Chapter 2

Julian lay there, blood trickling from the corner of his bruised lips, his face sickly pale as he gasped for breath.

"Vanessa... help... me..."

Whatever hesitation Vanessa had left vanished instantly. She dropped to her knees, frantically wrapping her arms around him.

"Did they beat you? Why are you bleeding?!"

"I'm taking you straight to the emergency room! I'll get you the best specialists in the country! You're going to be okay!"

Julian didn't say a word. He just clutched her tight, burying his face in her neck, refusing to let go.

If this wasn't love, what was?

A blind man could see their devotion.

And I was merely the pathetic clown caught in the crossfire of their epic romance.

Perhaps my cold, hollow stare unnerved her, because Vanessa pulled back and stammered out an excuse.

"Nathan, you're much stronger than Julian. At least you aren't terrified of the dark. Besides, you're a recognized CEO—they won't dare touch you! I swear on my life, I'll find wealthy investors to buy you out immediately!"

"Just look at Julian! He’s barely breathing! If I leave him here, I’m a murderer! Nathan, you always said you loved me more than life itself. I’ve never begged you for anything before. Please, just hang in here for a couple of days. Once this nightmare is over, I'll move anywhere you want. I'll support any company you want to build!"

She took my limp hand, trying to press it against her tear-stained cheek, just like she always did whenever she wanted to coax me into forgiving her.

Summoning the last shred of strength in my body, I shoved her away.

"Save your fake tears. I'm not your precious Julian."

Vanessa let out a heavy, trembling sigh.

"Nathan, I know you resent me right now, and that's fair. But remember, I am your wife. I swear I'm coming back to bring you home. Just wait five days. Only five days."

My chin slumped to my chest. I didn't even have the breath left to curse her.

Julian let out a series of frail, rattling coughs. Panic flashed across Vanessa’s face, and she quickly helped him into the passenger seat of our car.

Before hitting the gas, she didn't look back at me once.

As the tinted window slowly rolled up,

Julian revealed half his face. The frail, dying invalid vanished, replaced by a wicked, triumphant smirk. He silently mouthed five words through the glass:

"You're going to die here."

He had pulled off his escape.

And I was cast straight into hell.

My vision faded into black. The frantic pounding of my heart was drowned out by sheer, cold dread as I collapsed backward onto the concrete floor, knocked out cold.

A splash of foul-smelling, putrid water hit my face, and blinding pain from my wounds forced my eyes wide open.

A hulking thug stood over me, swinging an iron pipe ruthlessly against my ribs.

"Get up, you piece of trash! You've been out cold for two days, and that bitch hasn't sent a single text! Are you two even married?! When Julian was here, she was blowing up our phones begging for mercy every damn hour!"

"Speak! Is she bringing the money tomorrow or not?!"

Spasms of agony tore through my body, making me shake uncontrollably.

The heavy chains binding my wrists and ankles rattled against the dirt floor.

Brenda stepped forward, grabbed my hair, and shoved my face down into a bucket of rancid sludge, snarling:

"I don't run a charity! You better call that bitch right now and tell her to follow the goddamn deal!"

Just as my lungs were about to burst, she yanked my head back up by the roots of my hair.

"I’ve got a thousand ways to tear you apart, pretty boy."

Two thugs dragged me across the floor and dumped me straight into an open sewer trench beneath the warehouse.

The vile black water rose past my chest. In nearby rusted cages, dozens of starved sewer rats began scurrying frantically, smelling the blood.

Brenda signaled a henchman to shove a burner phone into my face.

"You must have her private number. Give it to me! I want a straight answer from her!"

I parted my cracked lips to speak, but a mouthful of dark blood sprayed out instead, splashing across Brenda’s face.

Her face twisted into demonic rage. "Filthy piece of shit! Won't talk? Open the cages!"

In an instant, swarms of aggressive, screeching rats plunged into the trench, lunging at my bare skin.

Their razor-sharp teeth sank into my flesh, ripping and tearing. The excruciating agony tore a bloodcurdling scream from my throat, my blood swirling into the filthy trench water.

Moments later, Brenda slammed the phone hard against my bruised cheekbone.

"How's that for an appetizer? Ready to be a good little husband and help me find your wife now?"