Chapter 6
Eileen hadn’t slept all night. As soon as the sky began to lighten, she left the house.
Her child was suffering unspeakable torment–she couldn’t wait any longer.
She had to go to the police. She had to find her child.
But the moment she stepped outside, two men in black grabbed her and pulled a sack over her head.
When she opened her eyes again, she was hanging by her wrists in an abandoned warehouse, surrounded by dozens of menacing figures in black.
Paula emerged from behind them, her voice sweet but her eyes glinting with malice. “Ms. Greymoor, you’re awake?”
Eileen stared at her, wide–eyed in terror. “Paula, what are you doing?”
“What am I doing?” Paula twirled an iron rod in her hand, a wicked smile spreading across her face. “I’m here to pay you back for that slap last night, of course!”
She turned to the men in black. “Go on! Teach her a lesson! Mr. Swanton said leave her breathing.”
Eileen’s heart dropped. Was this Julius’s doing?
Was he really willing to have her killed just because she’d slapped Paula yesterday?
Chapter 6
She struggled desperately, disbelief etched across her face.
“No! Julius would never do this! Paula must be lying!” she told herself.
Paula sauntered up to her, grinning. “What’s wrong? You don’t believe Mr. Swanton ordered this?
“I’ll give you a chance–call him. If he answers, I’ll let you go. If he doesn’t… well, don’t blame me for what happens next.”
With that, she motioned for the men to lower Eileen to the ground.
With trembling hands, Eileen dialed Julius’s number.
It rang once, then was abruptly cut off.
Not giving up, she immediately dialed a second time, only to be hung up on again.
A third time.
A fourth.
Again and again, until the 99th call, when her phone finally died. And with it, her last shred of hope.
“So it really is him…” She thought to herself.
A bitter smile twisted Eileen’s lips as tears slid down her cheeks.
She barely had time to catch her breath before someone yanked her up by the hair.
The iron rod came whistling through the air.
Chapter 6
The first blow crashed into her skull, blood spurting instantly from her forehead.
The second slammed into her ribs and stomach, forcing a strangled gasp from her lips as her body doubled over.
The third swept into her knees–she could almost hear the bones shatter.
***
She lost track of time, lost count of the blows.
When it was finally over, Eileen lay crumpled on the ground, barely clinging to life. Blood and dirt pooled beneath her in a gruesome stain.
She forced a twisted smile. Her whole life had become a sick joke.
She’d believed that even if she and Julius could never be husband and wife, he would never truly hurt her.
But in the end, he was willing to see her dead for another woman.
With immense effort, she lifted her head, catching sight of Paula’s smug, triumphant smile. Pain and hatred stabbed through her–she wanted nothing more than to destroy these two monsters herself.
But she couldn’t. Her child was still waiting for her. She had to survive, no matter what, so she could rescue her child.
Paula’s voice rang out again. “String her up! If Mr. Swanton won’t kill her, let her rot here instead!”
Rough hands seized her, and in the next moment, she was hauled up and suspended from a beam.
The pain was blinding. The rope bit so deep into her arms that it nearly cut to the bone.
She dangled there like a rag doll, barely a spark of life left in her.
Paula stood a few meters away, her expression twisted with malice. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll divorce Mr. Swanton and disappear. Otherwise, things will only get worse for you.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Eileen’s vision blurred as Paula’s figure faded into the distance. Her head spun, and all she could hear was the ragged sound of her own breathing.
