Chapter 5 The Final Deal
602 Words
Nina studied him intently, then burst into a sly giggle.
"Anything, really?"
She retrieved the signed divorce papers from her bag, flipped to the final page, and dangled it before him.
"Then hand over the villa on the outskirts. Sign here."
Without a glance at the document, Simon smoothly extracted a pen from his pocket.
"No need to hassle me over small stuff like this. Whatever property catches your fancy or however you wish to label it, it's your call. Just inform me if funds run short."
With a swift flourish, he signed and slid the papers back to her. "Happy now? I'll arrange for the chauffeur to take you off."
Nina accepted the document, her lips curling into a knowing smile.
During the ride to Moore's ancestral home, Nina snapped a photo of the agreement and sent it off to her attorney.
By the time the chauffeur ferried her to Moore's ancestral home, the cloak of night had descended.
Upon her arrival, Olivia wasted no time instructing the guards to confine her to the basement.
But in the pitch black, Nina felt no fear.
Her lawyer's confirmation arrived shortly after. Everything was in order. Just survive the month-long Divorce Cooling-off Period, and freedom would be hers!
At the stroke of three, the basement door creaked open.
A group entered, brusquely yanking Nina up from the cold floor. "Get up. Time to learn your place."
Nina found herself dragged into another room.
It housed several tables, each laden with miscellaneous objects.
A woman perched at one, fixing her with a steely gaze.
"Admit your fault."
Nina stood her ground.
A harsh boot struck her legs.
She had to give in. "I was wrong."
The woman began her tirade.
"As the Moore family's daughter-in-law, rule one, honor your parents-in-law.
"Rule two, show reverence to your husband.
"Rule three, be gracious, no room for jealousy.
"Rule four, deal kindly with your husband's other wives, no contention."
"Other wives?" Nina scoffed, "Is Vivian supposed to be Simon's foster sister or merely a child bride?"
The woman shot her a menacing glare and delivered a stinging slap to her face.
"You have no need to question that."
Throughout the lecture, Nina stayed on her knees.
But this was merely the start.
From dawn till midday, it was a lesson in household management.
How to clean, how to organize, how to serve.
From midday till dusk, it was child-rearing training.
How to nurture children, how to educate them, how to be an ideal mother.
From evening till the stroke of midnight, it was governance of morals.
Learning generosity, learning endurance, learning gratitude.
"You ought to be grateful Simon married you.
"You ought to appreciate Vivian bearing children on your behalf.
"You must smile and welcome everything."
Every word Nina heard felt like a dagger slicing through her heart.
Yet she voiced no protest.
She understood that defying them was pointless.
At the stroke of midnight, she was escorted back to the basement.
Huddled in the damp, shadowy corner, she strained to catch the rhythm of dripping water, counting down to the solitary hour of 3 am.
Weeks dragged on. One became two, then three.
Whenever she faltered in her studies, a harsh punishment awaited.
Slaps landed, or a cane, sometimes even a jolt from a stun baton.
If she lost consciousness, cold water revived her only to resume the relentless cycle of study.
Her fever was no excuse. She was pulled upright and commanded to continue.
Her existence hinged solely on cramming, indifferent to her survival or suffering, until the end of Divorce Cooling-off Period mercifully arrived.
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