Chapter 2

Emily was locked in a tiny maid's room. Inside, Sophia had specially placed an intercom speaker. All night long, Emily had to listen to Leon whisper sweet words to Sophia through it.

Through the speaker, Leon murmured, "Sophia, I love you so much.

"Why didn't you come into my life sooner? Every day I had to pretend to be devoted in front of Emily. It made me sick."

Sophia's pleading voice kept ringing in Emily's ears, but all it brought was Leon growing even rougher, again and again. Emily bit down hard on her teeth until the taste of blood filled her mouth over and over.

Late that night, Leon suddenly ordered Emily to bring a cup of hot milk to his room. Expressionless, Emily went upstairs like a machine.

Sophia had already been taken back to the Rivers home by Mrs. Rivers, who vowed to make amends to her precious biological daughter. Emily thought she could finally catch her breath, but Leon had only made life harder for her these past few days.

He would dump the meals she'd worked hard to make onto the floor, insult her nonstop, tear her down at every chance, and tell her she had to spend the rest of her life paying for the last twenty-plus years.

Emily had gone from resisting at first to slowly turning numb. She didn't understand any of it, and she had no idea what she was even supposed to do anymore.

The moment she stepped into Leon's room, she saw him in a loose robe, collar hanging open. He frowned at Emily when she stopped by the door without moving. "Come here."

Emily flinched and walked forward mechanically.

Leon frowned, suddenly dazed. Since when had Emily become like this? Gone was the bright, lively girl. She looked like a lifeless doll now.

He took the milk from her, sipped it, then set it back down with a look of disgust. "This tastes awful. Drink it."

Emily thought, 'This used to be his favorite drink. But if he could fake loving me for five years, he could fake liking milk too.'

Emily lifted the cup and drained it in one go. She cried as she drank, until her body started trembling and the cup slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor.

She hurried to pick up the broken pieces with her bare hands and instantly cut herself badly. But she acted like she couldn't feel the pain at all.

Leon froze, then yanked her up and shouted at her like he'd lost his mind. "Have you lost it, Emily? Can't you see your hand is covered in blood?"

"Emily slowly looked up at him. Her dull eyes gradually filled with tears.

""I'm sorry..."""

Something slammed hard into Leon's chest. Grinding his teeth, he scooped Emily up and set her down by the bed. He pulled out the first-aid kit from a drawer and carefully cleaned and bandaged her hand.

He said. "Don't touch water for the next few days.

"Are you stupid? If the cup broke, then let it break. Why the hell would you pick it up with your hands?"

Emily stared at him blankly, then couldn't stop herself from sobbing. "I'm sorry...

"Leon, please just let me go, okay? I was wrong. I shouldn't have taken Sophia's place. Can you please let me leave? I swear I'll never show up in front of you again, okay?"

Emily clutched the corner of Leon's shirt and cried out in a low, broken voice.

Leon's cold fingers clamped down on her chin, forcing her to lift her head. A storm no one could read brewed in his eyes.

"No. That's impossible. You're not getting away. You'll stay by my side and make up for everything. For me, for Sophia, and for the Rivers family."

The next second, he bit down hard on Emily's lips like a mad dog, grinding against them again and again.

"Don't..." She begged.

Soon, Emily's soft pleas filled the room, but Leon only sank deeper, covering her mouth again and again.

"Em, don't even think about running. You're staying with me for the rest of your life." Leon murmured.