His Love, Her Prison, Their Son

in, but the pain was nothing compared to the crushing weight of humiliation. I was being pulled like an animal to

o this," I whimpered

ity and cruel satisfaction. Some of them held up their phones, the small black le

rer.' She's getting

ongs in

with a sound of finality. The Dobermans, agitated by the commotion, began to bark, their deep, menacing

cried, my voice lost in

me with those same empty eyes. He was a statu

l, smooth object in the pocket of the cheap uniform I wore. A lapis lazuli bead, a gift from my grand

to the years I had spent trying to earn Courtland's love. I thought I could melt his icy exterior with my wa

iece by piece, until nothing was left. The physical pain, the constant fear, the public shame-it all blurred togethe

hnson, stood over me, her face contorted in a mask of pure hatred. I was no

ipping with venom. "You faint from a little time

ng over the mantelpiece. "Courtland wants you to kowtow

e maids grabbed my hair and forced my head down, slam

ered, the words mech

ieked. "Does that sou

n down my temple. I repeated the words, my voice a hollow e

Courtland, finding me beside her body, his face breaking not with grief, but with a terrible, cold rage. "You will pa

ept his

pain was a distant thrumming. I counted each one, a lita

pristine white rug. I was dizzy and nauseous, b

silently from the doorway. "I've done what you a

it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He walked over to a

rother?" he asked, his

warring with te

ink this. Drink this, and

then at his unreadab

murderer like you can never bear children. To

ake away the one thing a woman holds sacred, the possibility of a

, determined eyes. It was a choice

no choic

I would d

the vial. I brought it to my l