Chapter 3

When I woke up, my wrists and ankles were bound by heavy chains.

Marcus sneered, approaching me. "Finally awake. I've never tasted a billionaire's sister before."

My heart hammered. "What are you doing?"

He yanked my hair, forcing my head down. The sheer disgust made me throw up.

I vomited all over him. He shoved me away with a curse. "Not a fan? Fine, I'll let the others have a turn."

I crawled to my knees, stripping away every ounce of my pride. "Please... please stop. I'll do anything. Just please."

He unchained me. "Bark like a dog." I barked three times, completely numb.

He raised his phone, recording me as he ordered me to strike humiliating, degrading poses.

To survive, I swallowed the shame and complied, ignoring the pain.

But it didn't stop them. The door kept opening, and men kept coming in.

At first, I fought back with everything I had. But every resistance was met with brutal slaps that left my ears ringing.

Eventually, I stopped fighting. The hatred in my heart burned into a silent, searing flame.

Seeing me completely still, Marcus panicked. He rushed over to check my pulse.

I used every bit of strength left in my body to lock my hands around his throat. "Die!" Even if I died, I was taking him with me.

He slammed me onto the ground with a brutal throw. Dazed and broken, I whimpered in pain.

Marcus rubbed his neck. "You really need to learn some manners."

He pulled out a knife and sliced a deep gash across my cheek. Blood poured down my face, getting into my eyes and mouth.

I screamed in agony until I blacked out.

The physical and psychological torture pushed me to the brink of madness. I had only just reunited with my brother. Why was I in this living hell? Why didn't he believe me?

I missed my adoptive brother, Julian. I wanted to go home!

Through the haze of pain, I thought I heard Chloe's voice. I shook my head. No, that was impossible.

Fiona walked in and gasped when she saw my face. "Marcus! We agreed no visible scars! How are we going to explain this?"

She hurriedly called Chloe, who was busy shopping. The phone rang several times before Chloe picked up.

"Her face is ruined!" Fiona panicked. "What do we do?"

"Why are you panicking?" Chloe dismissed her coldly. "Just say she tripped and fell. Christian is an idiot. He believes whatever I tell him."

Chloe hung up, losing interest. She then sent a batch of AI-manipulated videos to Christian.

In the videos, a deepfake version of me boasted arrogantly, "Who does Chloe think she is? The Sterling fortune will be mine. I should have killed her sooner." The video ended with fabricated, graphic footage of me in bed with multiple men.

The next second, Marcus's phone rang. It was Christian. "What the hell is going on? I told you to teach her a lesson, and she's still trying to hurt Chloe? She clearly doesn't respect me as her brother."

"Her attitude will bring ruin to our family sooner or later. Starve her for a few more days. Just keep her alive."

Marcus hung up and smirked at Fiona. "See? I told you. Never mess with Miss Chloe. This is what happens."

After that day, the door to my room never stopped opening. I was treated like a piece of garbage, discarded on the floor day after day.

Until one night, one of the guards felt a flicker of pity and left the door unlocked. A voice inside my head screamed that it was another trap.

But my survival instinct wouldn't let me pass up any chance. I ran.

Avoiding the guards, I sprinted blindly into the dark. If I could just get out, there had to be a way.

But my flight ended inside a massive iron cage. The heavy lock clicked shut behind me. My heart shattered. I collapsed to my knees. I had been fooled again.

Marcus stepped out, jingling the keys. "So, want to show us how you pick locks again?"

A synthesized voice came from his phone. "Let Shadow play with her."

A massive, half-starved black Mastiff was released into the cage. It stared at me, drool dripping from its jaws.

I pressed myself against the iron bars, terrified to move a muscle.

On the other side of the country, Chloe looked at her phone and smiled. Christian walked down the stairs. "Chloe, what's making you so happy?"

Chloe quickly hid her phone. "Nothing, Christian. Just found a funny meme."

"It's been four months. I wonder how Hazel is doing. She's learned her lesson, and you've had time to cool off. Should we bring her back?"

Chloe immediately pulled back her sleeve, exposing a scar. "Christian, she left this horrible scar on my stomach. It's only been a few months, and I'm still terrified of her. If she comes back, she'll hate me even more. Maybe I should just leave. After all, she's your real sister."

Christian quickly held her, stopping her fake tears. "Don't be silly. You're both my sisters. Fine... let her stay there a bit longer. Just keep an eye on her and make sure she's safe."

The moment Christian left, Chloe unmuted her phone. "Oh, I'll make sure she's very safe. Watching her stand there is boring. Give Shadow a little treat."

Following her orders, Marcus tossed a piece of raw meat near me. The dog lunged, but instead of the meat, its jaws clamped hard onto my arm.

The smell of blood drove the beast wild. It tore a chunk of flesh right out of my forearm.

I screamed in absolute agony. In a primal fit of survival, I leaned forward and bit the dog's eye. The Mastiff yelped, releasing my arm, but then sprang back, pinning me to the floor. Its massive jaws opened wide, aiming straight for my throat.

I closed my eyes in resignation. Death would be a mercy. At least the pain would stop.

Marcus panicked, realizing he had gone too far. He raised a tranquilizer gun and shot both me and the dog.