A low chuckle escaped his lips as he nodded in quiet satisfaction.

“Please… I beg you, don't…” his hand seized Samantha's wrist and yanked her up, tossing her back onto the bed, this time with her face buried in it.

“Don't… don't,” Samantha begged as she could feel him peel her nightwear aside himself. She squeezed her eyes shut, her blood draining awfully cold as her teeth dug into her shaking lips, hard enough to draw blood—she could tell exactly what was coming as he pistoned perfectly behind her, his fingers just about to slide inside her when a soft knock landed on the door, snapping Samantha's eyes open.

“Ma'am,” a maid called, walking in and bowing slightly as Samantha trembled on her bed. Ever since that night, there hadn't been a single time she closed her eyes without the horrors returning to her.

“Are you okay, ma'am?” the maid asked, concern in her voice, her brow arching in pity as Samantha broke into quiet tears.

Samantha forced a nod, bringing her trembling hands to her face to dry her wet eyes.

“Your father asked me to get you ready, ma'am… your husband is on his way to take you home,” she said and snapped Samantha's eyes wide.

“Damien is coming?” She asked in shaky breaths. The maid nodded.

Samantha sniffed through her tears and wiped her eyes clean, forcing a smile as she pushed herself off the bed.

“Damien is coming,” she whispered, shaking as she paced breathlessly around the room. Finally, she settled at her dressing table, picking up a brush to tame the messy hair she hadn't styled in weeks.

“May I help you, ma'am?” the maid asked. Samantha shook her head, waving her off, her chest heaving as her heart swelled with happiness. She had expected he would never see her again, but he was actually coming to take her home. He still loved her—he was willing to forgive her.

“You've got to look your best, Samantha,” she told herself, tying her hair into a sleek bun and reaching for the makeup kit in front of her—when her eyes fell on her empty ring finger. Her heart fell.

She had no memory of taking off her ring—Damien had given it to her on the day he proposed, a beautifully carved diamond with her name engraved on it. She had worn it everyday since then. Who could have taken it?

She pushed herself up, already breathless, scanning the entire room for the ring. Tears welled in her eyes as she ripped through everything in a frantic search.

“Where could it be?” She whimpered, raking her fingers through her hair and messing up her bun in frustration as her heart raced. What would Damien think if he found out she had lost her ring too?

“Lyla!” She shouted, dashing out of the room in an instant to find the maid. If anyone would know about it, it should be her—she was the only person who had served her since she returned.

“Lyla…” she called, stumbling into the hallway and looking around restlessly for the maid. She was about to pass Marina's room when her feet faltered—echoes of Marina moaning Damien's name freezing her in place.

“There, Damien… there,” Marina moaned, Damien's growls echoing alongside hers, sending Samantha staggering back as her mind struggled to process what she was hearing.

“Ma'am…” the maid came running to Samantha, taking her hand to pull her away. But Samantha pushed her off, her shaking hands reaching for the doorknob as she clicked the door open.

“You can't, ma'am…”

A sharp gasp escaped Samantha as her eyes fell on Damien's figure, his face buried between Marina's legs. Marina's eyes squeezed shut, her hands clawing at the sides of the bed, her breath ragged and fast. They hadn't noticed her.

“Ma'am, please… you still need rest,” the maid said, stepping in and slamming the door shut as Samantha trembled, breathless.

“You're not strong enough to…”

The door flew open again, revealing a sweaty Damien, his eyes snapping wide as they locked onto Samantha.

“My lo…” he stopped himself, swallowing hard as he peeled his gaze from her.

“Who is it, Damien?” Marina asked, appearing naked behind him, her eyes also settling on Samantha.

“It's you,” she cooed, a low chuckle slipping from her lips as she wrapped her arms around Damien's waist from behind, pressing a kiss to his back.

“I still need you, Damien… we can come back to her when we're done,” she whispered, trailing her kisses all around his back as Samantha watched.

“You should leave. I'll get back to you later, when I'm done,” he growled, ignoring the tears streaming down Samantha's cheeks and slamming the door in her face.

“Now come here, Damien…” Marina's giggles laced the air, soon followed by her moans.

“Ma'am… ma'am…” the maid rushed forward as Samantha's eyes squeezed shut, her feet losing their hold on the floor and giving way, letting her body collapse to the ground.