Chapter 5

When the first rat sank its teeth into my leg, I couldn't help but scream out loud. "No, please let me out."

My head was spinning, my mind growing fuzzy, and I forgot all the grudges and resentment. I called out the names of the two people I trusted most. "Kevin, Jack, I'm scared. Please let me out. It hurts. Please don't leave me here."

Hearing my cries, someone outside gave a mocking laugh.

"Save your strength. Those two are busy hanging out with Ms. Johnson over afternoon tea. Even if you scream yourself hoarse, no one would hear you."

But I just kept pounding on the door and crying, like I didn't hear a word, until my voice was raw.

I had no idea how long I'd been out when an excruciating pain tore through me, and blood started seeping from between my legs. The agony was so overwhelming that I slowly faded into darkness.

When I came to, I found myself in a hospital bed.

Even before I opened my eyes, I could hear Kevin and Jack arguing heatedly.

"Jack, are you even human? Scarlett is pregnant with your child, and you deliberately let rats loose to scare her. Don't you know she's terrified of them?" Kevin snapped.

Jack's voice was icy and mocking. "Kevin, who are you kidding? Who locked her in the basement? She was out cold for two days, and you didn't even notice, and now you want to act all brotherly with me?

"If the baby's gone, we can just have another one. Don't forget what we agreed on. Until we get married, you don't get to interfere with any of my decisions."

Kevin had been furious, but then he slowly calmed down, his voice low and a bit out of breath. "Do you really think Scarlett is that clueless?

"After all this, you think she won't notice? You think she'll still marry you? You don't know her at all."

Jack just laughed, and there was nothing but cruelty in his voice. "You really think your sister is still the same as before? Who else would want her but me?

"She's hopelessly in love with me. Just a few sweet words, and she'll agree to anything.

"Instead of worrying about all this, maybe you should figure out how to take away every last asset your grandma and your mom left her.

"As long as she's got no one to lean on, even if she finds out, what can she do? After we're married, I'll treat her a little better."

Kevin grumbled a few curses under his breath before finally storming out of the hospital room.

I finally opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was Jack sitting by my bed, looking sad. "Baby, you're awake. I'm so sorry. If I'd known you were pregnant, I never would've left you there.

"We can have another baby, so don't be upset. I don't know where those rats came from, but don't worry. Kevin's already called someone to deal with them."

I stared at him for a long time.

I wanted to ask, "Weren't those rats released on purpose, just so you could help Chloe vent her anger? If you keep lying like this, do you ever start believing your own stories?"

But I just lowered my gaze, my voice rough. "I'm not worthy. They're right. I'm too filthy. I don't deserve to have a child."

Jack froze for a moment, as if my words had hit him right in the gut. This wasn't something the old me would ever say.

I used to be full of energy, always laughing or crying, a kid who grew up wrapped in love. That kind of radiance drove him crazy.

It made him want to break me, to see me cry and beg him to stop.

He'd braced himself for my tears, my accusations, my tantrums, but he never saw this coming.

Was I really the girl who used to shine like the sun? Was I actually starting to hate myself?

Jack was left speechless, and I couldn't help but let a cold smirk slip across my lips.

Pretending? I could put on a show, too.

I continued, "Jack, last night I had a dream. My mom and grandma showed up and cursed me out, saying I should've been left to die in that dark alley three years ago, torn apart by those men. Honestly, I think they were right."

Before he could react, I snatched up the vase from the nightstand and smashed it hard against my own head.

Blood gushed from my forehead, but I didn't even flinch. I grabbed a shard of glass and drove it deep into my abdomen.

For the first time, I saw the facade Jack always wore torn away, exposing the raw panic beneath.

He didn't hesitate, even as the sharp glass I was swinging sliced his hands, his face, and his neck.

After wresting the glass from me, he wrapped me in a fierce embrace. "Scarlett, are you out of your mind?"