Chapter 7

I knew James's nature well. Even if he hated me, he wouldn't do anything too extreme. He would never seriously harm a woman.

But Charles was different. After Rose's death, he had become a complete monster. Before I left the Coleman family, he had already broken my fingers. It was James who saw me and sent me to the hospital.

The door opened, and I looked up from my kneeling position. A familiar face came into view, eyes filled with hatred as they fell on me.

"James, since when did you start meddling in other people's business?" Charles asked coldly.

James sat on the couch, not turning to look at him. He flicked his cigarette ash onto me as I knelt on the floor. A smile played on his lips.

"Since when do I need to report my actions to you, Mr. Coleman?" he replied smoothly.

I felt a small sense of relief. I was grateful it had been James I encountered earlier.

Suddenly, a large hand grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. A hard slap landed on my face.

"Who told you to come back, you bitch?" Charles snarled.

I remained silent, kneeling on the floor, looking at James as if waiting for his orders. If I was a dog now, I was a dog James had picked up. I belonged to him.

James lit another cigarette, watching the scene unfold before him with a slight smirk. He made no move to intervene.

My heart sank. I had foolishly thought he might have brought me back out of some lingering sympathy from when I used to like him. Now I realized he just wanted to ensure I suffered even more before I died.

I looked up, touching my swollen cheek.

"Brother, please stop," I pleaded. "I didn't kill Rose. It had nothing to do with me."

I used one hand to prop myself up, trying not to fall over.

"Charlotte Coleman, how long are you going to keep up this act?" Charles growled. "Tell me! Is this how you tricked James?"

He grabbed my throat.

"I didn't... I didn't..." I choked out, shaking my head vigorously as tears welled up in my eyes.

Seeing the person who was once closest to me now wanting to kill me, I felt a crushing sense of suffocation. My heart, numb for so long, was now filled with sharp, stinging pain.