Chapter 3

I stared at her in disbelief. She actually poured it on herself! Was ruining my life not enough?

At that exact moment, the bedroom door flew open.

Jerome rushed inside. Someone must've told him Vivienne had come to visit. His eyes immediately landed on Vivienne lying on the floor.

“What happened?” he demanded.

Without even looking at me again, he hurried to Vivienne's side. He gently helped her up and carefully held her burned hand. His face was full of worry.

“Vivi! Are you alright? Let me see.”

Vivienne buried herself against his chest and cried even harder.

“Jerome...” she whispered between sobs. “I know Lori's hurting because she lost her baby, so I didn't blame her. I just wanted to cheer her up. I spent hours making chicken mushroom soup for her. I even burned my hands while cooking it because I wanted everything to be perfect.”

She held up her reddened arm.

“But... but she didn't even want to taste it. She pushed the bowl away, and now...” Her crying became louder. “I guess she really hates me...”

“I didn't push her!” I said immediately. My voice shook from anger. “She did that herself! She spilled it on purpose. She wanted you to see this!”

“Enough!” Jerome's voice echoed through the room.

I froze.

He slowly turned toward me.

There was nothing but disappointment in his eyes.

“Lori,” he said, his voice cold. “I know you've been suffering. I know losing another baby broke your heart, and that's why I've been patient with you. I've let everything slide because I understand your pain.”

He looked at Vivienne before looking back at me.

“But what does any of this have to do with Vivi? She came here because she was worried about you. She cooked for you herself, and all she wanted was to make sure you were eating.”

He took a slow breath.

“So why would you treat her like this? Why take your anger out on someone who's only trying to help?”

I laughed.

A broken, bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Take my anger out on her?” I looked straight into his eyes. “You actually believe her?” My voice cracked. “Jerome... are you really that blind? Or do you just choose her every single time?”

Vivienne peeked at me from his arms. For just a second, she smiled. A smug, victorious smile that only I could see.

My heart shattered all over again.

Seven years of lies.

Four murdered babies.

A fake marriage. A husband who never believed me. And the woman who destroyed everything stood there pretending to be the victim.

Why...

Why was I the only one suffering?

A sharp pain suddenly exploded inside my chest. I couldn't breathe. Everything started spinning. Something warm rushed up my throat.

I covered my mouth.

A mouthful of blood spilled through my fingers and onto the floor.

Jerome's eyes widened but my vision already slowly faded into darkness.

Then everything went black.

...

When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't in my bedroom.

I was kneeling on the cold concrete floor of one of the Partridge family's underground punishment rooms. My knees already ached, but it wasn't the worst part. Both of my hands were stretched out in front of me. A thick metal bar rested across my palms, and heavy buckets of water hung from each side. My arms were shaking so badly I could barely keep them up. The weight felt unbearable.

I looked up.

Jerome was standing a few feet away.

He frowned when our eyes met. “Lori... you're awake. Don't be afraid. This won't last long if you cooperate.”

I stared at him without saying a word.

He slowly walked closer. “Don't hate me for this, alright? Linux found out about what happened with Vivi. He's furious and wants justice for her. He even threatened to bring this before the Mafia Council if I don't punish you. I don't have a choice. Just endure it for a little while. This is only for show. If the Council gets involved, your punishment will be much worse.”

Linux? Really?

Did he think I was still stupid enough to believe him?

Linux and I grew up together. We were each other's first love. Even after our engagement was destroyed, he secretly came to see me more than once. He apologized over and over. He told me he still loved me. He told me marrying Vivienne wasn't his choice. After their wedding, everyone in the mafia world knew he barely went home. He couldn't even stand looking at Vivienne. So why would he suddenly demand justice for her?

No.

This had nothing to do with Linux.

Jerome simply wanted to punish me because Vivienne cried. He needed an excuse.

That was all.

I looked straight at him. “You don't have to lie anymore. We both know this has nothing to do with Linux. You wanted to punish me because she got hurt.”

His eyes flickered.

Before I could say another word, he looked toward one of his captains. “Start the punishment. No one is allowed to hold back.”

“No...” I barely had time to whisper.

The men stepped forward.

“Hold it up,” one of them ordered.

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to lift the metal bar. My arms trembled violently beneath the weight. Every second felt like torture. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.

Minutes passed before my fingers finally gave out.

The metal bar slipped from my hands and crashed onto the floor.

Before I could even react, the first whip lashed across my back.

I screamed.

“One,” the captain counted calmly.

The second strike landed across the backs of my hands.

“Two.”

The third tore across my back again.

“Three.”

They alternated every strike, my back, then my hands, again and again until the count reached forty.

Ten lashes across my back.

Ten lashes across my hands.

The whip made from a ray's tail ripped into my skin with every strike. My back burned like it had been set on fire, while my swollen hands split open until blood dripped onto the floor. I could barely stay conscious.

“Pick it up again,” the captain ordered.

I stared at the heavy weights through blurred vision. My torn, swollen hands could barely move.

I lifted them anyway then I dropped them again.

Another lash.

Then another.

By the end, I knew...

I wouldn't even be able to hold a spoon after today.

Jerome never stopped them. He just simply stood there and watched. And the last thing I remembered was collapsing onto the floor.

...

When I woke up again, I was back in my bedroom.

My hands were wrapped in clean bandages, and every small movement sent unbearable pain shooting through my fingers. My back felt even worse. It burned beneath the layers of fresh bandages, and I could still feel every lash as though the whip had never stopped.

Jerome sat beside my bed. He was carefully blowing on a spoonful of medicine before bringing it to my lips.

As if...

As if he hadn't been the one who ordered my punishment.

“Lori,” he said softly, “does it still hurt? I know today was difficult, but your injuries will heal. Just give it a few days, alright? I promise I'll make sure you recover.”