Chapter 20 Driven to the Corner 2
798 Words
In the darkness, Leon’s thin lips curved into a sinister smile, exuding an almost demonic aura. His deep blue eyes, striking against the pitch-black room, gleamed ominously.
His large palm slid slowly from her delicate clavicle, tracing over her skin as if he were toying with a fragile, blooming flower, inhaling its faint, lingering scent.
A strange sensation spread through Katherine’s body. Instinctively, she tensed—but before she could react, he struck her.
Bang!
A sharp, bone-chilling pain coursed through her body, accompanied by the cruelty of his punishment.
"Be good, or I'll make your life worse than death!"
"Demon!" she choked out, her voice hoarse with anguish. Hot, bitter tears spilled uncontrollably down her cheeks. She had always thought herself strong enough to endure anything, to never break, never cry.
She was wrong.
Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, falling onto the bedsheets below. He tormented her mercilessly, indifferent to the wounds on her back, her discomfort, or her agony. Like a wild beast, he vented his desires without restraint.
A sob caught in her throat as a searing pain burned through her lower body. She didn’t know when the demon had left—only that the bed still held traces of his lingering warmth.
She lay motionless, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The door creaks open.
Mia slipped inside, hesitant and trembling. Seeing Katherine's state, she hurried to her side and gently wiped away her tears.
"Kate..."
Katherine's lips were cracked and dry. In a hoarse voice, she asked, "What time is it? Is it evening yet?"
Mia sniffled, dabbing her eyes. "It’s almost evening. I know what happened just now, Kate. You have to leave. If this continues, you will die."
Slowly, Katherine turned her head, exhaustion clouding her eyes. With a heavy sigh, she murmured, "Can I? Can I escape from his grip? No... Who is he? A prince—mysterious yet ruthless. If he catches me again, it will be worse."
"But..." Mia’s tears fell like a broken dam, her sorrow unspoken yet painfully evident.
"Please leave. I need to rest," Katherine whispered, gently pushing Mia’s hand away. Closing her tired eyes, she tried to forget—because forgetting meant she wouldn’t have to feel the pain.
Mia hesitated, looking back at her every few steps, completely helpless.
The door shut once more, and with it, it felt as if Katherine’s entire world was being sealed away.
She closed her eyes and forced herself to think of beautiful things.
It made everything easier.
It wouldn't be so exhausting.
Sometimes she wondered... If her sister were still alive, would things have been different? Would she have escaped this pain? Would she have lived a happy life, even if her father despised her, even if her brother mocked her?
Mia’s words echoed in her mind.
Could she escape?
Why not try?
Run away before the wedding—to protect the Sinclairs.
Once the thought took root, it became a plan. Her hand drifted to the wounds on her back. Then, she made her decision.
With a sharp intake of breath, she deliberately dragged her hand across the open wounds, tearing them open once more.
A gut-wrenching scream pierced through the villa.
"Ahh—it hurts…!"
Hearing the agonized cry, Leon and Mia rushed inside.
The moment they saw her, they froze.
Blood seeped through the bandages, soaking into the bedsheets. Katherine’s face was deathly pale, almost ghostly.
Mia covered her mouth, sobbing. Her legs buckled, and she dropped to her knees before Leon, pleading, "Your Highness, please take her to the hospital! If something happens to her—"
Leon’s cold, piercing gaze locked onto Katherine. His eyes darkened, suspicion flickering in their depths. Was this a trick? But the pain in her expression—no one could fake that.
Besides, considering what he had just done, he had completely ignored her wounds.
If she were truly dying, this wouldn’t be fun.
He shot her a cold glance, warning, "Don't even think about playing any tricks. If you do, your punishment will be worse than you can imagine."
Katherine didn’t respond. She only smiled weakly.
Mia hurriedly pulled a dress over Katherine’s frail body and helped her off the bed. Aaron drove them straight to the hospital.
Thirty minutes later—
The doctor took one look at Katherine’s injuries and sighed heavily. Turning to Mia and Aaron, he frowned.
"Are you trying to kill her? You bring her in only when it gets this bad?"
Mia's eyes were swollen from crying. She clutched the doctor’s arm, sobbing, "Pleas —please save her!"
The doctor, unfazed by her desperation, simply gestured toward Aaron. "Men out. You stay and assist me," he said to Mia.
Aaron nodded in understanding and silently turned to leave.
- Writer
