Chapter 3

…

When I next opened my eyes, I was bound in a cold, damp basement parking garage. My legs were tied, forcing me into a kneeling position on the concrete floor. Several masked men in black were taking photos of me from every angle. "What are you doing?! " I cried out, terrified. "Let me go! I'm Mrs. Blackwood of Blackwood Group! If my husband finds out, he'll never let you get away with this! "

The masked men were completely unfazed, their eyes full of mockery. Just then, Damien's call came through. "Do you understand what you did wrong? "

I froze. "What? "

On the other end, Damien's voice was devoid of warmth. "I told you, as my contractual wife, you need to be obedient. You used tricks to make Brittany kneel today, so I will punish you a thousandfold. "

"Brittany knelt for ten minutes, so you'll kneel for ten hours in the basement parking garage. "

I felt as if I'd been plunged into an ice bath, my heart plummeting into a terrifying, empty freefall. I choked back tears, about to speak, when a syrupy, feigned-innocent female voice cooed,

"Damien, darling, won't ten hours be too long? My knees were all bruised after just ten minutes. "

"What? Your knees are bruised? Let me see... " Damien's voice hardened. "Elara Vance is utterly despicable! I'll have them break her kneecaps! "

The next second, I heard the unmistakable sounds of intimate kissing, mixed with the rustle of a condom wrapper being torn open. Then, a searing pain shot through my knee. My kneecap was brutally shattered. The next morning, Damien came to the garage entrance to pick me up. When he saw me, a smug, knowing smile played on his lips. "Spent all night reflecting, have we? Now you know where you went wrong, don't you? "

My face was devoid of color. I nodded, expressionless. "I know where I went wrong. "

"Good. "

Damien nodded in satisfaction. On the way back, as I stared at the back of Damien's head, all the deep affection I once held for him had vanished, replaced by a terrifying, dead calm. In those ten agonizing hours, I finally understood my mistakes. Knowing Damien didn't love me, yet stubbornly pursuing him – that was my first mistake. Knowing he married me for his own gain, yet still flying into his flame like a moth – that was my second. And even knowing he loved someone else, still being unable to let him go – that was my third. Now, I would rectify every single one of my mistakes. I would leave him, completely, physically and mentally. Five days left. …

We drove all the way to the luxurious Peninsula Estate. Damien was pleased with my repentant attitude and immediately handed me the villa keys. "My promise to you, here you go. "

Seeing my slightly dazed expression, Damien's lips curved upward. "I told you, as long as you're obedient, I won't shortchange you, and Brittany won't threaten your status. "

"Once I'm done with her, I'll come back and we can live together properly, but you need to be obedient. "

I smiled, a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. I stepped into the villa. It was large, spacious, luxurious, and beautifully decorated. It would have been perfect, if not for Brittany Wells sitting on the plush leather sofa. "What is she doing here? " I asked, my voice dangerously cold. Damien looked somewhat surprised, his brow furrowing slightly. Brittany nervously stood up. "Damien, darling, I heard *she* was coming today, so I came especially to welcome her. I even brought a housewarming gift... "

Damien's heart softened instantly. He turned to me. "Brittany meant well, Elara. Don't be mad at her. "

"I've invited some friends over for dinner at the villa tonight. Brittany will join us. Elara, as the lady of the house, you need to act like it. Don't always get hung up on trivialities. "

Only now did he remember I was the lady of the house? I smiled, a pale, bitter smile. I shook my head, saying nothing. During dinner, Brittany subtly moved to sit beside me. Her knee-length dress strategically revealed a glimpse of her leg. "Damien knew my knees were bruised from kneeling. He personally applied ointment and massaged them until he was satisfied. He said if I have even the tiniest scratch, it pains him deeply. Has he ever said that to *you*? " Brittany's triumphant gaze landed on my knees. "Oh, I forgot. He must never have said that to *you*, otherwise, why would he shatter your kneecaps? "

Brittany smiled, utterly provocative. I had already given up on Damien, but hearing her words still stirred a ripple of emotion within me. "You... " I began, but then I saw a strange, cunning glint flicker in Brittany's eyes. She swiftly grabbed the glass of water from the table and splashed it onto her own face. "Ah! What are you doing, Elara?! I was just kindly asking if your knees had healed! Why did you throw water on me! " Brittany wailed, throwing herself into Damien's arms, crying dramatically, like a heartbroken damsel. I gaped, "I didn't... "

The next second, Damien delivered a sharp, stinging slap across my face, sending me sprawling to the floor. "Elara Vance, this is what you call knowing your mistake?! " Damien snarled, his teeth clenched. "I see you're completely unrepentant, always pushing your luck, taking advantage of your past contributions to the Blackwood family, and trying to bully Brittany! "

"I will not be lenient with you this time! "

With that, I was shoved into a pool easily ten feet deep. The icy water choked my nose, and I gasped for air, thrashing wildly in the water, close to suffocating. Damien, holding Brittany close, stood on the edge, casually watching the scene.