I Was Only His Substitute

Chapter 2

"I hate how you look at Uncle Vincent." Dora's displeased voice, mingled with the sharp c***k of a slap, echoed sharply through the empty basement.

Gloria's face snapped to the side, stinging from the blow.

Almost reflexively, she raised her hand to retaliate. This was Vincent's lesson to her—never let yourself be taken advantage of.

But her wrist was caught mid-air in Vincent's iron grip. He fixed her with a stare, his eyes brimming with unmistakable warning.

Only then did Gloria realize that from the moment Dora appeared, she'd forfeited all right to assert herself.

The exclusive affection once reserved for her had now been reclaimed by its rightful owner.

With a self-mocking smile, Gloria wrenched her hand free and delivered an even fiercer slap to her own face.

"I offended Miss Stevens. I accept the punishment," she said, lifting her chin, her voice dripping with a servility she thought she'd shed. "I'm sorry, Miss Stevens. Does this make you feel better?"

The familiar groveling tone made Vincent's brow twitch. He sensed something spiraling out of control and couldn't help interjecting, "You..."

"No!" Dora snorted, a flicker of mockery in her eyes. "You frightened me just now. You deserve further punishment! Don't you agree, Uncle Vincent?"

Gloria shut her eyes. Her worst fear had come to pass—Dora wouldn't let her off lightly.

Gloria watched as Vincent's furrowed brows smoothed into a doting smile. "Of course! My little princess gets whatever she wants. We'll leave her here alone as punishment."

With that, he swept Dora into his arms and strode away without a backward glance. His entourage cleared out instantly.

As the basement door creaked shut, the space began sinking into total darkness. Only then did Gloria come to her senses and scrambled toward the exit, only to be thrust back by a bodyguard's unyielding shove.

"Mr. Stevens said you're to stay here."

"Let me out! Vincent!" Gloria shrieked in a ragged voice. "You know I have claustrophobia! I'll die!"

Vincent's footsteps hesitated almost imperceptibly, yet in the next instant, he disappeared through the door.

Gloria could only watch as the last sliver of light vanished. When darkness swallowed her whole, her limbs turned cold, and her breathing grew erratic, until suffocation wrapped around her like a vise.

At that moment, she was transported back to childhood—trapped in that coffin-like space by her stepfather, her pleas falling on deaf ears.

She curled into a tight ball, hugging her knees to her chest, her voice reduced to broken whispers.

"Save me, Vincent, save me."

*****

When Gloria woke up, she found herself in a hospital.

"Oh, you're awake. How could you just pass out over nothing?"

Dora's signature lilting tone pierced the air. Gloria turned toward the sound, but her face contorted in terror when she saw Vincent standing beside her.

The recent darkness came rushing back. Gloria's body convulsed as she doubled over, heaving violently.

Vincent immediately pulled Dora away from the bed while doctors and nurses swarmed in. After much commotion, Gloria finally regained some composure.

Just then, snippets of conversation filtered in from outside the ward.

"Uncle, could she be... pregnant?"

"Don't be ridiculous. That's impossible." Vincent's voice carried a frantic insistence, as if desperate to disprove the notion.

At last, Gloria understood why Vincent had never touched her all these years.

He could project all his fantasies and affection for Dora onto her, yet could never bring himself to touch a stand-in because it would violate Dora and betray his own warped devotion.

In just one day, the world he had built for her completely collapsed.

Now, driven to the edge of despair, a self-destructive recklessness took hold of her.

So, with a hoarse voice, Gloria spoke, "How is it impossible? After all these years with you, isn't pregnancy perfectly normal?"

The moment the words left her lips, the hospital door was flung open violently.

Vincent strode to the bedside, his entire body radiating murderous intent, and articulated each word, "Are you pregnant?"

Gloria smiled. In the playfully naive tone Vincent loved most, she slowly uttered a single word, "Yes."

In an instant, Vincent's eyes turned bloodshot, veins standing out on his neck. He seized Gloria by the throat, pulled her close, and snarled, "Whose?"

Behind him, Dora laughed like an audience enjoying a show, eagerly leaning in to pour oil on the fire. "Uncle, I think she..."

"Answer me!" Vincent roared again.

For the first time, Vincent ignored Dora.

Dora froze, her face darkening entirely.

This scene made Gloria laugh softly. Summoning all her strength, she leaned close to Vincent's ear and mimicked Dora's girlish lilting tone. "Don't be mad. I was just teasing you. I wanted to see if you'd worry about me, Uncle."