Chapter 2

Rachel picked the crucifix up, her face grimacing.

“I see you learned beforehand of Mr. Sim’s beliefs.”

I reached out to grab the crucifix. “Give it back! I had it blessed for Grandpa!”

Rachel tightened her grip over my neck and looked at me in disdain. “Grandpa? Are you still keeping up with the act?

“Kneel and beg me. I might just be generous enough to return this to you.”

I sunk to the ground, gasping for air. I disregarded the gripping pain in my lungs and groveled at her feet. “Please, I beg you. Please give it back. The crucifix is important to me.”

Rachel and the other household staff member in the back took delight in my humbling. She plucked my chin with her toes. “That’s not a lot of begging. Bark for me. Since you’re such a lapdog, act like one and convince me.”

I had never been so humiliated.

Furious, I snapped a look at her.

“Grandpa will make you pay for what you’re doing to me, Rachel.”

Rachel was in stitches. It was as if she had heard the joke of the century.

“Well, show me. Show me how he is going to make me pay.”

At the wave of her arm, the other household staff members charged toward me.

“Take her to the usual spot.”

Rachel smirked at my rage and hurled the crucifix away, dumping the sacred accessory into a nearby river.

I was dragged across the floor to a basement.

The cold, damp room gave off a creepy sense of dread. A single, bare bulb on the wall was the single source of light.

They threw me to the ground, and I landed hard on my elbow, a sharp pain shooting through my arm.

“Argh!” I cried out in agony. I removed my hand from my elbow to find my palm covered in blood.

It was not a severe injury, but the bleeding was massive.

My face paled.

The grimy residue on my skin was a reminder of the horrors that had happened in the basement.

Rachel descended the steps.

I lunged forward. “I’m Chastity Sims, Terry’s granddaughter. Let me go, or face the consequences.”

Rachel paused for a minute, her eyes scanning me.

Just when I thought I had sent the right message, Rachel broke into a smile.

“Hahaha! Of all the people you impersonate, why must you mimic Ms. Sims?”

She kicked me to the side, the sturdy sole of her shoes crushing the back of my hand.

“We are only expecting Ms. Sims tonight. She’s still in Libestar right now. Do you take me for a fool?”

I was taken aback.

The plan was to give Terry a surprise. For the plan to work, I lied about the surgery being days later.

Who would’ve thought the little white lie would put an end to my life?

The household staff member behind Rachel held me in contempt. “Oh, the minx is experienced in role-playing for her age. She’s into the whole grandfather thing.”

Rachel narrowed her eyes.

“Well, I’m sure she won’t mind a bit of toys, then.”

Rachel lifted the cloth from the table in the back, revealing various torture devices.

My blood ran cold.

“No… Let me go!”

Many hands tore apart my clothes, ripping my dress to shreds. I was vulnerable to the elements.

I put up a fight. “I’m Chastity! Are you working for my family or her?”

An intrusive hand reached out and yanked my undergarment away.

“Mr. Sims trusts Rachel the most. Who do you think you are? Don’t put yourself on the same level as Rachel.”

I curled up on the floor, sobbing as fear and helplessness overwhelmed me.

One staff member exclaimed, “She has a surgical cut on her chest.

Rachel drew close and examined the cut on my chest.

I rushed back right after the surgery to make it to Terry’s birthday celebration on time.

The wound, tore open from the struggle, throbbed and bled.

“Didn’t you say that Ms. Sims just had heart surgery, Rachel? Maybe she’s—”

“Smack!” Rachel slapped the staff member.

“Idiot! No one is closer to Mr. Sims than I am. I would know if Ms. Sims is returning ahead of time.”

She looked at me with disdain.

“You sure are pulling all the stops, even faking the surgical wound.”

The crimson blood highlighted my translucent skin.

Rachel’s malicious eyes fell on me, and her jealousy reared its ugly head.

“You must have seduced Mr. Sims with your assets.”

Rachel got up and grabbed a bottle from the table of torture devices.

Fear gripped me as I realized what it could be. I crawled backward desperately but was grabbed by the hair and pulled back in place.

“In that case, I’ll destroy you. We’ll see if Mr. Sims will still be interested in you without your beautiful skin.”

I hugged myself and shouted in fear and rage, “Don’t you dare! Grandpa will make you regret it!”

Ignoring my pleas, Rachel removed the bottle cap with a smile and poured the liquid all over me.

She took her time in getting the acid on every inch of my skin.

As my skin rotted, I lost consciousness from the burning pain. However, immense agony quickly startled me awake.