In the days that followed, the abuse only grew worse. Connor never ran out of excuses to accuse me. The way I bowed wasn't low enough, my eyes wandered, I breathed at the wrong time… Every accusation ended with another round of blows. My old wounds barely scabbed before new ones split open, a cycle that never stopped.

One afternoon, just like always, they sent me to haul hot water for their bath, but my legs gave out after several buckets. My vision went black, and the handle slipped, causing the entire bucket of water to splash on Connor's face. I stumbled forward and crashed right into Melissa's arms. She caught me on reflex, stunned.

Connor was already blazing before I could steady myself. He kicked me so hard, and I hit the floor again. "You useless dog! First you fake a fall to throw water at me, then you try to touch my wife? Do you want to die?"

Melissa stood in his arms with her expression iced over. "Seems like you're tired of living, huh?" she said coldly.

I tried to explain weakly that it had been an accident, but he only laughed. "An accident? What's next? Crawling into her bed?" He turned to Melissa. "Darling, how should we punish him?"

She glanced at me once and looked away. "What do you think?" Connor smirked. "He's getting bold. We should do what the old palaces did, cut off the problem entirely. Then he won't be able to 'think' with his problem between his legs again."

Terror ripped through me. I had already lost my health and my dignity, I couldn't lose my body too! I fell to the floor with my forehead hitting the wood again and again. “Please… have mercy… I beg you two… please spare me!"

I begged, I bowed, and I slammed my head to the ground, as my eyes stayed locked on Melissa, praying she would soften just this once. She almost looked moved as something flickered in her expression, but then Connor nudged her, and whatever softness she had vanished instantly... "You're right," she said. "Take him away."

The servants dragged me out, and she looked away quickly, like she couldn't bear to look at me anymore. Once I was out of sight, she brushed Connor's hand off her waist. "You've tortured him long enough. I think you should be satisfied now. This whole show ends tonight." Connor shrugged. "Whatever. I'm sick of this place anyway."

Melissa exhaled in relief as she took out her phone, "Don't actually cut off that thing. Knock him out and send him to the hospital. When he wakes, tell him he's been in a coma for five years…"

Before she could finish, a servant rushed in.

"Ms. Shaw... he escaped!"