Chapter 3

As soon as I returned to my father's house, he coldly ordered me to kneel. I bit my lip, straightened my back, and raised my eyes to meet his. "Baba, my marriage to Jasper isn’t working. I’ll only be able to live a better life if I divorce him. You’re my father—don’t you want me to be happy?" As I spoke, I couldn’t hide the flicker of hope in my eyes. Deep down, I still hoped my father would care more about my happiness than any worldly gain. But Alexander slammed his hand onto the table with force, his voice booming. "Marrying him was the best thing that could’ve happened to you! And now, you want a divorce without even consulting me? Acting on your own—this is madness!" I lowered my gaze, the last shred of hope in my heart shattering. "Tell me the truth—how much did Mr. Jasper give you in the divorce?" Alexander demanded, his eyes burning with intensity. If Titan Global Holdings was as wealthy as I imagined, even a small portion could be worth millions. If he could get his hands on it, it would be a huge win. "Not a cent," I replied coldly, shattering his hopes. "No money? You fool, how could you agree to that?" Alexander roared. Enraged, he knocked the water cup aside, grabbed a leather belt from the side, and swung it at me. He didn’t hold back. The belt struck my body hard, and instantly, angry red welts formed on my skin. I didn’t try to dodge it. I simply endured the pain, holding back the tears, almost as if punishing myself. "Alexander, stop!" Charlotte rushed over, stepping between us, her voice sharp. "Why can’t you just talk? Why resort to violence?" Alexander, still seething, pointed at me. "A daughter like this—what good is she to me? I might as well kill her!" Charlotte grabbed the belt from his hand, pulling him away. "Go upstairs! I’ll handle him." I wiped the tears that threatened to fall and turned to leave, but Charlotte quickly followed, grabbing my arm. "Don’t leave yet. You’re hurt. Come upstairs with me. Let me help you." I appreciated her concern but shook my head. "No need. I’ll go to the hospital myself." She shook her head. "I can’t let you go alone. Come upstairs with me." Reluctantly, I allowed Charlotte to pull me upstairs. She fetched a first-aid kit and began tending to my wounds, her gentle words soothing me like a mother would. Since Charlotte married my father, though she secretly looked down on me, her stepdaughter, she always maintained a flawless facade. We weren’t particularly close, but we were civil with each other. Now, as she cared for me like this, I felt a mix of gratitude and emotion. My eyes welled up. Charlotte comforted me, urging me to take a bath and rest, assuring me that Alexander’s anger would subside by tomorrow. I still wanted to leave, but Charlotte insisted I stay the night. After she left, I was alone in the room. I curled up on the sofa, hugging my knees, and the sadness and despair that had been suffocating me finally overwhelmed me. Jasper didn’t love me. He said he despised me. And now, my father didn’t care about me either. Is there anyone left in this world who loves me? I buried my face in my knees, choking back my sobs. Just then, my phone vibrated. I worried it might be work-related, so I wiped away my tears and checked it. It was an entertainment news alert. "Jasper Hawthorne, CEO of Titan Global Holdings, was seen shopping affectionately with popular actress Aurora Lancaster, followed by a lavish meal at a luxurious hotel, spending the afternoon together." I froze. After a long moment, I turned off my phone and buried my head back in my knees. That evening, at dinner, my father scolded me again. The evening ended on a sour note, and I stormed off to my room, barely touching my food. My face grew paler and more exhausted by the minute. Charlotte thoughtfully brought me some chicken soup, urging me to drink a couple of bowls. Maybe because I had eaten something, I began to feel drowsy from exhaustion. Charlotte left, and within minutes, I drifted into a light, restless sleep on the sofa. Half-awake and half-dreaming, I vaguely felt someone lift me up. My body was rocked as though I were in a car. I struggled to wake up, but my body was so drained, my eyelids felt too heavy to lift. Waves of heat coursed through me, making me feel uncomfortable. The rocking finally stopped, and I was laid onto a soft, large bed. Instinctively, I felt a sense of danger and unease. Struggling, I gathered the little strength I had left. I opened my eyes and saw my surroundings clearly for the first time. An unfamiliar room. I tried to rise, but my limbs felt like jelly. I couldn’t maintain my balance, and as soon as my feet touched the floor, they gave way. I collapsed to my knees, another wave of heat surging through me. I bit my lip, forcing myself to endure the sensation, and attempted to stand. Just then, the door to the room clicked open, and a short, bald man barged in. I barely managed to lift my heavy eyelids and instantly recognized him. It was Maximus, the man who had harassed me before. A chill ran down my spine as I realized the danger I was in. I tried to flee, but my knees buckled, and my body felt as though it had been weighed down with lead. I struggled, but before I could even straighten up, Maximus had already grabbed my wrist. In one swift motion, he spun me around and pinned me to the bed. "Arabella, my darling, I’ve wanted you for so long," Maximus murmured, leaning in to kiss my cheek and neck.