I stiffly looked over and saw Arsen walking in with a simple clothing bag in hand.

He didn't notice the terrible look on my face and excitedly waved the bag, saying, "Celine, I passed by a lingerie shop on my way back and thought this set would suit you. Try it on now, okay?"

The bag he held had the words "Atelier" printed on it. I froze when I saw it clearly.

All those outfits of mine had been brought back by Arsen and he always used the same lines, saying the clothes suited me, so he bought them for me to try.

And every time, I believed his words without question, never doubting him once.

But I had forgotten, if it was really by chance, why did the shopping bags always have the exact same brand logo? I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

Arsen, not getting a response, had the smile on his face fade and his gaze toward me deepened. I knew, he was angry again.

I opened my mouth, just about to say I didn't want to wear it, when he snapped impatiently, "What's with you today? You don't reply to messages and now you're acting mute? Can you react a little, don't make me feel like I'm acting a one-man show, alright?"

He continued, "Celine, sometimes I really wish you'd learn from Amelia, learn what a proper woman should be like."

His so-called 'proper woman' ran a risqué lingerie store, spoke in vulgar tones with a shy face, pretending to be demure?

I looked at the familiar yet strange Arsen in front of me, my heart aching as if a heavy object smashed into my chest, I could barely breathe.

Before I could speak, Arsen set the shopping bag on the sofa with a cold face and said sharply, "I'm going to shower. I hope you've changed into the clothes when I come out. Celine, don't disappoint me."

With that, he no longer spared me a single glance, removed his suit jacket and headed into the bathroom.

But before he was even gone for long, the phone he left on the coffee table lit up. On the screen was Amelia's name.

I had never cared to check his phone before, always giving him the utmost respect. Even when he offered his phone for me to look through, I always chose to trust him.

But now, almost involuntarily, I picked up his phone.

As soon as the screen unlocked, the messages between him and Amelia were right there in front of me.

[Arsen, you must get Celine to wear the new set from my store. Without her modeling pics, I can't launch the new items.]

My hand holding the phone clenched tightly.

What did she mean by that? What modeling? What product launch?

My brain felt like it exploded, blood rushing, my heart pounding wildly as if it would leap from my chest.

With trembling hands, I searched Amelia's store on multiple platforms.

Soon, I found her shop on a certain platform and there I was, posing in her outfits. Everywhere I looked, it was my familiar face, my familiar figure, my familiar clothing …

I stared, frozen in disbelief, as I scrolled through every photo. And under each product listing were filthy, vile comments.

"Is she a store employee? Can you ask how much she charges?"

"Damn, I've never seen such pale bunny girls before. If the outfit came with her, I'd buy out the whole store!"

"Dear shop owner, I beg you for her contact. I'll pay whatever it takes."

"Is she free? Let me take a look."

And beneath every comment, Amelia replied with a blushing emoji, saying, "DM me."

The more I scrolled down, the heavier my heart sank, like falling into a bottomless abyss.

I couldn't help but wonder, did Arsen know everything Amelia had done?

With trembling hands, I took out my phone and saved every photo and comment without missing a single detail.

Right after I did that, another message from Amelia popped up: [Arsen, don't forget to give Celine the thing I prepared.]

[If tonight's livestream goes well, your company's funding will be secured. Then you won't need Celine anymore, you can finally kick her out of the company openly.]

[Arsen, for our future, you must not go soft on her.]

What does she mean by that? Before I could think it through, Arsen came out from the shower.

Usually, after a shower, he never wore formal clothes. He'd always walk around in a loosely wrapped towel.

But today, he was dressed impeccably. If not for the water still dripping from his neatly cut hair, no one would've known he had just bathed.

Seeing I still hadn't changed into the clothes he brought, his eyes showed even deeper impatience.

But then, as if something came to mind, his expression suddenly softened. He walked into the kitchen and brought me a glass of water.

He said gently, "Celine, if you don't like the outfit, then don't wear it. I won't force you. You don't look well. I'm worried about you. Have some warm water, it'll help."

I didn't know why, but I had a terrible feeling in my gut. His gaze gave me chills. So I instinctively shook my head and refused.

Unexpectedly, Arsen's face darkened and he came over, gripping my jaw and forcing the water down my throat.

My face went pale instantly. The fear and dread in my chest suffocated me.

"Arsen, what are you doing?" I struggled to spit it out, but he clamped my mouth shut with all his strength.

Seeing the fear in my eyes, Arsen's face flashed with a moment of hesitation.

But he still didn't let go. He whispered by my ear, coaxing, "Celine, today will be over soon. Once it's done, we'll go get our marriage certificate tomorrow."

What? What does he mean by that?

I stared at him helplessly, wide-eyed, but couldn't break free from his grip.

And then, I suddenly felt my body burning uncontrollably. My sanity began to crack, piece by piece.

Noticing the change in my expression, Arsen finally loosened his hand.

As he stepped back, my weakened legs lost all strength and I collapsed onto the floor.

I clenched my teeth, a strange flush rising on my cheeks and whispered hoarsely, "What did you make me drink?"

Before he could answer, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Arsen glanced at me, then strode over to open the door.

The moment it opened, Amelia burst in excitedly, holding a camera rig. Behind her were several tall men wearing masks.

Even with their faces hidden, I recognized them immediately, they were Arsen's closest friends.

I didn't know what they were planning to do, but my heart panicked as I tried desperately to stay calm, biting my lip and inching backward.

Amelia noticed and sneered, "Celine, stop hiding. Everyone here's already seen everything. No matter how you hide, it's useless."

Arsen stood next to her with his hands in his pockets, indifferent and said coldly, "She can't resist now. Just be gentle, we don't want to bother the neighbors."

His eyes held none of the tenderness he used to show me.

Only coldness and unfamiliarity remained. As if the man I once knew never existed.

But clearly, the one who owed a mountain of debt, who was beaten black and blue and cried while begging me to save him, that was him!

My breathing quickened and hatred filled my eyes as I stared at him. My voice squeezed out from my throat, "Arsen, you're not even human!" My furious words rang out sharply.

But the filthy looks from the men before me only grew darker, like poisoned blades ready to carve me apart, "Celine, that's not right. How can Arsen not be human? He's our god! If not for him, how would we know that beneath your icy surface, you're this wild?"

"Yeah, Celine, relax. We're not trying to hurt you. We just wanna have some fun, that's all."

As they crept closer, panic surged within me. I dug my fingernails hard into my palm, trying to stay awake through the pain.

"Don't come near me! What you're doing is illegal!" Using what little strength I had left, I struggled to stand and kept backing away.

"So what? If I die and become a ghost, I'll die with pleasure!" With a crazed shout from one of them, the rest charged at me like beasts unleashed from a cage.

In that critical moment, I caught sight of the open balcony window out of the corner of my eye.

Dodging their grasp, I used every last ounce of energy I had and bolted toward the balcony.

Looking down at the ground below and the crowd bustling past, a wave of sorrow surged within me.

As I stepped up onto the balcony and jumped, tears streamed down my face like broken pearls.

Mom, Dad … if I survive this, I promise I'll listen to you from now on. I'll never leave your side again.

I shut my eyes in despair as twenty-some years of memories flashed before me like a movie reel.

But then, I seemed to hear Arsen's anguished voice calling out, "Celine, don't …!"

I opened my eyes and met his deep, fearful black gaze. Arsen … so you do know fear.

The moment my body fell, I instantly lost all my consciousness ...

***

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a hospital bed.

The pain all over my body reminded me clearly of what had happened before I passed out.

Staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, tears welled up in my eyes and a broken sob rose from my throat.

I pleaded with the nurse beside me, who was changing my bandages, to bring me my phone.

The moment she handed it over, I took it with my uninjured left hand and called my mom, not noticing the flicker of disgust that flashed in the nurse's eyes.

I choked out, "Mom, can you come get me? I don't want to stay here anymore."

My mom didn't reply right away. She was silent for a long while, then finally answered with a trembling voice, "Don't worry, Celine. Mom will make the ones who hurt you pay the price. I won't let them off easily."

I softly said okay and ended the call, just in time to hear the nurse mutter beside me, "Doing disgusting things and still crying to your family? If I were you, I'd have jumped to my death already."

I pretended not to hear her and opened my phone.

That's when I saw it, someone had posted all those livestream videos online.

In the footage, Arsen's face had been blurred, but mine … mine was fully exposed to the camera.

I didn't dare stay in the hospital any longer. I didn't want to hear those malicious whispers and pointing fingers, so I flee, still wearing my hospital gown, struggling with every step.

Luckily, my old apartment was on the second floor. Only my right leg is seriously injured, the rest are just minor scrapes.

Meanwhile, Arsen returns to the hospital with my test results, face dark as he stares at the empty hospital bed.

Amelia had followed him, intending to mock me, but when she sees his gloomy expression, she trembles and stays silent.

After a while, a doctor in a white coat runs in, panting, "Mr. Becker, you took the wrong test results. These are Miss Jameson's. Not only did she suffer a comminuted fracture in her right leg, she also had a miscarriage …"