Divorce: The Fugitive Wife

“Who are you pretending for in prison?You’re just a murderer,not the esteemed Dr.Smith anymore.Do you get it?” The woman leading the group grabbed her hair,her tone dripping with mockery. Natalie Smith’s eyes welled up with tears as cold sweat covered her forehead.Despite the pain and helplessness on her face,her gaze was firm.“I’m not a murderer.I didn’t start that fire.” “Oh,still won’t admit it even now?Guess you really need a lesson!” The woman kicked her hard,laughing cruelly.“Say it was all your fault.Bark like a dog,and I might let you go.How about that?” Humiliated,Natalie was forced to lift her head.Her voice was hoarse as she spoke again,one word at a time,“It...wasn’t...me.” Smack! The woman slapped Natalie across the face and grabbed her chin,spitting in her face.“Bah,seeing that fake noble look makes me sick.Let’s see just how tough you really are today!” She gave a signal to the others nearby. Two women moved immediately,grinning as they yanked Natalie’s arms and shoved her head into a sink filled with water. Water flooded her mouth,and she coughed violently,struggling with all her might.It was no use;the pressure in her chest grew,and panic set in as she felt herself suffocating. “No,please...” Natalie’s eyes flew open as she jerked awake.Only then did she realize it had just been a nightmare. But even so,everything in it had happened to her. As she struggled to pull herself out of the lingering terror,she noticed a well-dressed man standing in front of her. Jayden Roberts’s voice was cold and cutting as he stared at her with venomous eyes.“A murderer like you...what right do you have to say no?” Natalie’s vision blurred as she instinctively tried to back away. The movement enraged Jayden.He stepped forward,his tone turning icier,eyes bloodshot with anger.“My parents were so good to you.Why did you set that fire and kill them?Do you have no conscience,Natalie?” The pain from her past in prison jolted Natalie fully awake.She looked at the familiar man before her and realized she’d only been dreaming moments ago. For three years in prison,she had faced relentless torment and bullying. Endless chores,random beatings—every attempt to fight back had only brought harsher humiliation. All of it,because of the man standing in front of her. Breathing heavily,her face pale with pain,she gasped out,“It…wasn’t me.No matter what you think…I didn’t start that fire.” “Not you?Are you saying Lucy would kill her own parents?Still trying to dodge your crime?” A flash of red flared in Jayden’s eyes.He didn’t ask again but pulled off his tie and grabbed her ankle,yanking at her clothes. “You’re heartless,Natalie.” His voice was ice cold. “Let…go…of me…” Natalie felt his grip tighten.She struggled,but her nightgown strap slipped off her shoulder,exposing her skin. Jayden’s eyes darkened.He pulled her closer,his arm wrapping around her waist,forcing her into a submissive posture,then bit down hard on her lips. A pained sound escaped her as she desperately pushed at him,but the strength between them was too vast.Blood mixed with the bitter taste in her mouth as he pressed on,unyielding. His breathing grew ragged.Holding her down,he reached for his waistband. Natalie’s eyes widened,and she shielded her chest with both arms.“No…please…” Tears threatened to spill,but she bit her lip,holding them back,though her trembling voice betrayed her hopelessness and sorrow. Jayden’s gaze was cold and cruel as he handcuffed her hands to the bedpost.His voice was like ice. “You don’t get to say no.” As she tried to resist,his anger flared.Without emotion,he forced himself between her legs and began his brutal act. Natalie’s cries were choked as her complexion turned pale,powerless under him.Jayden’s expression remained hard,devoid of any gentleness. Seconds turned into minutes. Once he finished,Jayden got dressed,not sparing her a glance before leaving the room. Lying on the bed,Natalie stared blankly at the ceiling,lifeless.She closed her eyes,and the image of the fire came rushing back. She couldn’t understand how it happened. She had woken up to find herself surrounded by flames,nearly burned alive.Why was Jayden so convinced it was her doing? He had even sent her to prison for three long years because of that. She fell from being the youngest surgeon in the hospital to a convict branded with murder. She had thought of escaping the city,but Jayden kept her confined in the mansion,refusing to let her leave. The Roberts family held significant power in Tanaxes,and as its head,Jayden controlled both legitimate business and the underworld with ruthless efficiency.There was no escaping him. The thought of that obsessive,cruel man sent shivers down her spine. No matter what,she had to find out who really set the fire.She couldn’t go on being blamed for something she didn’t do. As she was lost in thought,a maid walked in without knocking,handing her a white pill. “Take this.It’s from Mr.Roberts.” Natalie recognized the emergency contraceptive immediately.Forcing a smile,she took it.“I understand.You can go now.” The maid,Sofia,didn’t move,her eyes filled with disdain.“A murderer like you doesn’t deserve to carry a Roberts child.I need to see you take it.” Natalie’s eyes turned icy.“As long as I live here,I am still the lady of this house.You should remember your place.Leave.” Intimidated,Sofia hesitated before leaving begrudgingly. After she left,Natalie swallowed the pill.The bitterness spread in her mouth,but she didn’t flinch. Just as she was about to rest,the sharp sound of heels echoed outside.A familiar face appeared. It was Lucy Roberts. “What are you doing here?” Natalie’s voice was cold.She had no fondness for Lucy. At the time of the fire,only she and Lucy had been home.Natalie knew she was innocent,leaving only one possibility. Lucy had something to do with it. But Jayden wasn't having any of it, sure that she'd cooked up this story to shirk responsibility. 'Naturally, I've come to see for myself the sorry state you're in,' Lucy jeered, her voice dripping with mockery, 'like a dog that's been whipped in a fight.'