6
402words
"I woke up,and you were gone—off with Claire!Your words were lies,all lies!"
"I lost my child,lost you—what's the point of living?"
I pulled out a prepared rope,showing neck marks."I wanted a hidden place to end it quietly,was it wrong?"
"But you—a hidden passage,keeping secrets.What's in there?Another woman?"
Relieved I wasn't seeing Luke,the look in Nathan's eyes softened with guilt.He held me,chin on my shoulder. "Don’t die,Sarah.Without my permission,you don't die."
"I wasn't staying with Claire.I was coming back to you."
"You haven't lost me.I'll never abandon you."
He kissed my tears and took my hand in his."Let's do something fun."
He led me back to the passage.
I gripped his hand tight,trembling from hatred.
I didn't want to see Luke like this,but I had no choice.
I prayed he hadn't recognized me.
Wait for me,Luke.I'll save you.
Nathan brought me to in front of the cage,handing me a whip.
He whispered,"Sarah,wanna see how to toy with a trapped beast?Whip him."
"His defiance is amusing."
My hands trembled.
I barely stopped myself from lashing Nathan's face.
I couldn't look at Luke.
One glance,and I fear my emotions would erupt.
I opened my mouth to refuse,but Luke spoke."Heh,Nathan,your new trick is having a women torturing me?"
He spat."You're pathetic."
Nathan,untroubled by what he said,pulled me close,chuckling."Why can't a woman torture you,Luke?"
"When your girlfriend Emily jumped into the sea,didn't you try to bite your tongue?"
"Tch,shame she can't see you like this,a beaten stray dog."
Luke,hearing my name,slammed the cage,lunging."Don’t you dare mention her name!"
I clenched my fists tight,breathing deeply to hold back tears.
Not a beaten stray dog.
My Luke is a hero.
I didn't whip him.
Red-eyed,I told Nathan I wanted to spare him for our future child's sake.
Mentioning a child softened Nathan.
He touched my face."Whatever my Sarah wants."
Luke had recognized me.
His pained expression,trembling fingers,and his gaze filled with sorrow confirmed it.
I couldn't stay.I tugged Nathan's sleeve."Let's go."
Leaving the passage,each step felt like the slowest,heaviest step in my life.
As days went ot,Nathan became more and more indifferent toward Claire.
He said he cared for her out of old times’ sake.
He said he truly loved me.
His men started calling me"ma’am".
It seemed,one day,he'd marry me.
Until Claire,red-eyed,dragging a suitcase,stopped us during a walk.
She said she was leaving for good.
