The Man I Couldn’t Escape Chapter 03
“Lorelei!”
Natasha’s expression shifted in an instant.
“Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you hit me!”
Lorelei’s eyes bore into her. Her voice came out through clenched teeth, “I said don’t touch my kid.
“My child is not some prop for you two to flirt with!”
She turned away, ignoring Natasha’s shrill voice from outside the door.
In front of the fire basin, she gently placed some offerings inside.
The flames swayed quietly and, within moments, swallowed everything.
In the firelight, tears welled up and spilled from the corners of her eyes.
When the nurse came back, carrying a container of groceries, Natasha was already gone.
Lorelei’s lips stretched in a dry, self-mocking smile.
Whatever had just happened… she had no idea what was waiting for her next.
After the food was made, Lorelei forced down a couple of bites. She was about to head back to her room when Rayden’s call came through.
She waited a few seconds before answering, “What?”
His familiar voice came through, as gentle as ever, “Leila, I was in a bad mood a few days ago.
“My fault. Forgive me, okay?”
Lorelei’s knuckles went white around the phone.
He clearly didn’t love her, yet he could still act so convincingly.
“I’ve been away these past couple of days. Have you been taking your meds on time?”
Her heart clenched uncontrollably. She pushed down the urge to gag and steadied her voice. “You already hired a nurse for me.”
As if indulging her tantrum, Rayden spoke softly, “Good. I’ll send the driver to pick you up. Come keep me company at the office, alright?”
Lorelei was about to refuse when the driver pulled up.
She listened as he hung up on the other end.
After a moment of silence, she simply stood there, her eyes fixed on the floor.
***
The moment Lorelei pushed the office door open, Rayden strode toward her, yanked up her skirt, and without a word, moved his hand upward.
She raised her hand and pressed it against his chest. “I don’t want it.”
Rayden didn’t stop. He scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed.
He pulled out handcuffs from somewhere and locked her wrists together.
“Then let’s try something new. You’ll like it.”
“Rayden,” Lorelei suddenly stopped struggling, her voice rough with bitterness, “if we do this today… will my photos be trending tomorrow?”
She turned her head toward the red light blinking in the corner of the wall. She felt a sharp, piercing pain in her heart. “Or maybe I already am, right?”
So, this was the punishment waiting for her. One slap to Natasha’s face, and he wanted her ruined.
Rayden’s movements stopped.
He gently pushed away the bangs damp with sweat from her forehead, but his eyes were laced with mockery and contempt.
“Leila, who’s been filling your head with nonsense?
“Tell me, and I’ll handle it.”
Lorelei’s chest seized, pain washing over her.
She wanted to laugh, but the sound died in her throat.
“Handle it?
“Don’t you really know who it is?”
Before she could finish, Rayden suddenly forced her legs apart. The pain, without any warning, shot through every inch of Lorelei’s body.
Rayden drove into her hard. “Leila, what are you thinking about? You’re the only one I love.”
His tone sounded like he truly couldn’t live without her. “Honey, let me hear you. Come on, I wanna hear it.”
Lorelei stared at the hidden camera in the darkness. Her knuckles gripping the sheets went even whiter.
The wrenching pain in her chest was far worse than the pain in her body.
She clenched her teeth hard and made no sound.
Seeing that, Rayden pushed even harder.
“You’re mine. You were mine before, and you are now.
“Don’t even think about leaving.”
Lorelei’s spine went rigid.
Her fingertips trembled. A low laugh escaped her lips.
She suddenly understood why, every single time he said those words, he never called her by her name, because the person he was trying to keep … was never her.
The room gradually filled with heat, mist creeping across the windows.
After who knew how long, Rayden finally finished, satisfied.
Drenched in cold sweat, the tearing pain flooding through her entire body, Lorelei’s vision went black, and she lost consciousness completely.