I had a miscarriage after a car accident. The woman who hit me was Liam Blackwood’s personal assistant. I wanted to call the police, but for the first time ever, Liam used his influence to suppress the incident. No one would take my report. "She's just a novice driver, it wasn't intentional. Don't be so cruel!" He frowned, his gaze sweeping over my lower body with a look of disgust. "You're not even wearing a pad? That's disgusting! Get home now, don't embarrass me!" The next day, Liam walked in with his pregnant assistant, Sienna. He sneered when he saw my packed bags. "Running away again? Who are you trying to impress? Don't come crawling back like a lapdog in a few days, like before!" He kicked my luggage out the door, then carried Sienna inside. The bed creaked loudly. I didn't argue or fuss. I just packed my remaining things calmly and signed the divorce papers. He didn’t know this time, it was for real. My brother would be here to pick me up in three days. Moans from the next bedroom echoed through the house for most of the night. As if I didn’t hear them, I meticulously folded my clothes one by one into my suitcase. The next moment, my bedroom door was kicked open. Liam’s face was grim. He slapped me across the face, then dragged me into the master bedroom. "Chloe Peterson, I wondered why you were so well-behaved today, no arguing, no fuss. Turns out you were waiting for me here, you venomous snake!" My wrist was twisted into an unnatural angle, and I heard a sickening pop from my shoulder. He’d dislocated my arm. I gasped, my face instantly turning pale, cold sweat beading on my forehead. Liam watched my pathetic state, his expression unchanged, a cold disdain in his eyes. "Stop faking it. It's really sickening." Sienna stumbled dramatically into his arms, revealing her bare back. There was a tiny red speck there, smaller than a mosquito bite. "It's okay, Mr. Blackwood, I'm sure she didn't mean to leave a needle on the bed…" Liam’s voice turned cold as he questioned me. "Didn't I tell you not to touch her?" I gave a self-deprecating laugh. How could I dare touch Sienna? The last time I went to Liam’s office to bring him lunch, Sienna spilled the soup on herself. When Liam returned, he insisted I had deliberately splashed it on her. The result was humiliating: I had to kneel before Sienna in front of everyone in the office and slap myself to apologize to her. I took a deep breath, forcing down the turmoil in my heart. "I didn't know you were bringing her back today. Why would I put a needle on the bed beforehand?" Liam released me with a disgusted shove, like throwing away trash, sending me sprawling to the marble floor. My knees hit the hard surface, bruising and swelling instantly. Liam’s expression remained unchanged, his brow furrowed in annoyance. "You're still defiant, even facing death. I told Sienna to text you this afternoon that we'd be back tonight, for you to prepare dinner." At his words, I raised my eyes to Sienna. My chat history with Sienna contained nothing but her provocations. My phone was filled with selfies she’d sent of her and Liam in bed: in his office, on my very own bed, even in Liam’s prized sports car. Once, I’d sat in the passenger seat of his sports car without his permission. He’d been so furious, claiming I’d "dirtied" his car, that he’d thrown me out on the highway, making me walk over twenty miles barefoot back home. Yet, Sienna’s bodily fluids and torn lingerie on that same passenger seat didn't seem to bother him at all. Sienna seemed startled by my emotionless gaze, shrinking into Liam’s arms, trembling. "Mr. Blackwood, I shouldn't have come here to bother you two…" Liam scoffed, pulling her tighter. "You make a mistake, you face the consequences, Chloe Peterson. I've spoiled you for too long." Liam had someone bring a box of safety pins. He painstakingly stuck them upright into the mattress. "You'll sleep here tonight." "Get some rope. Tie her up." The bodyguards tied me up, binding me tightly to the bed. The sharp pins poked into my flesh from behind, like invisible beasts gnawing at me. The pain made my limbs spasm. Liam gave me a fleeting glance, dismissing it as dramatics. He turned, gently kissing the small wound on Sienna's back. "Does it hurt?" He picked Sienna up tenderly, carrying her out. Before leaving, he gave the bodyguard a warning look. "If you go soft and untie her, you'll be the one lying there tomorrow." I closed my eyes, a tear escaping. Fine. Two more days, and I’d be gone from this place. When I woke up, the doctor had already treated the wounds on my back. Liam sat on the chair by the bed, a rare hint of gentleness in his expression. "Awake?" I turned my head away, unwilling to engage with him. Soon, I sensed something was wrong. I struggled to sit up, reaching a hand to my head. Liam pressed down on my IV arm. "Don't move." "I shaved all your hair off." My voice trembled. "What did you say?" My phone screen, acting as a mirror, showed my reflection: my head was completely bald, not a single strand left. Liam pressed his lips together, a rare note of guilt in his voice. "Sienna has been losing a lot of hair since she got pregnant. It’s been very severe." "She wanted a hair transplant, but she didn’t like the low-quality hair. She just wanted a little bit of yours. It’ll grow back." I yanked out the IV needle. Blood streamed down my hand, staining the pillow. I threw it fiercely at him. "How dare you do that to me?!" Sienna walked in through the doorway, grinning, swinging a shiny lock of black hair in her hand. "Ms. Peterson, your hair is really well-maintained. I love it." Liam quickly went to her, embracing her. "As long as you like it." He gave me a wary look, as if afraid I’d go crazy and hurt Sienna. "Alright, stop acting like you’re dying. Sienna is pregnant; what's wrong with you being considerate of her?" "I need to take her for a few more check-ups. Go home and make some chicken soup and bring it over." The doctor, who had just come to check on me, overheard him and chimed in. "Mr. Blackwood, her wounds on her back haven't scabbed over, and she lost a lot of blood last night. She needs rest…" But Liam seemed not to hear, or perhaps, didn't care. He continued to instruct me coldly, "What are you waiting for? Go home and cook. Sienna doesn't like greasy food, so don't make the soup too oily." Seeing me quietly leave without a fuss, a subtle wave of displeasure crossed Liam’s mind. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask why I wasn't making a scene this time, but then remembered that this was exactly what he wanted, and closed his mouth again. On the way home, halfway there. "Bang!" A truck collided head-on with my car. The next second, I felt my insides shift, and then I lost consciousness. When I woke up again, I was tied up in a dilapidated warehouse. A kidnapper, with a sinister face, was calling Liam for a ransom. Liam’s disgusted voice came from the other end of the line. "Ransom? Tell her to go to hell." "Chloe Peterson, all I asked was for you to go home and cook. And you orchestrated this charade with someone? You're really calculating every angle. If that’s the case, you might as well die out there!" The kidnapper tutted, then hung up. "Looks like Sienna was right. You really do have a cheap life; you got hit by a car like that and still didn't die." "Your husband is completely wrapped around her finger. You're pathetic." He finished, then let out a lewd laugh, his eyes raking over my body before lunging at me. Thankfully, at the last second, I managed to loosen my ropes and kick him hard in the groin. He grabbed me, slapping me across the face repeatedly. "You little bitch! Still trying to run?! Your husband doesn't even want you, and I'm offering you a consolation, yet you’re ungrateful!" Blood splattered from my mouth, but he still wouldn't stop. After slapping me for what felt like the hundredth time, the kidnapper seemed satisfied and started to unbuckle his pants. I clenched my fists, then, with all my might, I slammed my phone into his head and bolted out. When I returned to the Blackwood mansion, my shoes were gone, my feet were covered in blood, and my clothes were torn. I knocked on the door for ten minutes, but no one answered. It was late autumn, and the night temperature was dropping sharply. I couldn't stand the cold, and my legs began to tremble. Finally, I couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground. When a person is weak, their hearing becomes strangely acute. Through the door, Liam’s cold voice drifted out. "Doesn't she love to put on a show? Let her act as much as she wants! No one opens the door for her today!" Sienna giggled, telling him to stop. Liam’s voice suddenly softened. "Which one do you want to eat? I'll feed you." I was left outside the door all night. Frost climbed onto my eyelashes, and my exposed hands and feet turned blue and purple with cold. The next morning, when the housekeeper opened the door, my consciousness was already fading. My sleeves were stained with dried blood, and my wounds were festering. Liam glanced at me indifferently, then instructed the housekeeper to drag me inside. "Sienna can't stand the smell of blood. Take her to the bathroom and hose her down." The housekeeper, always watching Liam's mood, showed no mercy. She roughly dragged me, threw me directly into the bathroom, tore off my clothes, and doused me with cold water. I bit my lower lip until it bled, enduring the pain, not uttering a sound. After being cleaned up, Liam waited in the living room. Seeing my bloodless face, Liam's expression softened slightly. He had someone help me to the dining table. Sienna pouted, a little displeased, complaining that her baby wanted durian. Liam spoke softly, coaxing her, a gentle curve unconsciously forming on his lips. "No, the doctor said you need to control your sugar intake. Be good, listen to me." He spared a moment to glance at me, head bowed, eating quietly, and picked up a chopstick full of shrimp and egg omelet for my bowl. I nudged my bowl away, not accepting it. The shrimp and egg omelet fell onto the table. Liam slammed his chopsticks down, his face livid. "How long are you going to keep this up?!" I quietly drank the hot porridge in my hand, my voice calm. "I'm allergic to shrimp. Don't you remember?" Liam’s face visibly darkened. He raised his hand and swept my bowl and chopsticks off the table. The glass bowl and chopsticks shattered on the floor, and a shard cut my cheek. An ugly gash marred my face, but I merely wiped away the flowing blood indifferently and stood to leave. Liam frowned, not understanding why I wasn't trying to charm him. When I used to love him, I was most concerned with my appearance and most afraid of pain. Every time I was hurt, I would flirt and fuss for ages just to get a glance from him. Displeasure flickered in his eyes. He deliberately lifted Sienna's chin and kissed her in front of me. My phone suddenly rang. I answered. The voice on the other end was cool, yet revealed a hint of urgency. "Your ticket for tomorrow is booked. If he won't agree to the divorce, leave everything to me. Don't be afraid." Liam saw the unconscious smile that appeared on my face when I answered the call, and he froze, a pang of jealousy crossing his heart. He pushed Sienna away, testing me, "Who was that?" I ended the call, feeling annoyed, and turned to walk away. He grabbed my wrist, this time with more anger. "I asked you, which man?!" I shook off his hand and stepped back. "My brother." He visibly sighed in relief but still seemed dissatisfied. "He's just an adoptive brother, after all. Keep your distance from him in the future." Keep my distance? But from now on, we’ll be closer than ever. I didn't want to argue with him, so I gave a perfunctory grunt and returned to my room. On my last day, Liam woke me up early. He said he wanted to see the horse ranch I owned. Upon arriving at the ranch, Sienna’s eyes flashed with jealousy and resentment. She gracefully linked her arm through Liam's, leaning in close, but speaking loud enough for me to hear. "I hear riding a horse is very exciting, Mr. Blackwood. It's been over three months now, so it’s safe~ Let's have some fun~" Liam’s chest rose and fell sharply, his breathing becoming ragged. His gaze on Sienna grew heated. He coughed twice, then waved me away dismissively, saying I was an eyesore. He wanted me to leave, yet for some reason, he felt a flicker of discomfort, subtly observing my reaction. I left with an expressionless face. Liam clutched his chest, suddenly feeling a dull ache. I went to see the manager and settled some matters. I had already transferred ownership of the ranch last month. Coming here today was just to reassure the staff who had followed me. After this, I wouldn’t see them again. My flight was in three hours, and the car sent to pick me up was already outside. My steps were light, and I walked out with a smile. As I neared the entrance, two figures suddenly darted out. I was forcibly dragged back inside. In the ranch's private room, Liam walked up to me, his face dark, and kicked me hard in the chest. He didn't hold back. The kick was so painful I couldn’t even speak. Liam’s sharp, cold eyes pierced me like knives, as if he wanted to carve a piece of flesh from my body. "Chloe Peterson, I really underestimated you. You'd even resort to such tactics? Aren't you afraid of divine retribution?" "Sienna has a baby in her belly, and you actually ordered that damn horse to throw her off!" Sienna leaned on the sofa, clutching her stomach and crying out in pain. Liam’s eyes were red, and he kissed her hair. "Just hold on, the doctor will be here soon." When Liam turned to look at me, Sienna provocatively stuck out her tongue. I coughed up two mouthfuls of blood, losing even the desire to explain. I asked indifferently, "So, what do you want to do?" Liam's lips curled into a cold sneer. Seeing the murderous intent in his eyes, a cold sweat broke out on my back. My feet felt icy, and a sudden, ominous premonition washed over me. "What did you do to Midnight?!" Midnight was a Quarter Horse, gentle by nature, and I'd raised her since she was a foal. She always obeyed me and had never hurt anyone. It was precisely because of her gentle nature that I had instructed my staff to lead her out for Liam and Sienna to use. Liam’s expression grew even colder, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. "You'll see, won't you?" His men tied me up and took me to the riding arena. Seeing Midnight lying in a pool of blood, twitching uncontrollably, my mind felt like it had been hit by a sledgehammer. I couldn't hear anything else. Every nerve felt like it was on fire, and I lost all reason. "Are you insane?! Liam Blackwood! You know Midnight's temperament! You've ridden her so many times! How could she intentionally throw someone off?!" Liam froze, his expression wavering slightly. The next second, Sienna's moans came from the doorway. "Mr. Blackwood... it hurts so much... our baby!" Liam gritted his teeth, glared at me fiercely, and then rushed inside without hesitation. "But that horse listens to you most. If it was your command, would it not obey?" "Tie her to the wildest horse and drag her for ten laps!" The wild horse was brought out. The bodyguards threw me to the ground, tying the other end of the rope to the horse. A bodyguard took out an iron needle and forcefully jabbed it into the horse's flank. "I'm sorry, Madam, Mr. Blackwood ordered this." The wild horse bolted like crazy, crashing around the arena. My entire body was dragged along the ground, my knees, scalp, and wrists scraping open, leaving winding rivers of blood that painted a gruesome picture on the arena floor. As the pain reached a certain point, I became numb. The whole world spun before my eyes, and every part of my body felt like it was being torn apart by knives. Before I lost consciousness, I saw Liam carefully carrying Sienna into an ambulance. When I woke up, it was deep into the night, and I had already missed my flight. I lay in the lounge and dialed an overseas number. "Ethan, I'm sorry, I missed it…" The man didn't blame me. He arranged a private jet for me. Liam called me, but I didn't answer. Immediately after, I received over a dozen warning texts from him.
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