Chapter 2

　　There was no pleasure, only pain. She tried to spit out the suds that got in her mouth. A sharp pain pierced her from between her legs. It felt like she had been torn to shreds. She struggled to raise her head and free her body. She wanted to breathe. 　　"J-Jerome, please..." 　　"Does it hurt? Do you feel the pain?" Jerome pushed her back down. "Which one of us caused you pain, was it me or your man?" 　　Submerged in the water, she couldn't even open her mouth. 　　"Zoey, I want you to always remember today, remember this kind of pain!" 　　If you want to suffer, then I’ll make you suffer! 　　Three years ago, Jerome Fu was far away from home. His father was in a car accident. His whole family was on the verge of collapse. When he returned home, a marriage had been arranged between him and Zoey! 　　After their marriage, he never touched her. As soon as they were married, he was filled with revulsion at the thought that it had been her idea. She had asked her father to arrange a marriage between them. She wasn’t exactly bad-looking or despicable, but she had wanted him so desperately. It reminded him of how the naughty women his friends sometimes invited to their drinking sessions. He tolerated them but he would never, ever give his heart to such a woman. 　　She wanted him so much back then, and now that she had cheated on him, he felt blindsided. If before, he had a feeling that she was a woman of loose morals, now he was absolutely certain. She had cheated on him, and had slept with another man.. 　　It went on and on. Jerome never even stopped to rest. He wasn’t even enjoying himself, he was doing it to punish her. Zoey began to lose consciousness. She slowly closed her eyes and approached the darkness. 　　A scene flashed before her eyes. A young man stood beside her best friend. The three of them chatted about books, movies, sports. He was smiling at her. When her friend excused herself to go to the restroom, the two of them were left alone. When her best friend was out of earshot, he had marveled, “Your lashes…they’re so long!” She wondered if he liked her or just her lashes. 　　From then on she began to have a crush on him, which eventually bloomed into a full-blown obsession. She had boldly asked her father. “I want to marry Jerome Fu,” she had told him. 　　To her surprise, both families had agreed and they were betrothed. Soon, the engagement followed, and finally the wedding. 　　"Jerome..." She murmured, and blacked out. 　　When she opened her eyes, Zoey was facing a European style chandelier directly above her head. This was the style of her and Jerome's bedroom, the one in the house they were given as newlyweds. She was home. 　　Weakly, she sat up. Her head was heavy, and her feet felt light. She felt like she had a cold. 　　As soon as she opened the door, she could hear the conversation from downstairs. 　　"Jerome, was Zoey really cheating? Could she have been framed?" Xyrille’s eyes had a worried look on them. She was always so soft and considerate. 　　In the beginning, Zoey was fooled by her appearance. She had regarded Xyrille as her best friend, and had shared all the secrets with her. She loved Xyrille like a sister. They shared so many things, books and movies, music, food. It turned out they also liked the same boy. 　　Still, she could have never imagined that her friend would betray her like this. 　　Her fists clenched, Zoey went downstairs. 　　Her thick black hair was tousled and greasy. Her pupils were dilated. "I want to confront the man to prove my innocence," she said angrily to him. 　　Jerome's eyes narrowed slightly. “You want to confront him, huh?" 　　"Jerome, Zoey loves you so much. Just trust her once and let her confront that man," Xyrille implored Jerome. 　　Jerome thin lips slightly hook, one leg on one side of the chair, look dark and unpredictable. "Right. I’m sure that’ll change my mind,” he said sarcastically. “Bring him in!” he called out to his bodyguards. 　　Two bodyguards in black suits dragged in the man, who now had bruises all over his body. The guards threw him at Jerome's feet. 　　After last night's torture, he was black and blue, lying on the ground. Gasping like an animal being slaughtered, his face was covered with blood. It was a sickening sight. 　　Zoey calmly went to get a fruit knife and held it to the man's lower body. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?" 　　The man's face twisted and his legs trembled. 　　There was a pool of urine below him. He had wet himself. 　　"No! No, please, it was a mistake...I said, I said It's..." 　　"You can't answer until you have a clear idea." Xyrille came over and said angrily, "Zoey is a good, respectable girl. If you dare to slander her innocence with a lie, Jerome won't spare you. Even I won't let you and your family go." 　　The man’s eyes widened. “No, please no! No! Not my family!” 　　"Zoey, Zoey, have you forgotten? You told me I was so g-good bed. You-you told me to pound you hard..." The man’s voice shook as he spoke. 　　Zoey's jaw dropped. Wait a minute, she thought. At first he was starting to say it was a mistake, but then at the mention of his family, he suddenly makes a complete u-turn. She turned to her friend. "Xyrille, why did you threaten his family? Was it you? Did you do this to me?"