Chapter 3
After I got shot, I had nightmares every night. Sometimes I'd go crazy, clawing at my own face until it was covered in blood.
Vincent got me a dog and named him Rex.
Dobermans are the meanest, toughest breed out there, and a nightmare to train.
But Rex only listened to Vincent and me. It was Rex who stuck by my side, helping me hold on, little by little.
"I didn't do anything wrong," I whispered.
Every time I said, "I did nothing wrong," Vincent would have someone lash Rex hard.
His flesh torn open, blood streaming down his body.
Rex had no idea why.
He was always the most spoiled dog, but at that moment, he was barely clinging to life, wagging his tail at me like crazy, begging me to save him.
"Say," Vincent snapped.
Rex was bleeding out, and I was the one being shamed, but Vincent's face twisted like he was the one in pain.
"Did Isabelle wrong you?" he asked.
I bit down on the inside of my cheek, hesitated for a moment, and finally shook my head.
He let out a cold laugh, grabbed my chin, and stared at the blood trickling from the corner of my mouth, his gaze shadowed with something I couldn't read.
He said, "Then beg me.
"If you please me, I'll let the dog live."
I crawled over, dropped to my knees at his feet, my hands trembling as I fumbled with his belt.
"Open your mouth," he ordered.
He grabbed my head and forced it down.
The things those men forced on me, Vincent also made me do.
Tears streamed down my face.
He kept his eyes closed the whole time, his movements rough and merciless.
When it was finally over, I let out a shaky breath and glanced at Rex.
Rex's bright eyes were still wide open as he lay in a pool of blood.
He said, "You killed my child, so I'll kill your dog.
"A life for a life."
The Tyrant of Silaris was always ruthlessly fair.
After Rex was dead, he chained me up, too.
But they seemed to forget I needed food or water.
Three whole days passed. Starving and parched, I had no choice but to start eating Rex's decaying corpse.
His blood tasted so bitter, and the maggots writhing on his flesh made me want to puke.
But Rex's tongue was still so soft. I remembered how he'd nuzzle my hand, licking it so sweetly, and I just couldn't hold back anymore. I started sobbing.
I had no idea how many days had passed when I heard the sound of lively music drifting down from upstairs.
Isabelle opened the door, dressed in a gorgeous wedding gown fit for a princess, and let me out.
"Do I look beautiful?" she asked.
I nodded.
She was gorgeous, her face, her body, and that dress was prettier than anything I ever dreamed of.
"This wedding dress was custom-made for you," she said. "Mr. Moretti got the best designer in the world to make it for you.
"There are literally thousands of diamonds sewn into it."
She crouched down, lifted her skirt, and showed me circle after circle of sparkling diamonds.
"Too bad Vincent doesn't want you anymore," she said.
I just shook my head, dazed.
I refused to believe it.
But my tears still fell.
"I'll be good," I whispered.
I would be so, so good.
I would be even more obedient than Rex.
I said, "Please, don't abandon me."
Seeing my blank, stunned face, Isabelle burst out laughing.
"Then just do as you're told," she said.
She tossed the keys through the bars, acting like she might catch my stench if she got too close.
Isabelle tossed the keys and said, "Since the dog's dead anyway, just be good and get out of here. Don't ever come back."
I whispered, "Okay."
Under the cover of the noisy crowd, I made my escape from the villa.
But the moment I stepped outside, someone smashed me over the head, knocked me out cold, stuffed me in a sack, and tossed me into a car.
The car sped all the way to some abandoned dock, and I slowly came to.
"You stupid bitch, you got no one to blame but yourself for crossing Mr. Moretti's bride," one of them sneered.
"When Mr. Moretti wants you dead, we don't have a choice," another spat.
Someone booted the sack into the water.
Freezing seawater rushed up my nose and down my throat.
I heard the last bubble of air pop from my lips, and I didn't even try to fight it.
I murmured, "Vincent...
"If you want me gone, Vincent, then I'll go.
"I was so obedient.
"Why do you still not want me?"
Through the fog in my mind, I heard someone shouting at the top of their lungs, his voice hoarse and desperate.
He shouted, "Sophia!"