Chapter 3

When Emily woke up the next morning, her head was buzzing. She looked at Leon's satisfied sleeping face and felt her mind go completely blank.

The first thing Leon saw when he opened his eyes was that empty look on her face. He leaned in again and lifted her chin.

"I was very happy with your service last night. From now on, whenever Sophia isn't home, you know what to do. Clean yourself up and come to me, got it?

"As long as you behave and know your place, I'll treat you right."

Tears silently streamed down Emily's face until she couldn't hold back her sobs anymore.

Leon paused, then clicked his tongue in irritation. "Enough. What are you crying for?"

"He got to his feet, no longer in the mood for anything else.

""Get up and clean yourself up. Sophia's coming back today. Don't let her notice anything's off."""

Emily forced herself up through the pain, grabbed some clothes off the floor, and rushed downstairs.

In the bathroom, she scrubbed at her skin over and over until it rubbed raw and started bleeding. Looking at the red marks all over her body in the mirror, she froze.

In the end, she curled up in the corner and broke down crying.

When Sophia got back, she ran to Leon with a bright smile on her face. "Leon, I have good news. I'm pregnant!"

Leon was stunned for a second, then burst into joy and swept Sophia into his arms. "That's amazing. I'm going to be a dad."

Emily trembled all over when she heard that, because Leon had always told her he didn't want children. Every time they slept together, he made sure to use protection, and the next day he would even watch her take birth control pills.

Emily had foolishly believed Leon was being considerate, not wanting her to suffer through pregnancy. But the truth was, he simply didn't want a child with her.

When Sophia saw Emily standing there in a daze, she smiled and affectionately hooked Emily's arm. "Emily, feel this. This is Leon's and my baby."

Emily watched as her hand was forcibly placed on Sophia's stomach. She stiffly forced out a smile, but not a single word came out.

Leon scooped Sophia up with concern. "Enough. You're pregnant, so stop being so fidgety and settle down."

The sight of their intimacy stabbed Emily in the chest. She felt as though she could barely breathe. She no longer even knew what purpose her existence served.

"Emily, you'd better take good care of Sophia from now on. If she gets upset because of you, you'll be sleeping outside in the yard with the dogs!" Leon demanded.

Emily began trembling all over. When she was twelve, she tried to save Leon, only to be knocked down by a crazed Rottweiler and brutally dragged across the ground.

Since then, it had became her deepest nightmare.

Outside the courtyard was Sophia's favorite Rottweiler. Whenever it saw Emily, it bared its teeth and barked furiously.

Emily lifted her tear-streaked face, as if replaying every moment she had once shared with Leon. He used to protect her, cherish her, love her. But the moment Sophia appeared, everything fell apart.

She really wanted to run.

*****

Emily slowly learned how to act obedient in front of Leon. She never resisted again. Around Leon, she was always docile and quiet.

Leon was very pleased. He thought Emily would never be able to leave him for the rest of her life. Sophia, meanwhile, went from making things hard for Emily every chance she got to eventually getting bored of it.

The two of them flirted and showed off their affection in front of Emily every day, and when Sophia wasn't around, Leon would still get physically close to Emily. He told her he loved her and couldn't live without her.

Emily wondered, 'Was this what loving someone meant, hurting them again and again?'

On Emily's birthday, Mr. and Mrs. Rivers ordered her to go up the mountain and pray for Sophia's blessing.

"Emily, be good and don't think about running. Even if you fled to the ends of the earth, I'd drag you back.

"Stay on the mountain and pray properly for Sophia. I'll come pick you up myself in seven days."

Leon looked down at her from above, like a ruthless hunter locking onto prey.

Emily's eyes flickered, but she only lowered her head and said nothing.

Leon wasn't satisfied. He strode over, grabbed her chin hard with one hand, forced her to look up, and barked in a low voice,"Did you hear me?"

Emily bit down hard, then suddenly smiled. "Leon, do you really think I can escape? I have nothing left. Nothing at all..."

Her eyes were bloodshot, and endless sorrow bled into her voice as she shouted at him without caring how she looked.

"Why? Why are you all treating me like this? What did I ever do wrong? Tell me!" Emily yelled at him desperatedly.

Leon froze and reached out, wanting to pull her into his arms.

Emily stepped back a few paces and glared at him hatefully.

"Em, I..." Leon said.

"Leon!" Sophia ran over happily and wrapped her arms around him, "What are you two talking about?"

Emily lowered her head and kept silent.

Leon gently stroked Sophia's hair. "Nothing. I was warning her to pray properly for you once she's up on the mountain."

Sophia smiled sweetly. "If Emily doesn't want to go, that's okay too. Anyway..."

"I'll go!" Emily suddenly looked up, a mocking smile curling on her lips.

Emily kept going. "I'll go. Might as well go atone for stealing your place all those years.

"It's what I should do."

She thought, 'Anywhere is better than staying in the Sterling house.'

Emily turned and walked away. Her head buzzed the whole time, and when she reached the corner, she finally couldn't hold it in anymore and quietly sobbed behind her hand.

Late that night, Emily lay there staring blankly at the ceiling.

[Emily, when the church attendants take you to the hilltop chapel tomorrow, run right at the second turn. Keep going. I'll meet you there.]

Her phone lit up. It was a text from a girl Emily had been supporting for five years. Her name was Lucy Moore.

Fresh tears spilled from Emily's eyes, but this time, there was a faint smile at the corner of her lips. She thought her chance to escape had finally come.