Chapter 5

Two security guards stepped forward, grabbed my arms, and roughly dragged me towards the basement.

A cold, damp air hit me, mixed with the musty smell of dust.

I didn't even have the strength to struggle. The excruciating stomach pain and the icy cold in my heart brought me to the brink of fainting.

I was thrown in without mercy.

Liam didn't look at me once, simply holding a pitifully crying Chloe in his arms and turning to leave.

In the darkness, I curled up on the cold ground.

For two whole days, I had no water.

Hunger and stomach pain tormented me in turns, wearing down my last bit of life force.

It wasn't until the third day, the eve of Chloe's birthday party, that the basement door was finally opened.

Liam had me released, looking down at my pathetic state from above.

"Chloe's birthday party, you'll organize it personally. If anything goes wrong, you know the consequences."

Like a corpse, I numbly nodded.

The birthday party was extremely lavish.

The entire villa was dazzling with lights and colors, bustling with guests.

After a few rounds of drinks, Chloe, holding a glass, walked seductively towards me.

"Sister, it's my birthday today. Where's my present?"

Undisguised provocation gleamed in her eyes.

"I didn't prepare one."

I replied calmly.

Chloe's gaze fell on my neck, where a beautiful necklace hung.

It was the only keepsake my mother had left me.

"Then give that to me,"

Chloe's tone was as if it were her right,

"I really like it."

I instinctively shielded the necklace on my chest:

"Not this one."

"Why not?"

Chloe's eyes immediately reddened. She looked aggrievedly at Liam who had rushed over.

"Liam, I just want a birthday present."

Liam's eyes turned cold.

"Give it to her."

He commanded me.

"This is all my mother left me..."

My voice trembled uncontrollably, pleading one last time.

I remembered when my mother died, I cried until I couldn't breathe.

It was Liam who held me tight, promising again and again in my ear that he would always be with me, and would love me well on my mother's behalf.

But now, this very man was about to personally take away my last keepsake of my mother.

Liam lost his patience and simply signaled his security guards.

"No! Don't!"

I struggled frantically, but was held down tightly by two security guards.

I watched helplessly as the thin chain was torn off and fell into Liam's hand.

He personally put it on Chloe, praising her softly:

"It suits you well."

He led Chloe back to the center of the party, hand in hand.

I collapsed onto the ground, feeling utterly cold.

I wanted to leave this suffocating place. As soon as I stood up, I was blocked by Chloe's friends.

They dragged me to a secluded corner, where obscene insults accompanied by a hail of punches and kicks rained down on me.

"Shameless hussy, clinging to Mrs. Hayes's position!"

"It's your honor that Chloe wants something of yours, how dare you refuse?"

I curled up on the ground, abandoning all resistance and cries for help.

It hurt, it hurt so much.

But how could physical pain compare to even a fraction of the agony in my heart?

When another kick brutally landed on my abdomen, I couldn't hold it in anymore and violently turned my head, vomiting a large mouthful of blood.

That dazzling crimson instantly terrified the women whose eyes were blazing with fury.

Just then, an icy voice rang out above their heads.

"What are you doing?!"

It was Liam.