My husband's childhood sweetheart accidentally fell into the water. After being rescued, she insisted I pushed her. My husband was furious and pressed me into the swimming pool, causing me to suffer severe oxygen deprivation that damaged my brain.

He grabbed my hair and scolded me, “Because you scared Avilla into a relapse of her depression, you must kneel and apologize to her. Otherwise, I won't let you off.”

I stared blankly at him, then suddenly chuckled out loud. “Playing in the water? I love playing with water the most.”

His eyes were filled with anger. He decided that I would never repent, so he tied me to the electric shock stool and kept stopping all night.

With each shock, he demanded, “Do you admit your mistake?”

The pain nearly shattered my mind before I stammered out the words, “I was wrong.”

Only then did Peter Rodriguez deem me satisfied and release me. He stayed by Avilla Ledoyen’s side day and night for three days straight, tending to her relapse. Meanwhile, I was maliciously kidnapped and shipped to a slave auction cruise ship on the high seas.

Three days later, seeking to distract Avilla, he brought her aboard that very tanker. But upon seeing me led to the auction hall's center as the final item, he seemed unfazed, while I lost my mind.

——

The iron chain around my neck was heavy, crushing my breath with each pained gasp. I whimpered uncomfortably, trying to beg the man before me to spare me.

But when I opened my mouth, it felt hollow and empty. No words came out.

“This face is truly top-tier and the body is soft too. Unfortunately, I'm not good at this fool's mouth, otherwise I'll keep it to myself.”

The man's voice came from above my head. I couldn't even raise my head, so I could only stare at his feet.

“Boss, since she's going to be sold anyway. Can't we have a few rounds of fun? I've never seen a body this good in all my years.”

Was he complimenting my body? I was stunned for a moment and laughed out loud again. Of course, I knew I had a good figure, because it was Peter's favorite thing about me.

Every night, he would toss me around and tease me several times before finally letting me rest. The man's body suddenly pressed down on mine, but my mind was filled only with Peter.

My body burned hot, throbbing with pain, because it was utterly unlike any sensation I'd known before. Peter was fierce, but he had never treated me this brutally.

My mouth opened and I began to wail desperately. But the force on my body only intensified.

“Enough! Don't ruin her. We still need her to make our fortune. Mr. Rodriguez will be here tonight too. So, look at her carefully and never make any mistakes.”

Hearing the words “Mr. Rodriguez”, I suddenly raised my head and smashed my head hard on the chain. The pain made my vision go black.

Ignoring the agony, I broke into a joyful smile. Peter was coming too! He was coming to save me, right?

I knew that he still had me in his heart, that he still loved me and that, even if he were still angry with me, he would come to save me if I were in danger. As I smiled, tears welled up in my eyes.

The man on top of me climbed off, clearly unsatisfied. I immediately scurried back into the corner. I wanted to tell them that if they bullied me like this, Peter wouldn't let them off when he arrived.

My husband would definitely stand up for me. But my mouth wouldn't form the words. I could only glare at them with my eyes.

They didn't bully me anymore and had someone take me to wash up and get dressed. I was overjoyed. Freshly washed and beautifully dressed to meet Peter, perhaps he wouldn't be angry with me anymore, wouldn't punish me further.

My heart burned warmly. I knew this was the feeling of happiness. As night fell, I slipped into a lovely dress and was escorted to the backstage area.

When I heard the lively voices coming from the front, I pulled the cage and looked out through the curtain desperately, trying my best to search for his figure.

My gaze suddenly froze. I locked onto the man wearing a fox mask, seated right in the center of the audience. I have loved him for ten years. Even without seeing his face, I wouldn't mistake him. 

He really came to rescue me and I was so happy. I suddenly reached out my hand, wanted to call him and told him I was here.

The chains clinked together, making a pleasant sound. My joy lasted less than half a moment before I saw the man in the fox mask gently take the hand of the girl beside him, wearing a rabbit mask.

I was so sad. I knew this was jealousy. As soon as this feeling rose, the biting cold fear suddenly penetrated into my mind. I instinctively knelt on the ground, my mouth wide open. 

My throat, unable to make a sound, repeated over and over, “I won't dare to feel jealous anymore. I was wrong. I won't dare to feel jealous anymore.”

Just as tears were about to fall, I was grabbed by a strange man. “Want another beating? Your makeup's already done. If you cry and smudge it, no one will want you. Your turn's coming up soon. Don't screw this up.”

I bit my lip hard. My gaze drifted back to Peter in the audience. I knew I couldn't cry. If my makeup smudged, I wouldn't be pretty anymore and Peter wouldn't like me. I forced myself to endure the injustice welling up inside, but the pain only grew stronger.

In the audience, Peter was wearing a fox mask. He carefully studied the hands of the girl beside him. My heart felt heavy, yet my mind was filled only with memories of how he once loved me.

When we first met, I was the worst-performing bartender in the bar, while he was undoubtedly the most prestigious VIP patron in the establishment.

I would never have been assigned to serve in his private room. Yet, after a chance encounter in the elevator, he pointed at me and demanded of me.

After that day, he brought me directly to his home, claiming me night after night. He even defied his family's objections, insisting on marrying me.

Those days felt like a dream. Others laughed at him and questioned him, but he didn't care. He spent a lot of money to hold a royal wedding.

After getting married, his love for me only deepened. Every day and night, he couldn't bear to leave my side. How could he have stopped loving me?

My gaze fell on the woman beside him, wearing a rabbit mask. Ever since she appeared, Peter seemed to have forgotten me. Her presence completely stole his heart.

I asked someone else about her. Her name was Avilla Ledoyen. She was Peter's childhood sweetheart and the pretty woman he once loved but could never have.

Back then, I didn't think much of it. Peter and I had been married for five years. He had spoiled me rotten, giving me an overwhelming sense of security.

I refused to believe he could stop loving me. A week ago, Avilla accidentally slipped and fell into the pool. 

I saw it happen and rushed to save her, but stumbled and crashed onto the poolside. Before I could react, Peter had already lunged forward.

Just as I exhaled in relief, the rescued Avilla trembled. Her voice choked with tears as she pointed at me.

“It was her! She deliberately pushed me on purpose! She even called me a mistress trying to steal her man!”

“Peter, since your wife is targeting me like this, I dare not bother you anymore. I'll leave. Isn't that enough?”

The moment she tried to stand up, Peter pulled her back into his embrace. I would never forget that moment in my life, the dark and terrifying glint in Peter's eyes.

That night, after calming Avilla, he dragged me to the poolside. Without a word, he silently yanked my hair, forcing my face underwater until I was gasping for air, then pulled me back just as I was about to choke.

With my head submerged in water, the sounds reaching my ears were muffled. I heard him say, “I married you only because my family pressured me too hard to get married at that time. I wanted to disgust them.”

“It just so happened that you are in good health, which suited my tastes and kept me entertained. But in my heart, you will never measure up to half a toe of Avilla.”

He punished me and forced me to apologize to Avilla. At first, I held my ground. I refused to admit to something I hadn't done.

Later, fear overwhelmed me. I wanted to say that I admitted it, but I knew I was wrong. But Peter wouldn't listen. He only punished me.

By the late hours of the night, I was already dazed and confused, momentarily forgetting what I was doing. Seeing Peter by the pool, I instinctively thought he was playing in the water with me.

Just as I was about to join in, he yanked my hair viciously. “It's useless to pretend to be stupid. If you do something wrong, you have to admit it. Keeping lying will only make me hate you even more.”

His anger flared and he declared he would teach me a lesson I would never forget. He dragged me into the basement and pinned me to the electric chair.

The electric current stimulated every inch of my pores again and again. I screamed and wailed as fragmented memories slowly reassembled. Only later did I realize Peter wanted me to apologize.

I shouted at him, “I'm sorry! I was wrong!”

Only then did Peter stop. My thoughts froze there and my tears wouldn't stop flowing until the man guarding me slapped me hard twice across the face. 

I bit my lip tightly, afraid to cry anymore. I feared the pain. I didn't want to hurt anymore. I just couldn't understand why Peter didn't love me anymore.

***

The stage suddenly fell silent and even the lights dimmed slightly. Someone pushed the iron cage holding me forward, and soon, I was on the stage. A mask covered my face, but my figure alone sent the entire audience into a frenzy.

I saw many people eagerly raising their signs. But I didn't care about any of that. All that mattered was that I was a little closer to Peter. Once he noticed me, once he saw me, he would definitely save me.

After all, he hadn't punished me when I admitted my mistake. He'd even said, “Remember this lesson well. In a few days, it'll be Avilla's birthday. You'll publicly apologize to her.”

“I didn't truly want to punish you harshly. Avilla has had a fear of water since childhood. Your actions triggered her depression, which is why I was a bit stricter.”

I was so happy that he was finally willing to forgive me back then. As long as I behaved, he wouldn’t be angry anymore. 

I thought cheerfully about going out to buy him his favorite chestnut cakes to make him happy. If he were pleased, he wouldn’t be angry with me anymore. I never imagined I’d be kidnapped on the way and brought here. 

I was so scared, so scared. Only now, seeing Peter, could my heart feel a little steadier. I desperately tried to signal him with my eyes, opening my mouth to speak, but no sound came out without a tongue.

Peter never looked at me. His eyes were always hung on Avilla and filled with tender affection. He didn't notice my sign at all, even though I was trying hard to attract his attention.

The moment my body information was publicly displayed on the screen by the host, my clothes were stripped away until I was left with only my undergarments. Only then did Peter lift his head.

His gaze wasn't on me, but fixed on the screen displaying my body information. I noticed his eyes suddenly brighten. My heart was also clenched! He must have recognized me. 

After all, we had been married for five years. Peter knew my body intimately. Surely, one glance would be enough for him to recognize me.