Chapter 3

Jasper locked me in the basement.

The basement was surrounded by welded iron bars, looking a bit like a prison cell from TV.

I sat down in a clean spot and looked at the wall not far away. The word "hate" was carved there. I had carved it.

Three years ago, after Jasper assaulted me, he imprisoned me here, afraid I would run away.

Click. Jasper unlocked the door and walked in from outside.

He bent down slightly, examining me, "Winter, how does it feel to be back in this familiar old place?"

"Just like you - nothing fresh about the experience," I said carelessly, playing with my fingers.

Jasper, I wasn't afraid of you before, and I'm even less afraid now.

Faced with my provocation, Jasper's expression remained unchanged. He bent down to look at me, "Winter, don't think about leaving me. You're the woman I've slept with. No one else will want you except me."

I looked at Jasper for a long time, then sneered, "Jasper, I didn't expect you to still be so old-fashioned at heart. Men, emotions, bodies - these things have never been shackles holding me back."

"Winter, you really are cheap," he said through gritted teeth, as if I were the one who had done something wrong.

I looked up, smiling as I met his gaze, "It was men who first treated women as playthings. Why is it that when women also become indifferent to love, they're considered cheap?"

"Men and women are different," he said slowly, enunciating each word.

I chuckled and asked, "What's the difference? Aren't men human? Men can sleep around and walk away, but the women left behind should be shamed and despised?"

Jasper's eyes darkened, but after a moment, his lips curled up slightly, "Winter, you always know how to anger me, but I like you this way. One day, I'll make you submit."

"Going to sleep here again?" I looked up at him.

Jasper stood up straight, folding his arms as he watched me.

I smiled indifferently, "Don't men always want to take revenge on women's bodies?"

Jasper smiled, "Winter, one day both your body and heart will be mine."

I curled my lips in a sneer, "Then I wish you success."

I even clapped for him, because I knew he would never succeed. As long as I lived, I would never submit to him.