Chapter 2

The once-grand villa that had towered over Beloris now stood in ruins.

When I arrived, my legs nearly gave out. I leaned weakly against the wall, my eyes fixed on the seal that marked the place.

Pressing my forehead against the cold brick, I pulled the recorder from my pocket.

It was something my dad recorded for me right before he passed.

His voice didn't sound anything like it did before the accident. It was so weak and quiet, and I could barely make out his words.

I used to tease him for being too loud, for shouting even when we were only a few feet apart.

He would always laugh and promise to quiet down, but he never did.

This time, his voice was barely a whisper, and he was forever gone.

On the tape, he spoke for a long, long time, telling me to live, to survive, to hold on no matter what.

Yeah, I had thought about ending it all before, and the only reason I was still here was because my dad died for me.

Thunder rolled in the distance, and rain began to pour. Cold drops slammed against my face.

I couldn't find anywhere to hide, but then I saw a trash can nearby, so I hurried over.

This part of town was always deserted, and the trash can looked almost brand new.

I lifted the lid with shaking hands and squeezed myself inside.

I curled up, trembling, then slowly drifted into a restless sleep.

When I woke up, the rain outside had finally quieted down.

I lifted the lid just a little, only to meet a pair of cold, familiar eyes staring straight at me.

I never thought I would run into Edward in a place like this.

He looked stunned for a second before he reached in and yanked me out.

My instincts took over. I covered my head with my arms, bracing for a hit.

He tried to help me up, but I shoved him away and sent him straight to the ground.

I crawled away, dragging myself across the wet ground, desperate to keep my distance, just like my father and everyone else had told me to.

Edward sneered. The shadow in his eyes deepened as he closed the space between us in a few quick strides. Then he pulled me up.

All my desperate struggle was nothing but a joke to him.

He said, "What are you trying to pull this time? Hiding out here just to get my attention? Isabelle, you really haven't changed, have you?"

I just stared back at him.

I had been following him since I was a kid, from grade school to college.

Every "accidental encounter" was carefully designed, and I had only done this for him.

Now, with me standing silent before him, his expression darkened by the second.

As we struggled, the recorder slipped from my hands and clattered to the floor.

I instantly crouched down to get it, but he was one step faster and snatched it up before I could.

He spun the recorder lightly in his hand, acting like it was nothing important.

He sneered. "Isabelle, if you want it, just say so."

I stared at him, then at the recorder, and pulled out my notebook to write, asking him to give it back to me.

Those words set him off. He grabbed my clothes and dragged me straight into the villa next door to the King residence.

He took me into the bedroom and forced me up against the wall. He leaned down toward me, but I quickly turned my head away.

Seeing that, he let out a mocking laugh. "What? A few years in prison and suddenly you're some untouchable girl, huh?"

I ignored him and lunged for the recorder.

However, he was just too strong, and I couldn't fight him off at all.

The man in front of me didn't resemble the one I used to know. Back then, he barely talked to me.

After we got married, he softened a little, spoke more, almost like he was trying to make it work.

He smirked, letting his hand drift down to my waist. He suddenly paused, his fingers tracing the edge of something rough.

Before I could even react, he frowned, staring at that scary scar slashed right across my waist.

He tugged at my collar, pulling me closer.

Then he demanded, "Where did this scar come from?"

I followed his gaze downward, and when I saw that long, jagged scar. My fingers started trembling uncontrollably.

Edward's patience ran out. He didn't care about the scar anymore and leaned in, his voice icy.

He smirked and whispered, "If you spend the night with me, you'll get 300 thousand dollars."

I froze in fear.

This wasn't the man I used to love. This was someone else.

My notebook was left outside, so I did the only thing I could. I bit him hard, and blood filled my mouth before I finally let go.

He hissed, his hand jerking away in pain. Then I snatched the recorder and darted out from under him.

Unfortunately, the door was locked. There was no way out.

Edward walked toward me with that same terrifying smile.

I couldn't stop myself from trembling, instinctively shrinking back.

Then an idea sparked. I stopped backing away and began walking toward him instead.

He looked a little caught off guard, but stayed put, watching me get closer.

Then, right as I was close enough, I suddenly dodged past him and bolted upstairs to the second floor.

By the time he realized what I was doing, I was already at the second-floor window.

His voice trembled as he barked, "Isabelle, are you out of your mind? You're afraid of heights, remember? Step away from there."