Chapter 3
William stood in the doorway, taking in the sight of me crumpled on the carpet, Aurora holding the tablet high, and the crowd’s twisted, excited faces all around.
"What’s going on here? What video is this?" He frowned deeply, his eyes darting across the room.
A William’s friend chimed in, his voice trembling with sick excitement. "William, you just missed the climax! Just getting a front-row seat to your wife’s little kidnapping adventure, Will. Hearing those screams... man, looks like those thugs really had a field day with her. We had no idea the details were so... entertaining!"
The room erupted into a chorus of muffled snickers and leering whispers.
William’s face instantly darkened, a violent flush of humiliation creeping up his neck. He shot me a glare filled with absolute disgust, as if I were a rotting corpse ruining his party.
"Get up!" he hissed, his voice laced with venom. "Stop playing dead and embarrassing me in front of everyone! Haven't I lost enough face because of you?"
He didn't offer me a hand. Instead, he grabbed Aurora’s arm and stormed out of the room, leaving me completely abandoned.
I struggled to my feet, lunging forward, I snatched the tablet from the table. The horrifying sounds of my own desperate screams were still echoing from the speakers. I swiped at the screen to kill the video, then raised the device high and slammed it mercilessly against the marble edge of the coffee table.
Crack!
The screen shattered into jagged pieces, finally silencing the nightmare.
Late that night, I lay in bed, wide awake.
I slipped out of bed barefoot and crept to the door. The hallway was empty. The door to the next room stood ajar, warm light spilling out.
The lewd sounds continued without pause.
The wet, rhythmic slapping of flesh against flesh and the frantic creaking of the mattress echoed loudly in the quiet night.
"Ah... Will... right there! God, you feel so good..." Aurora’s voice was breathy, dripping with raw, unrestrained lust. "Tell me... am I tighter than that dirty bitch?"
"Fuck, Aurora, don't even compare yourself to that trash," William groaned, his voice thick and strained with pleasure. The slapping sounds grew louder, more brutal. "You're so fucking wet... so tight for me. Wrap your legs around my back."
"Mmm... I want you so deep..." Aurora whimpered, arching into him as her moans grew sharper. "When are you going to dump her, babe? I want to be the only one riding you."
"Soon... ah, fuck... Once I get my hands on the old man's inheritance, she's as good as dead," William panted heavily, never slowing his punishing thrusts. "The thought of slipping into her after those filthy thugs ran a train on her? It makes my fucking skin crawl. I only want to bury myself in you."
Aurora let out a high-pitched, ecstatic moan, her fingernails trailing down his spine. "Then fill me up, Will... claim me. I'm completely pure, just for you..."
"Good girl," William growled, his voice rough with animalistic hunger. "Take all of it..."
Standing outside the door, I was overwhelmed by a bone-deep chill that spread across my entire body. My fingers trembled as I pulled a voice recorder out from my pajama pocket and hit record.
I returned to my bed and traced the lily tattoo etched just above my collarbone.
I’d gotten it on my eighteenth birthday. William had taken me to a tattoo parlor that day, leaning in to whisper in my ear, "This lily suits you perfectly — pure and untainted."
Back then, I’d smiled like a fool. Now, running my fingers over the ink, it felt like I was touching a tombstone.
The next morning at breakfast, I’d barely sat down when Aurora carried a bowl of congee over and took a seat across from me, wearing a sugary sweet grin.
"Selene, did you hear any strange noises last night?" She tilted her head playfully. "I barely slept a wink. Someone was certainly quite energetic…"
William snickered lewdly beside her.
I stared down at my bowl, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
All of a sudden, Aurora let out a fake yelp. The hot congee sloshed straight onto the back of my hand. My skin flared bright red instantly from the scalding heat.
"Oh no, I’m so sorry! My hand slipped!" She blinked, not a trace of genuine remorse on her face.
I bit back the pain and murmured, "It’s fine."
That afternoon, I was sitting on the sofa when my vision blurred. A low blood sugar spell had hit me hard.
Aurora walked over holding a bowl of sweet syrup, her expression soft and seemingly kind. "Here, have some of this. It’ll make you feel better."
I grew wary, wondering what trick she was planning this time, but reached out to take it anyway.
In an instant, she twisted her wrist. The bowl crashed to the floor, syrup splattering everywhere. She let out a shrill scream and clutched her hand. "It’s burning hot!"
William burst into the room right away.
"What happened?!"
"I-I’m okay…" Aurora’s eyes welled up with tears. "I just wanted to bring Selene some syrup, but she pushed me away."
"I didn’t do that!" I protested.
"Selene! Why do you keep picking on her? Are you out of your mind?!" He stormed over, grabbed me by the hair, and forced my head back.
As he pulled at my hair, the official document to activate the hidden will slid out from between the sofa cushions and landed right at his feet.
He bent to pick it up. After skimming the words, his eyes widened in shock. "A hidden will? The old man had this up his sleeve all along? You actually activated it?!"
He glared at me, his bloodshot eyes filled with rage.
"You dare try to steal all my family’s shares? You worthless witch!"
His gaze then fell on another bowl of syrup sitting on the table — one Aurora had prepared earlier, and I had no idea what dangerous substances were mixed inside.
William snatched up the bowl and hurled its contents straight at my face.
The second the scorching liquid hit my skin, I felt no pain at first — only a faint sizzling sound.
Then agony exploded across my skin, burrowing deep into my flesh and searing down to my bones.
My eyes clamped shut tight, and my lips stuck together. I knew immediately this was never just syrup.
White wispy smoke rose up as the corrosive liquid, laced with acid, ate away at my skin.
I opened my mouth and let out a raw, bloodcurdling scream.
