Chapter 2

　　The man was silent for a moment. "My condolences."

　　"I want you to help me fake my death. After that, I'll leave the country for good."

　　"All right. In a month, I'll come for you."

　　Cyril Gilbert had once been her fan. From the very first time she'd stepped onto a stage, he had never missed a single one of her performances.

　　By the time she graduated college, family matters had called Cyril away to settle in America.

　　Before he left, he'd asked Edith whether she would go with him.

　　He could build her the finest theater troupe, write a script tailored just for her, make her the leading lady.

　　But back then, Edith's heart was so full of her love for Matthew that she'd turned him down without a second thought.

　　Cyril had only said that if she ever changed her mind, she could call him anytime.

　　She never imagined that after more than ten years, Cyril would still honor that promise.

　　The call ended, and Edith made her unsteady way back to the Heath house.

　　She had barely reached the door when laughter drifted out from inside.

　　Her steps didn't slow, but the instant she made out the faces of the three women at the dining table, her body went rigid and terror flooded her eyes.

　　She screamed, "Why are you here?"

　　Susan propped her chin in her hand. "You know them?"

　　"Someone snatched my bag just now, and these ladies got it back for me. So I invited them over as guests." She smiled, but her eyes brimmed with malice. "Since you know each other, this is the perfect chance for you to catch up."

　　The three heavyset women lifted their gazes, watching Edith with something that was almost a smile.

　　"Miss Butler. Long time no see."

　　"We were cellmates for seven whole years. Ever since we got out, we've missed you so much."

　　One of them rose to her feet and closed in on Edith, step by step.

　　"After all, Miss Butler's body is a lot of fun to play with."

　　She bit down hard on those last words.

　　Edith's whole body jerked, her mind flashing back against her will to those seven nightmare years.

　　These three women had been the tyrants of the prison. Every new inmate who came in was just another toy for them.

　　Edith had fought back the hardest, and for that they'd hated her.

　　Beatings were the mildest of their punishments. They would strip her bare and tie her to the bars, so every passing inmate could see the pitiful state of her.

　　Anyone who walked by was free to beat and humiliate her as they pleased.

　　When the guards saw it, they'd give a verbal warning and nothing more, and the women went right on doing as they liked.

　　As the woman's body kept advancing on her, Edith could no longer hold her emotions in check.

　　She ducked behind Matthew on instinct. "Get out, make them get out!"

　　Matthew only frowned faintly. "Edith, come out here."

　　"They're friends. Have the decency to talk with them properly."

　　Edith's heart plunged, and she let out a bitter laugh.

　　How could she have forgotten? Matthew had never once protected her. So no matter how she cried out in agony, he'd only ever think she was making a scene, putting on an act.

　　So she turned and bolted, trying to flee the Heath house.

　　The woman didn't give chase. She only watched Edith's panicked back, and then, just as she'd expected, that fleeing figure crashed hard to the floor.

　　After all, it was this woman who had broken Edith's right leg with her own hands. Even healed, it could never take the strain of hard running or jumping.

　　Susan watched it happen, a look of concern on her face.

　　"What's wrong?"

　　"Let me help you up."

　　She hurried to Edith's side and reached down to haul her off the floor.

　　But Edith clutched herself in terror. "No, don't touch me!"

　　"Let go of me!"

　　Susan was flung off, dropping heavily to the floor, bruises of every size blooming across her legs in an instant, an unsettling sight.

　　Tears welled up fast in her eyes. "I only wanted to help you up."

　　"Why did you shove me?"

　　Matthew's face darkened all at once.

　　He lunged forward and yanked Edith up off the floor. "Enough. How long are you going to keep this up?"

　　"Faking my death for ten years, yes, I wronged you. But if you hadn't tried to kill Susan back then, why would I ever have hidden it from you this long?"

　　"And now, not only do you refuse to repent, you have the nerve to shove Susan. A woman with a heart as poisonous as yours doesn't deserve to be the lady of the Heath family! But since you've already married me, then I'll have to teach you a proper lesson!"

　　He drew a deep breath and raised a hand to summon the servants. "Someone, bring the family punishment!"

　　The Heath family's discipline was severe.

　　If anyone in the family committed a wrong, out came the steel whip, ninety-nine lashes.