Chapter 9

Vivian nestled in his arms, softly asking, "Nothing will happen, right?"

Julian scoffed, "What could happen? I arranged for those men myself."

He paused again, cocking his ear. Hearing no shouts from the room, he confidently left.

But he didn't know that I had stopped screaming because the homeless men had already swarmed me.

I had been thoroughly trained.

During my years at The Sterling Institute, no matter how many men were on top of me, I wasn't allowed to scream, or I would face even harsher beatings.

The men's hands coiled around my body like venomous snakes, tearing at my clothes, trampling my dignity.

My body was like a broken doll, wantonly abused by them.

My fingers gripped the bedsheet tightly, knuckles white, but I did not utter a single sound.

Julian's words echoed repeatedly in my mind: "I arranged for those men myself, what could happen?"

My heart felt as if it had been brutally squeezed by something, the pain almost making it impossible to breathe.

That night, I was violated the entire night.

My body felt torn apart, blood staining the sheets.

My eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, letting countless filthy men have their way with me.

The next morning, the homeless men finally pulled up their pants and, satisfied, left the room.

I was curled up on the floor, covered in wounds, like a discarded rag doll.

I don't know how much time passed before I numbly stood up, staggering out of the room.

As soon as I stepped out, I heard sounds of surprise and shock all around me.

"What happened to her? Why isn't she wearing clothes?"

"Oh my God! What happened? She… how could her intestines be out…"

I walked forward numbly, as if everything around me had nothing to do with me.

Until a boarding reminder suddenly popped up on my phone, urging me to board soon.

Today was the day I had planned to escape.

Just a little more, it was so close.

I wanted to live so badly, even during those years at The Sterling Institute, I never gave up hope.

But now, my body and soul were completely destroyed.

I looked at the message, and finally, tears streamed down my face.

I couldn't leave.

I couldn't anymore.

Julian, my beloved Julian, personally pushed me into hell, again and again.

Just then, Julian's call came through.

As soon as I answered, a torrent of reprimands.

"Are you out of your mind? You didn't come back all night, and now you're playing the victim? Those people were your doing, what could they possibly do to you?"

I looked down at the wounds on my body, my heart a desolate wasteland.

What could they do to me?

Just when I wanted to start a new life, I was violated by a group of men all night again.

Those painful images, intertwined with those from The Sterling Institute, would forever be etched in my memory.

They… had completely ruined me.

Julian continued, "You've caused enough trouble. Today is my wedding with Vivian. Be there on time, don't pull any stunts. I told you, we're impossible. You'll see the wedding with your own eyes, and then you'll give up!"

I finally spoke, my voice hoarse and calm. "Okay, Uncle Julian, I'll make sure you see me."

With that, I hung up the phone, pressed the elevator button, and went up to the hotel rooftop.

After Julian hung up, he felt an inexplicable unease.

Just as he was about to call me again, the wedding car pulled up to the hotel entrance.

With a loud crash—

A figure plummeted from above, landing directly in front of his car.

Screams of horror erupted all around, and he slowly looked up, his pupils suddenly constricting—

Through the shattered car windshield, he saw my face.

Covered in blood, eyes wide open, unseeing.