Chapter 3

Julian narrowed his eyes, about to speak.

Evelyn stood on the spiral staircase, eyes full of contempt.

"Chloe, what kind of joke is this?"

"Everyone knows Silas Thorne doesn't do women. Hell, he won't even get a female dog—only males."

"Plus, our companies have been collaborating. We'd know if he got married."

I clenched my fists to argue back when a sharp pain hit my abdomen.

My baby...

I saw the unguarded front door and bolted.

"Chloe, where are you going?"

Evelyn rushed down and grabbed me.

I'd had enough. I bit down on her hand, hard enough to taste blood.

She fell screaming, clutching her hand:

"Julian, my hand—it hurts so much..."

The tenderness in his eyes as he looked at her turned to ice when he looked at me.

"Chloe, have you lost your mind?!"

CRACK.

A vicious slap across my face.

My vision went black. My ears rang.

When I came to, Julian had dragged me in front of Evelyn and kicked my knees out from under me.

"Apologize to Evelyn. On your knees."

"You hurt my mommy! I'll kill you!"

The kid swung his toy car at my head over and over.

The wound split open. Blood poured out.

I swallowed blood and struggled to my feet, trying to run.

Someone shoved me hard. My stomach slammed into the steps.

Sharp, brutal pain engulfed me. Blood ran down my thighs.

Feeling the blood beneath me, tears streamed down my face:

"My baby—please, get me to a hospital..."

I shakily tried to stand. The world spun. Everything went black.

When I woke up, the smell of disinfectant filled my nose.

Muffled voices nearby:

"Pregnant? Amnesia? What the hell does that mean!"

"Mr. Montgomery, it's dissociative amnesia—the patient's defense mechanism against trauma."

Julian's voice was barely controlled fury: "She was pampered and spoiled. How could she have this?!"

The doctor sighed. "The patient has lacerations from sharp objects, contusions and fractures from blunt force trauma—clear signs of long-term, sustained violent abuse."

"Her body has endured unimaginable torture. When her mind finally broke, it activated self-protection and selectively erased all painful memories."

Silence. Then Julian's voice, hoarse and raw:

"I'll investigate..."

"But the baby goes. I'm not raising another man's kid."

Terror seized me. I forced my eyes open but couldn't move.

They want to hurt my baby!

Medical staff approached. A needle slid into my arm.

Julian stood beside me, eyes red-rimmed, jaw tight.

I used my last strength to grab his collar.

"Don't..."

He covered my desperate eyes with his hand.

I lost consciousness.

When I woke again, I was back at the Montgomery house.

Strapped to a metal chair. Electrodes clamped to my head.

"Chloe, you're awake."

Evelyn crouched in front of me, smiling with cruel satisfaction:

"I just heard from Julian about your amnesia."

"Don't worry. We'll help you remember real soon."

I touched my empty, aching stomach and broke down sobbing.

Julian knelt, kissing my tears, his eyes red:

"The doctor said 99 shocks and you'll remember everything."

"Then everyone who hurt you will pay. Every single one."

"As for the baby—I won't hold it against you anymore."

I shook uncontrollably, shaking my head:

"No, I really don't know you, please—"

"Do it."

Julian stood and gave the order.

The button was pressed.

Electricity—like molten wire—shot through my veins, from fingertips to organs.

Every jolt brought bone-shattering agony. I screamed until my throat was raw.

Blood poured from my lips. My vision went black. Only endless, tearing pain remained.

The dam of memory finally broke.

Numb tears fell one after another as I whispered:

"I remember..."

I remembered eight years of soul-crushing pain.