Chapter 1

On the day I held Alexander's urn at our wedding ceremony, I moved alone into what was supposed to be our new home. Little did I know that as soon as I stepped through the door, his younger brother Lucas would pin me against the wall.

"My mother blames you for my brother's death," he hissed. "She says I have to father children with all my brothers' widows to continue the family line."

Margaret, my mother-in-law, had people guarding the main entrance. My sisters-in-law rushed in to hold down my legs as they dragged me kicking and screaming into the bedroom.

I fought with every ounce of strength, slamming my head against the wall until blood ran into my eyes. But even then, they wouldn't let me go...

After the memorial service for Alexander and his two older brothers, I was shoved into the bedroom. Lucas sat on what should have been my wedding bed, his eyes filled with lust as he loosened his tie. "I've been waiting for this moment," he said with a smirk. "You're finally mine."

The room, still decorated with wedding symbols, suddenly went dark. I felt like a fish on a chopping block as my clothes were torn away.

"Lucas! Have you lost your mind?" I screamed. "Your whole family has gone crazy! I'm your sister-in-law!"

"So what?" He laughed coldly. "I've already had my way with my other two sisters-in-law. You're no different."

His rough lips traced my forehead, mouth, collarbone, and chest. His hands groped my frail body mercilessly. I was paralyzed with disbelief, unable to process what was happening.

Was this the same man who had been sobbing uncontrollably at his brother's funeral just two weeks ago?

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of you in my brother's place," he whispered.

I stared at his face, so different from Alexander's, and struggled with all my might. I banged my head against the floor, desperate to escape.

"Get off me! Don't touch me!"

A storm raged outside as Lucas lost patience. He lifted me up and tied my hands to the bedpost. "Don't touch you? My mother says I'm the only son left. I have to 'sacrifice' myself to give all of you children for my dead brothers."

"I suggest you cooperate," he threatened. "Or do you want to see what happened to my other two sisters-in-law?"

Of the four sons in the family, including my husband, three had died. I couldn't believe Margaret wanted Lucas to father children with all of us widows. How could they propose something so immoral without fear of divine retribution?

From outside the room, Margaret's voice drifted in like a ghost's whisper. "Stop pretending to be pure. Women's bodies are made for men to use."

"Listen here, you sluts killed my sons. You owe me grandchildren as compensation. Otherwise, this old lady will kill you herself, and no one would blame me."

Cold air seeped into the room. I tried to curl up, but Lucas stopped me. The chill spread from my chest to my limbs as I bit my lip, filled with murderous rage.

If Alexander's spirit was watching, how could he bear this?

The assault continued.

"What, afraid someone will hear? My brother is dead. He can't hear anything anymore."

"Acting like a whore but still pretending to be virtuous."

The pain was excruciating, but I refused to make a sound.

He grabbed my hair and slammed my forehead against the floor repeatedly. "If you won't behave, I'll teach you a lesson!"

I clenched my jaw, letting the tears flow silently. Death would be preferable to this hellish existence. I closed my eyes, praying for a swift end.

The torment lasted all night. As dawn broke, the room finally fell silent.

Heaven had ignored my fervent prayers. I hadn't died, but remembered every detail of the previous night's horrors with painful clarity.

After Lucas fell asleep, I dragged my battered body out of the room. They had taken my phone, leaving me no way to contact the outside world, but I had to find a way to call for help.

The few steps from the bedroom to the staircase felt like miles. With each step, I left a trail of blood on the carpet, my strength rapidly fading.

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. I looked up to see several women standing at the corner of the hallway.

Two of them, disheveled and gaunt, were the sisters-in-law who had helped Lucas restrain me.

My gaze fell on a woman huddled in the corner. When I recognized her face, a chill ran down my spine.

It was Emily, Lucas's wife.

Emily stared at me blankly before bursting into maniacal laughter. Veins bulged on her forehead as she shrieked, "Die! Die! Die!"

She lunged at me like a madwoman, but a chain around her neck kept her tethered to the railing.

"You..."

Before I could finish, a fist flew past me and struck Emily in the stomach.