Chapter 2

Later, things indeed unfolded as he had wished.

He poured all his efforts into seizing the Thomson family's assets.

He sent my father to prison and subjected me to endless humiliation.

Then one day, I found myself cornered in an alley.

Terrified, I dialed his number. I screamed for help, only to be met with his cold response:

"Lindsey, what game are you playing now? If you want to die, do it far away from me."

So, I disappeared from his sight, struggling desperately in the mud and filth, living a life worse than that of a stray dog.

I never thought he would come looking for me after all.

......

"Lindsey, what's happened to you?" He seemed startled by my reaction.

In a few strides, he embraced me, not caring that I might soil his expensive suit.

People heard the commotion and gathered around to watch, some even kindly advising him, "Sir, you'd better stay away from this mute. She's not quite right in the head."

"Mute? Not right in the head?" he asked incredulously.

“Yes, she’s been around here for years, always acting like this.”

I trembled even more violently.

Carter hesitated no longer.

He scooped me up and carried me to his car.

I stared in terror, my body rigid, not daring to struggle. He dropped me onto the back seat.

A foul odor gradually filled the car. I pressed myself against the door, too ashamed to lift my head.

The dampness of my pants made me even more frightened.

In the past, Carter had never allowed me to touch his things.

Now, I had dirtied both his clothes and his car.

He must be furious.

I was terrified of his negative emotions.

This time, however, Carter said nothing. He simply started the car in silence.

He took me to the hospital for a series of tests. The initial diagnosis was a stress-related disorder.

Holding the report, he sighed deeply. "Lindsey, what on earth have you been through all these years?"

I remained silent and uncooperative. With no other option, he had to take me home. But for me now, that luxurious villa was no longer home; it was a cold prison.

—

The villa he brought me to was our wedding gift from my father. It was also where Carter's father had taken his own life.

Overwhelming fear gripped me like a giant hand around my throat. It felt as if it could kill me at any moment.

Carter looked at me with a complex expression, hatred barely concealed in his eyes. "Lindsey, don't think this is enough to atone for your sins. It's not nearly enough."

He put his work on hold to personally attend to my daily needs.

Everything here remained unchanged.

The only thing that had changed was Carter's attitude toward me.

A skilled hunter never stoops to attacking weak prey. I understood in my heart that his patience with me was only temporary, just like before.

His kindness always came at a price.

But now, I couldn't afford to pay that price.

My nerves were constantly on edge, never daring to relax. I was afraid to eat, even to sleep in the bed—because his father had died in this very room.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the image of his father lying in a pool of blood.

Carter didn't try to persuade me. He simply repeated the routine of bringing and removing meals each day.

After several days, I finally couldn't bear it anymore. My vision kept blurring, and I felt nauseous from hunger and exhaustion.

At last, supporting myself on weak limbs, I devoured the food ravenously.

Perhaps it had been too long since I'd eaten such delicious food. I ate too quickly, choking several times.

After eating my fill, I curled up on the floor and slept.

When Carter came in again, he saw the empty plates I had licked clean. He sneered, “I knew it. Someone like you would never starve yourself to death.”

I huddled in the corner, hugging my knees to my chest, head bowed in silence.