He Punished Me For Her

Chapter 2

Sabrina clacked in on her stilettos, swinging a half-empty bottle of imported liquor, looking for all the world like she had just stumbled out of a nightclub after a wild night.

"Men can go to brothels, so why can't women? I was just going in for a bit of fun. Do you have to be such a hardass?"

She tilted her head and saw me standing stiffly to one side, a hint of mockery curling at the corner of her lips.

"Well, well, Evelyn's playing the tragic heroine again? Adrian, no offense, but you rich folks have too many rules. It's just a trip to a brothel—you're acting like it's a death sentence."

When Adrian saw Sabrina, his anger flared even hotter, but beneath it lay nothing but helpless frustration.

He grabbed Sabrina's wrist.

"Shut up! Do you know how chaotic those places are? If I hadn't sent someone to follow you tonight, those lowlifes would have picked you up already!"

"Even if I were picked up, it'd be because I wanted to be. What's it to you?"

Sabrina scoffed.

"Only someone as prudish as Evelyn would act like her virtue was the most precious thing in the world. Look at her, making excuses. If she won't go, I will!"

With that, she spun on her heel and headed for the door.

Adrian panicked immediately. He took two steps after her, then suddenly turned back to look at me, his voice thick with hastily cobbled-together sweet talk.

"Evelyn, just say yes! Just this one last time. I'll have people standing guard outside, and I won't let them lay a finger on you. Once Sabrina backs down, I'll definitely make it up to you."

Just this morning, he had crushed me against him, his voice hoarse, like he was on the verge of tears.

"Evelyn, don't be like this. You used to be so full of fight. If I liked a female colleague's social media post, you'd give me the silent treatment for a whole week. Have a fight with me now, even scratch me a couple of times, and we'll go back to how we used to be, alright?"

But Sabrina had only said she would go herself, and he threw every promise he'd made to me right out the window.

When I remained silent, he hurriedly added another promise.

"Haven't you been talking about those emerald earrings every day? I bought them. When you come back, I'll put them on you myself. Deal?"

I lowered my head and slowly smiled.

Bitterness and despair flooded my chest.

He had probably forgotten long ago.

3 years ago, nine hooligans had pinned me down on the concrete floor of an abandoned factory, taking turns, nonstop, for 3 days and 3 nights.

And in the 3 years since, I had constantly taken the blame and suffered for Sabrina. My body had rotted through from the inside out.

The doctor said all the organs in my body were failing, and I wouldn't even make it through tonight.

Between us, there was no future left at all.

"Fine."

I whispered a single word.

Adrian froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so readily.

He turned and instructed his assistant.

"Take Mrs. Prescott to the Velvet Room on the south side. Tell the men inside to give her a proper 'welcome,' and make sure Miss Hale listens carefully from the hall."

After giving the order, he turned back and gripped my hand, his eyes full of guilt.

"Evelyn, don't worry. I arranged everything. Nothing will go wrong. They'll only put on an act to scare her; they won't... actually hurt you. I'll be right outside. Hold on a little longer. The moment Sabrina gives in, I'll take you home."

Home?

What home do I even have left?

"Adrian," I said, pulling my hand from his grasp. "I'm asking you for one thing."

"Don't let Nora find out."

She was my 12-year-old daughter, the only person I still cared about in that cold, empty villa.

She used to love throwing her arms around my neck and asking, "Mommy, why does Daddy always make you cry?"

I never had an answer.

Now, I couldn't let her know how her mother was thrown into a place like that, like garbage.

Adrian's throat tightened. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. I promise."