I had been trapped in Ethan's room for days.

He played with my phone and had the nerve to delete my video account.

I rarely lost my temper at Ethan.

"Ethan, how dare you delete my account!"

"You enjoy dancing for those men that much?" he retorted coldly.

He seized my neck and shoved me forcefully onto the bed.

His large hand fully encircled my throat.

I felt my breath grow shallow, my face flush, vision blurring.

Just before I lost consciousness, he finally released his grip.

Ethan tenderly caressed my bruised neck, reverently kissing the marks.

A stark contrast to his earlier brutality.

I shrank back in fear, terrified he might snap again.

Sensing my terror, he soothed.

"Don't be afraid, I'll make it up to you."

"Okay..." I replied.

He unbound my chains.

They had left deep, varied welts on my wrists.

He kissed my wounds with tenderness, but I felt only revulsion.

"Darling, I want to see you dance," he commanded.

With no room to resist, I silently withdrew my wrist and complied with his demand.

Normally, a mask would have helped, but now I wore only a delicate white silk robe.

Suppressing shame, I danced before him.

Ethan's hungry gaze devoured my every inch, branding me with his eyes.

Before the song ended, a phone rang.

I had no friends, kept to myself.

This first call since my captivity, I knew who it was!

An unknown number flashed.

"Don't answer!" I urged.

But Ethan had already picked up.

"Where've you been, you useless brat? No money in a week! Want me dead? I'll take your sister too!" My mother's voice screeched.

Then a child's cry, "Sis, help! It hurts!"

I clenched fists, forcing back tears.

My father cheated, my gambling-addicted mother.

I just wanted to escape with my sister.

But my meager salary barely sustained us.

I became a borderline streamer, quick money, especially with wealthy patron Ethan.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "How much do you owe?"

"Who are you? No wonder that brat hasn't called—found someone! Just over 3 million..." Mother trailed off.

Before she finished, Ethan had located her account and transferred the funds.

Without waiting, he hung up.

Ethan kissed my tears away.

"Stay by me, no one will hurt you again."

Perhaps pitying my tragic life, he eased my restrictions.

Yet I still couldn't leave the villa.

I approached him. "Mr. Brown, I want to go out."

His glasses hid curious eyes.

Long fingers slid down my neck.

"Please me," he said.

Begging Ethan, I knelt before him, no other choice.

Finally, I got my wish.

My willingness must have thrilled him in a novel way.

He planned a month abroad, arranged security to take me to the city's swankiest mall.

In the designer dress he'd bought, flanked by sunglassed guards, I entered a store, hoping to borrow a phone.

And there, unexpectedly, was an uninvited guest.

It was Mason Taylor, my first love from college!

I'd thought I'd never see him again.

I clamped down hard on my lip, hoping this was my one shot to escape Ethan's clutches.

I briskly walked past Mason, praying he'd take the bait.

"Help me."

In a whisper, I pleaded.

Gambling everything on his response.

Miraculously, my risky move paid off.

Mason and I slipped into a store, him trailing behind.

The bodyguards relaxed, lulled by my lack of phone.

Mason yanked me into a fitting room.

This was my salvation.

"I'm trapped by Ethan. Can you get me out of here?" I begged.

Without prying, he simply said, "Wait."

He found a clerk to sneak us out through the staff exit.

Rushing through the parking garage, I feared being dragged back any second.

The moment I sat in the car, Mason leaned in close, his gaze turning sinister.

His bony fingers traced the marks on my neck.

"From Ethan?"

I was stunned that Mason knew!

But realistically, Ethan was the only one in this city with the clout to pull strings like this.

I nodded, then spotted the bodyguards sprinting towards us.

"We have to go, now!" I cried, clutching his arm.

"Beg me," he said calmly, buckling my seatbelt.

With no choice, I swallowed my pride.

"Mason, please. Save me."

He seemed delighted by my submission. "Zoe Smith, you're cutest when you obey."

I shrank back, gripped by dual terrors.

I couldn't possibly misinterpret Mason's intentions.

But I knew all too well what would happen if Ethan took me back.

The bodyguards neared as Mason's eyes flashed with malice.

He floored it, ramming them.

I stared in horror as he smiled, savoring the carnage.

Crimson blood splattered against the car window.

I stared in horror and turned to Mason.

He seemed unfazed, even wearing a satisfied smirk.

What a madman!

He hadn't changed at all!

We pulled up to a high-security building.

It was the apartment I used to share with Mason.

Jumping from one cage to another.

"Behave, and I won't restrict you. Consider yourself forgiven."

He purred, stroking my neck.

Mason seemed especially fond of my neck.

His fingers traced me like a prized possession.

Yet in the next moment, he would ruin it.

Mason gripped my shoulders in irritation, repeatedly biting into the red marks.

He was like a wild animal.

Only when he was satisfied that his marks covered the previous ones did he finally let go.

He licked the blood, whispering, "Scream if it hurts."

Having been with him for a year, I knew all of Mason's preferences by heart.

Obedience was my only option.

I mirrored his actions, biting into his shoulder and letting out a muffled sob.

Mason and I had been college sweethearts.

Soon I realized any man who touched me would be injured the next day.

My phone was synced to his, demanding 24/7 contact.

He'd threatened to keep me from my sister forever if I left.

I was terrified.

But there was hope - his mother would never accept a woman like me.

With her help, Mason was sent abroad. I escaped him.

Never imagined I'd see him again.

Scrolling his old tracking phone, I sat in the apartment.

He hugged me, laughing, "Mom's in the hospital. She can't help you now."

I averted my eyes guiltily.

He'd known all along.

But his mother was healthy.

She couldn't have fallen ill unless...

I swallowed my fear. "My bag's at the office. Can I get it? I won't run."

"Ethan's office?"

"He doesn't know me! I won't involve him!"

Mason's eyes glinted dangerously.

"Don't disappoint me."

In the dark, his gaze shone with predatory hunger - a viper's.