Shattered Love, A Monster's Reign

Pace

ed was the blinding light, then the dull ache in my head, a persistent throb that resonated with every beat of my heart. M

mouth was dry, my throat raw. The distinct scent of pine and

e forest. This wasn't our penthouse. This wasn't a ho

ughter, light and carefree, drifted through the thi

llowed closely by Blair. They looked disheveled, as if they had just woken up together. Blair wore one of Christian'

n, swept over me. He didn't see Elena

he asked Blair, h

my miscarriage. The one who 'accidentally' pushed me down the stairs." Her words were a chilling echo of

e scheme. She had faked a miscarriage and framed me. The blood from the night before

rous glint in his eye. He didn't recognize me. He t

ian's arm. "She was furious about our baby, Christia

, by his own twisted obsession with "purity." He had sent someone to abduct me, his

na! But my mouth was gagged, a rough cloth shoved deep insid

s just... misguided." Her eyes met mine, a flicker of pure malice, then she turned back to Christian, her vo

She will pay for what she did." He turned to a burly guard standing by

The usual treatment?

ar, I saw Blair give Christian a lingering kiss, then turn to watch me go, a satisfied

and heavy with oppressive heat. The gag was still in my mouth, binding m

my eyes. My lungs screamed for cool air. I thrashed wildly, but the ropes held fast. I could feel

but no sound escaped my bound lips.

nded. I was suffocating. I thought of our baby, of the life stolen, and a desperate

their faces impassive, dragged me out into a dimly lit hallway. My body was lim

d menacing, a thick leather whip in his hand. H

hissed, his voice like ice. "You

ollowed, unimaginable. It ripped through my skin, a fiery brand across my

his rage. "You thought you could get away with it, you worthless maid? You thought you coul

idn't commit, because he believed her lies, because he wanted to believe her. And in

re into my flesh, each strike a brutal reminder of his betrayal, his blindness, his mons

t the stone floor. He stood over me, panting slightly, his face sti

smissive gesture. "Take

. I heard Blair's voice, soft and sweet, "Chris

they disappeared, a single, raw scream tore through the gag, a sound of pure, unadulterate

Blair's voice, insistent, pulled him away. "Come on, my l

s what I was t

d soul. Every single hurt, every betrayal, every act of violenc

nd then, I would make him pay. Not for revenge. But for justice. For the chil