Chapter 2

Sean stared at my mangled, broken hand, and the air around him instantly dropped below freezing.

His eyes flared crimson with murderous rage. Without a word, he drove a vicious front kick straight into Christian’s chest.

Christian was sent flying through the air, crashing hard against the media console, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

“Hayes, you’re a dead man!”

Sean knelt down, moving to scoop me up into his arms with extreme care, terrified of causing me any more pain.

“Amber, hold on. Don't be afraid. I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”

The agony made cold sweat pour down my skin. My consciousness was already slipping into darkness, and I could only instinctively curl against his chest.

Just as Sean was about to carry me past the threshold.

Christian clutched his bruised chest, stumbling to his feet while waving a document in the air.

“Stop right there! Vance, take one more step with her and see what happens!”

“This is the prenuptial agreement and non-compete clause Amber signed with me!”

“If she walks out with another man or draws a single sketch for another firm, she owes me a hundred and fifty million dollars in damages!”

“And don't forget her comatose mother in that private nursing home—I’m the one paying every cent of her life support!”

“You can take her, sure. But are you ready to watch them pull the plug on her mother’s ventilator?”

Sean’s footsteps froze.

He looked down at me, his eyes warring between agony and restraint.

The moment the word “Mother” reached my ears, the foggy haze in my brain cleared instantly.

That was my weakness. The only family I had left in this world.

Using my uninjured left hand, I gripped Sean’s sleeve with all the strength I had left, shaking my head weakly.

“Sean... go.”

“Don't get involved... I’m begging you.”

If Sean forced his way out with me right now, a lunatic like Christian really would murder my mother.

I couldn’t afford to gamble with her life.

Sean gritted his teeth, the veins at his temples throbbing violently.

“Amber! Your hand needs surgery immediately, or you’ll lose it forever!”

Christian let out a sinister chuckle, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips.

“That’s between husband and wife. No need for Mr. Vance to lose sleep over it.”

“If you don't get the hell out of my house right now, I’m calling the cops for home invasion and assault.”

“I doubt the CEO of the Vance Group wants to be plastered all over the morning tabloids, does he?”

Sean inhaled sharply, leaning in close to whisper in Christian’s ear:

“Hayes, you’d better pray she survives this.”

“Because if she doesn't, I will bury your entire company along with you.”

Sean gently set me down, slipped a black metal card into my palm, gave me one long, searing look, and turned to lead his men away.

The triumphant smirk on Christian’s face vanished the second the door clicked shut.

Like dragging a dead dog, he yanked me by the hair, hauling me toward the basement stairs.

“Aaaagh! Stop! Christian, let me go!”

I struggled desperately, the excruciating throb in my shattered right hand nearly making me pass out.

He showed zero mercy, dragging me down the cold concrete steps into the damp, pitch-black basement and tossing me onto the floor.

“Bitch! You still dare make eyes at another man in front of me?!”

“Since you love Sean Vance so damn much, you can rot down here and reflect on your sins!”

“Nobody calls a doctor for her without my permission!”

With a deafening bang, the heavy metal door slammed shut, plunging my world into absolute darkness.

I don't know how much time passed before the basement door groaned open again.

Cecelia walked in, wearing that very same “ruined” couture gown, her stiletto heels clicking sharply against the concrete.

She looked down at me curled up in the corner, a venomous smirk curling her lips.

“Oh my, Amber, look at your hand. It’s swollen up like a balloon.”

“Tsk, tsk, how pathetic. I guess you’ll never be able to sketch again, huh?”

She crouched down, extended the razor-sharp heel of her shoe, and ground it ruthlessly down onto my shattered fingers.

“Aaaah—!”

A raw shriek tore from my throat as spasms of agony racked my frame.

Cecelia threw her head back, laughing like a maniac, digging her heel in even harder.

“You know what, Amber?”

“The gown wasn't even ruined. I just picked a few loose threads along the hem.”

“The live auction was my idea, too.”

“I just wanted to see what mattered more to Christian: your dignity, or my happiness.”

“And you saw the result. To keep a smile on my face, he didn't hesitate for a second to destroy you.”

The pain was so overwhelming I could barely breathe, let alone speak. I could only glare at her twisted, hypocritical face.

“Cecelia... karma will find you...”

Cecelia’s laughter grew louder. She leaned close to my ear and purred:

“Karma? All I know is that Christian loves me, and Sean Vance couldn't save you.”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot to mention.”

“Christian said since your right hand is useless now, you can use your left hand to wash my feet from now on.”

“After all, we have to make some use of our trash, don't we?”