My Husband Got Rid of Our Baby to Find his Mistress

Chapter 2

Eva's mutt lunged out of nowhere, lapping at the ashes.

"Bad dog! That's disgusting—spit it out!"

She snatched up the pup and ground Mom's ashes into the mud with her heel.

I tore at the earth like a wild animal, nails splitting, blood mixing with soil, tears flooding down my face.

"Mom... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Pain seared my scalp as Damian dragged me by the hair and hurled me into the living room.

"Don't think pulling an act will save you from today's punishment. Eva, do it."

Clutching his arm, Eva whimpered, "Damian, I'm too scared... What if she takes revenge and puts rats in my room again?"

Damian's gaze softened as he ruffled her hair. "You're too soft-hearted, Eva."

Then his eyes turned to ice when they met mine. "Since Eva can't do it, you'll take her place."

He jabbed a finger at the servants. "Each of you will slap her ninety-nine times. Not one less."

The servants exchanged uneasy glances, frozen in place.

Smack! Damian's palm cracked across my face, my cheek instantly swelling like rotten fruit.

"Like this. If there's any hesitation, you're out of the Black family."

The servants scrambled like rats, slapping harder to prove their loyalty. By the ninety-ninth strike, I spat blood, my eyes burning with pure hatred.

"Damian... mark my words, you'll pay for this."

For a heartbeat, something like regret flickered in his eyes as he crouched and brushed my bruised face. "Kate, you brought this on yourself."

I burst into laughter then, hysterical, unhinged, tears carving rivers down my cheeks.

Eva, his first love. The irony hit me like a knife—their "love" had been a sick joke all along.

"Suffer?" I snarled, my finger shaking as I pointed. "You're the monsters here! You're the ones who should be begging for mercy! Damian, I'll never forgive you! I hate you!"

He flinched, unable to meet my gaze.

Eva cradled her finger, tears glistening. "Damian, it's throbbing... A rat bit me..."

Damian pulled her close, his heart aching as he tenderly blew on her finger. "Hush now, Eva. I will get your revenge," he cooed softly.

But when his eyes met mine, all tenderness vanished. His gaze turned glacial with disgust as he snapped at the servants, "Throw her into the cage."

I stared at him blankly, numb as rough hands grabbed me and dragged me away.

The rusted metal kennel swarmed with rats, their beady eyes glowing eerily in the dark, squeaking and chittering nonstop. Pure terror seized me. I kicked and screamed, clawing at the bars, but...

The lock clicked shut. Then pain...

Teeth. My arms. My legs. A rat latched onto my ear. White-hot pain exploded; I shrieked until my voice cracked. Through the slats, I saw Damian pinning Eva beneath him, his body pressing hers into the couch.

"Damian, you can in," Eva said.

"No... the baby..." Damian fake-moaned.

"Then I'll help you..."

The gnawing never stopped. Blood loss made my head swim. When the cage door finally screeched open, they dragged me out like a sack of meat.

Stiletto heels clicked inches from my face. Eva peered down, her lips curling into a vicious smirk. "Damian," she purred, her sickly sweet tone laced with venom, "doesn't Kate look pathetic now? Like a chewed-up rag!"