Chapter 2

The moans and sounds of bodies colliding continue endlessly inside the door.

I stand in the hallway, my stomach churning.

The excruciating pain from my previous life seems to linger in my abdomen.

I touch my protruding belly and take a deep breath before turning downstairs.

Half an hour later, two welders carrying equipment stand outside the master bedroom door.

"You really want it welded shut?"

The welder looks at this expensive solid wood double door with some hesitation.

I hand over two stacks of cash.

"Weld even the door cracks shut. Add two layers of steel bars."

"You got it!"

The welding machine emits a piercing roar.

Dazzling sparks scatter through the hallway.

The pungent smell of burning instantly fills the air.

Inside the room, they finally sense something's wrong.

"What's going on out there?!"

Francis's irritated voice comes through the door.

Then comes the sound of the handle being violently twisted.

"Chloe! Are you out there making trouble?"

"Open this door!"

I pull over a chair and sit steadily outside the door.

I watch as the welder finishes welding the last steel bar to the door frame.

"Francis, don't you like playing in there?"

"Today I'll let you play to your heart's content."

My tone is calm, without a hint of emotion. The door shakes violently from being kicked.

"Have you lost your mind! You dare lock me in?"

"When I get out, I'll kill you!"

The woman next to him also starts screaming.

"Mr. Carter, I'm so scared. Is this woman mentally ill?"

I let out a cold laugh and take out my phone.

"Officer, yes, the address is Villa A in the Seaside Villa District."

"Come quickly. They're organizing illegal prostitution inside."

Ten minutes later, five fully equipped police officers rush up to the second floor.

"Who called the police?"

The lead officer looks at the welded door and freezes.

"Officer, I made the report."

"This house is my marital home under my name."

"My husband is illegally soliciting prostitutes inside."

The police exchange glances.

"Listen up, people inside! This is the police! Open the door immediately!"

Inside the room goes instantly quiet.

A few seconds later, Francis's exasperated voice comes through.

"Chloe, you dare call the police? Are you tired of living!"

The police look at the steel bars on the door and directly call in the fire department.

Hydraulic cutters sever the freshly welded steel bars, and the door is forced open.

A foul, fishy smell hits them in the face.

Francis is naked, clutching a towel in front of him.

The woman is even more terrified, curled up in the sheets trembling.

"Don't move! Put on your clothes and stand against the wall!"

The police raise their body cameras.

Francis's face turns ashen as he points at my nose and curses.

"Chloe, you've got nerve! You dare bring people to arrest me?"

"What the hell are you! How dare you meddle in my business?"

I walk forward and slap him across the face.

The crisp sound of the slap echoes through the room.

Francis's head snaps to the side, half his face instantly swelling and turning red.

"You dare hit me?"

His eyes widen as he raises his hand to strike back.

Two officers immediately step forward and pin him to the ground.

"Stay still! You dare assault someone in front of police?"

Francis is pressed firmly to the ground, his face against a condom on the floor.

He gags in disgust.

The woman wraps herself in the sheets, crying pitifully.

"Officer, I'm his girlfriend. We're in a normal relationship."

I throw a stack of photos in her face.

"Normal relationship? Lester, last month you were detained for illegal prostitution and drug dealing at a nightclub. Should I pull up the records?"

Lester's face turns deathly pale, unable to say a word.

The police pick up the photos from the ground, take one look, and pull out handcuffs.

"Take them away! Back to the station for investigation!"

Francis is handcuffed and struggles desperately.

"Chloe! You wait!"

"You're just a cheap stand-in I bought for Austin!"

"When I get out, I'll make sure you leave with nothing! I'll make the bastard in your belly die without a trace!"

I look at his wretched state and smile slightly.

"Sure, I'll wait."

"Enjoy your time, Mr. Carter."