Married Into Power, Crushed Under His Rules

After stealing 3,000 dollars, Eloise Maguire is taken to the main hall by her husband, Zander Pierson, to face punishment. Chase Pierson, the Pierson family elder, glances uneasily at her pregnant belly. "Our family has stood for a hundred years and is wealthy beyond measure. Eloise is eight months pregnant. Is there really a need to make such a fuss over 3,000 dollars?" Zander is dressed in a dark gray overcoat, which only accentuates his tall, commanding figure. His distant eyes and cold voice make it clear there will be no room for leniency. "Julia manages the household. If Eloise needs money, she can ask her for it. Instead, she goes behind her back and takes the money without permission. Even if it's only 3,000 dollars, taking it without permission is still theft. "We have rules in this family. Anyone who steals is punished by having all ten fingers crushed. As my wife, she should set an example, not giving the younger ones a reason to break the rules." Chase is at a loss for words. He can only urge Eloise to plead for mercy. But Eloise doesn't even spare Zander a glance. She supports her lower back as she slowly walks into the room. "I accept my punishment," she says calmly. "Eloise, have you lost your mind?" Chase hurries after her. "The punishment is having all ten fingers crushed in a finger clamp. Even a man couldn't endure that kind of torture! "Zander may be strict about the family rules, but you're his wife. He won't treat you like everyone else. Just beg him for mercy…" Eloise says nothing. She simply places her fingers into the clamp. The housekeeper pulls the rope tight, and a searing pain tears through her entire body. Cold sweat trickles down Eloise's forehead as her thoughts begin to blur. In this lifetime, she steals money twice. The first time is five years ago, when Zander is struggling to deal with the trouble caused by his sworn enemy. Eloise returns to her father, James Maguire's, house and takes the entire inheritance her mother left her from the family safe. Her father beats her so badly that she ends up with three broken ribs. She struggles back to Zander and hands him the bank card containing her entire fortune, telling him to use it to deal with his troubles. For once, even Zander, known for being cold and reserved, is visibly stunned. Chapter 1 After a long pause, Zander Pierson flicked Eloise Maguire's forehead and called her a silly girl before taking the card. It was only later that Eloise learned the Pierson family's problems couldn't be solved with money. Zander simply couldn't stand to see her disappointed. Eloise's heart warmed. She thought she'd finally earned a place in his heart. But one day, when she mustered the courage to approach Zander's study, she heard the tearful voice of his widowed sister-in-law, Julia Sinclair. "Do you really not love me anymore?" Zander swallowed hard and looked away. "You're my sister-in-law. Eloise is my wife." "I took a bullet for you! Out of all those women you could've married, you chose her. And the reason you've been so good to her is because she reminds you of me, right?" "Then, divorce her," she begged. "I'll marry you!" Zander sighed. His expression softened, revealing a tenderness Eloise had never seen before. "Don't do this. Being my wife would be exhausting. But as my brother's widow, you can live however you want. "I chose Eloise for a reason. She lost her mother when she was young, knows how to brave through hardships, and won't ever go against you. Wouldn't it be better to keep things this way?" Julia eventually calmed down, but outside Zander's study, Eloise covered her mouth and fought back tears. So, that was the truth. Eloise finally understood. No wonder, on her first night as Zander's wife, there was no embrace waiting for her, only a long list of Pierson family rules. No wonder she had to wake before dawn and spend her mornings and evenings tending to her in-laws, while Julia was free to do whatever she pleased. No wonder Julia was always picking on her and wouldn't even give her money for the bare necessities, leaving her struggling to afford things as basic as sanitary pads. The sound of a breaking bone jolted Eloise back to reality. Her face had gone deathly pale. Even the slightest movement sent a searing pain through her lower abdomen. "Why are you so stubborn…" Chase Pierson chided. He shook his head as he walked over. When he saw the blood spreading under her, his eyes widened in horror. "I knew something like this would happen! Get a doctor—" "No!" Eloise gritted her teeth and forced the word out. Chase grew frantic. "This is your first child with Zander! Why won't you let the doctor save the baby?" Waves of searing pain tore through her abdomen. Eloise held back her tears, her voice hoarse. "Three months ago, Zander forced me to drink the tonic Julia sent me. "Later, I went to the hospital. The doctors said the tonic had caused severe abnormalities, and the baby… was already dead." Her voice caught, and she couldn't hold back a sob. This was the child she'd carried and longed for over eight months. If there had been a way to save him, she would've done anything she could. Chase stared at her in shock. "So, the 3,000 dollars you stole was for…" "An abortion." The baby was already gone. A tear slid down from the corner of Eloise's eye. "Julia wouldn't give me the money, so I had no choice but to steal it. Zander caught me before I could even reach the hospital." Chase was at a loss for words. After a long pause, he stammered, "I… I see… You should explain everything to Zander. After all, you still have to live together…" Eloise leaned against the wall as she slowly got to her feet. She gave a rueful smile and said, "I signed an agreement before I married into the Pierson family. If I ever did anything that brought shame to the Piersons, our marriage would end immediately, and I'd leave with nothing." Chase realized what she meant and held his breath. Eloise spoke slowly and clearly, "I stole the money, and I've been punished for it. I'm no longer fit to be Zander's wife." There was no future for them anymore. Chapter 2 Chase looked startled. "Zander has feelings for you. He won't just let you… "Forget it. I won't try to change your mind. Julia's birthday is coming up in a few days. Zander will be too busy throwing her a big celebration to pay any attention to you. "Listen to me. Wait until then and make your escape." Zander would never simply let go of a wife who was as obedient and compliant as Eloise. Eloise nodded and thanked him. She then slowly made her way out, exhausted and weak. The moment she stepped out of the main hall, she saw Zander standing at the covered walkway. He was talking to Julia. "I told them to go easy on Eloise. Her baby will be fine." Tears welled up in Eloise's eyes again. When Zander first learned she was pregnant, there had been a flicker of joy in his usually cold, distant eyes. He had rested his head against her belly to listen for the baby's movements. He had eagerly guessed whether they were having a boy or a girl and even discussed what they should name the baby. He had even made sure to tell his men to go easy on her before she was punished, all because of the baby. Eloise desperately wanted to ask him if he would be sad if he knew the baby had already been killed by the tonic Julia gave her. But before she could say a word, Zander spoke again, "You get lonely sometimes. Once the baby is born, I'll have it keep you company." Julia glanced past his shoulder at Eloise, a smug look flashing across her eyes. "How could you possibly do that… Eloise, why do you look so upset?" Zander stiffened and turned to meet Eloise's eyes. Her eyes that had once been filled with love were now filled with nothing but pain. Trembling, Eloise asked, "You want to give my baby to her?" So, was that why he cared so much about her baby? He was planning to give their baby to Julia after she gave birth, just to keep her company? "Eloise, I…" Zander immediately tried to explain, but he then noticed her sunken stomach. His face immediately darkened. "Where's the baby?" "She must've lost it when she was being punished." Julia sighed. "Eloise, I know you're upset, but you shouldn't have refused to see a doctor just to spite us. Now that the baby is gone, you'll be the one to blame!" Zander's stern gaze settled on Eloise, waiting for her to do what she had done countless times before whenever she made a mistake—rush to defend and explain herself. But Eloise only said in her hoarse voice, "The baby was never meant to be born." Her attitude angered Zander, and his tone grew even colder. "Never meant to be born? Fine. You've made yourself very clear, Eloise! You failed to protect the baby. According to the family rules, you deserve a severe punishment. "Cade, take her outside. Make her get down on her knees!" Zander's bodyguard, Cade Lane, answered and roughly dragged Eloise to the front gate of the Pierson residence before kicking her behind the knee. She grunted and collapsed to her knees. Her wounds were still throbbing with pain. Cold sweat kept pouring down her face, quickly soaking through her clothes. Eloise had no idea how long she had been on her knees when Julia walked over to her, smiling as she shook her head and clicked her tongue. "Oh, how pitiful. I tried to talk Zander out of punishing you, but he insisted you needed to learn a lesson. "Do you know why I got rid of your baby even though Zander planned to give it to me? Because I want to have a child of my own with him…" The provocation in her voice was unmistakable. Eloise closed her eyes and endured the pain, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do whatever you want." Julia's smile vanished when she failed to get the reaction she wanted. She slapped Eloise hard across the face. "I hate how you act so innocent when you're occupying the place that's supposed to be mine!" The blow sent Eloise sprawling onto the ground. Her cheek quickly swelled, and the corner of her mouth bled. Then came another slap. And another… Eloise's face soon became badly swollen. She tried to fight back, but Cade pinned her down. Through the excruciating pain, she saw Zander standing a short distance away. Zander's assistant, Robert Brown, looked uneasy. "Mr. Pierson, Ms. Sinclair has no reason to be treating her like this. It's against the rules…" Zander fell silent for a moment. Then, he said, "Julia has always resented Eloise for marrying me. If she needs to vent, let her. Forget about the rules." Forget about the rules… As the agony consumed Eloise, memories of the past flooded her mind. Once, she had talked back to Julia, and she was forced to copy the Pierson family rules 99 times. Another time, the coffee she poured for Julia was just slightly too hot, and she was punished by having boiling water poured over her wrist. The Pierson family's rules were absolute. As Zander's wife, Eloise couldn't afford even the smallest mistake. But now, she realized those rules had only ever applied to someone he didn't love. Julia could do whatever she wanted. Eloise had spent five years trying so hard. What a fool she'd been! Another slap landed across Eloise's face. She coughed up blood, her vision fading in and out. Just then, someone rushed forward and shielded her. "Don't hit my sister!" Chapter 3 The girl looked to be around 17 or 18 years old. Her body trembled uncontrollably with fear, yet she refused to move an inch. It was Emma Maguire, Eloise's little sister. Eloise struggled to sit up. "Emma, what are you doing here?" A glint of tears appeared in Emma's eyes as she rolled up her sleeve. "Dad was going to beat me to death. I had no choice but to run…" Eloise's breath hitched when she saw the bruises and wounds covering Emma's arm. Despite taking such a brutal beating without begging for mercy, Eloise now lowered her head to Julia. "Julia, you can punish me however you want later. My sister's exhausted. Please let me take her upstairs so she can rest." Before Julia could respond, Zander spoke, "Outsiders aren't allowed to stay overnight here. Someone, take Ms. Emma home." "Didn't you hear what she just said? If she goes back home, they'll beat her to death!" Eloise's eyes immediately reddened as she clung tightly to Emma's hand. Zander couldn't understand why Eloise, who had always been so obedient, was defying him again. His brows furrowed. "Rules are rules. If you refuse to send her back, you can stay out here with her." With a wave of his hand, Zander ordered the housekeeper to shut the doors, leaving the sisters outside. A deafening crack of thunder sounded overhead. Dark clouds swallowed the sky as torrential rain poured down. Emma panicked and rushed to the door, pounding on it desperately. "I'll go back! I won't stay here! Eloise is still injured! Please, let her inside…" Eloise tried to stop her, but the sudden movement tore her wound open again. "You can't go back!" she cried out as a sharp pain shot through her body. Emma had no choice but to help Eloise into a sheltered corner. They huddled together, shivering in their thin clothes as the wind howled and rain poured around them. They spent the entire night out in the cold. At daybreak, Eloise watched as a young man knocked on the Pierson residence's door. "Zander, I'm here to see Julia! Can I stay here tonight?" Zander personally welcomed him. "Of course. You can stay as long as you like." "You're the best, Zander!" "You're Julia's brother, which makes you my brother, too. Of course I've got you covered…" Not once did Zander look at Eloise. Eloise parted her dry lips, her voice barely more than a rasp. "Water…" Emma touched Eloise's forehead and immediately felt how hot she was. "Hang in there, Eloise…" In her feverish haze, Eloise vaguely remembered Emma leaving for a while. When she came back, she helped Eloise take some medicine with water. The cool water soothed her parched throat, and she swallowed the pills without thinking. Slowly, the medicine began to take effect. When Eloise finally managed to open her eyes, she saw Julia storming toward her with Zander. "See? I told you they were the ones who stole the medicine!" She turned to Elosie. "Eloise, if you needed medicine, you could've just asked. Why are you stealing again?" Emma was about to speak, but Eloise hurriedly cut her off, "It was my fault. I'll take the punishment." "Eloise, but it was me…" Eloise shot her a stern look. It was so firm that Emma fell silent, too afraid to say another word. Disappointment filled Zander's eyes. "First, you stole money from your own family. Then, you stole money from the Piersons. And now, you're teaching your own sister to steal and covering for her? "Eloise, take a good look at yourself. Is this how you're supposed to behave as my wife?" Eloise's head snapped up. She stared at him, stunned. Back then, she had given him everything she had out of love, even handing over the entire inheritance her mother had left her to help him. And this was how he saw her? Zander flinched at the look in her eyes. He turned to the bodyguards. "What are you waiting for? She said she'll take the punishment." Emma cried out in panic, but Neil Cole, the Pierson family's butler, shoved her aside and dragged Eloise down to the basement. The moment Eloise saw the electric chair inside, fear finally hit her. "What are you going to do to me?" A few years ago, Eloise and Julia had both been abducted by the Pierson family's enemies. Zander had rescued Julia first, leaving Eloise strapped to an electric chair, where she was tortured until she broke down and developed PTSD. This was the one thing she feared more than anything. Eloise tried to run, but someone grabbed her and dragged her back, strapping her into the electric chair. Neil flipped the switch. Electricity ripped through her body like a blade. Eloise threw her head back and screamed. Her body convulsed violently as the restraints dug into her flesh. The sickening smell of burning skin filled the room. It hurt. It hurt like hell. She remembered all those nights when nightmares about her abductors had jolted her awake. Zander would always look guilty then, pulling her into his arms and whispering, "I'm sorry. I should've protected you. I'll never let you be put in danger like that again." And now, he was the one sending her straight back into hell. Eloise couldn't hold on any longer. Her consciousness began to fade. Just before she blacked out, she saw Zander rush into the basement. He kicked Neil hard in the chest and shouted, his voice unusually frantic, "Who told you to use this thing?" Chapter 4 When Eloise woke up, she found herself in a hospital room. Zander was standing beside her bed, his voice low as he reprimanded Julia, "How could you order Neil to torture her and have a doctor remove her uterus? What the hell were you thinking?" "I didn't want her to bear your child!" Julia protested, tears welling in her eyes. "Why can't I have your child instead?" Zander stared at her for a long moment and said, "Don't let this happen again. And don't ever say something like that again. "Eloise… She's the one I chose. She's my wife." Tears streamed down Julia's face. Furious and humiliated, she stormed out. Zander sighed. When he turned around, he saw that Eloise was awake. His body tensed up. "Eloise, you heard all that?" Eloise reached down and touched her abdomen, ignoring his question. "I can never have children again?" Zander's expression was complicated. "Yes. But it's okay. It won't affect your status as my wife." Eloise closed her eyes. Her mother had died when she was young, and her father had been cruel and abusive. Growing up, she and Emma had only had each other. She had dreamed countless times of having a child with Zander. She had always thought she would never leave her child the way her mother had left her, and she would never be cold and ruthless like her father. She would love her child with everything she had. But now, that dream was no longer possible. Eloise managed to get the words out. "Get out!" Zander stood there for a long time. In the end, he couldn't find anything to say and left the room. … That afternoon, a nurse brought a bouquet of beautiful red roses to Eloise's room. "These are from Mr. Pierson. He said they were an apology." The nurse sounded envious. "I never thought a man like him would actually swallow his pride and apologize to his wife. You're so lucky, Mrs. Pierson!" Eloise gave no reaction. Her gaze fell to her arm, where red welts were already spreading across her skin. Maybe Zander really did feel guilty. It was the first time he had given her flowers since they got married. But he had forgotten that Julia was the one who loved roses. Eloise was allergic to rose pollen. The nurse noticed it too, and her earlier envy quickly turned into concern. "Do you… need me to get you some medicine?" "No. It'll clear up soon." She would be done with Zander soon, too. … During the rest of her recovery, Zander came to see her often. He brought her warm soup and told her that Emma had been staying with the Piersons and was doing fine. Eloise refused to speak to him, but he never got angry. Things stayed peaceful for a while, until the day she was discharged. Zander's expression was grim as he led Eloise to his mother, Ruby Lambert's, room. "Julia took Mom's favorite brooch set without asking. Mom's furious." "So?" Eloise had already guessed what he wanted from her, and she almost laughed. "She's throwing a tantrum and deliberately causing trouble. Instead of punishing Julia under the family rules, you want me to take the blame for her?" Zander's expression remained unchanged. "Julia is running this household. She can't afford to fall out with Mom. You're different." "I won't do…" Zander opened a video on his phone, cutting her off mid-sentence. On the screen, Emma was surrounded by several burly men, clutching her head and screaming. Eloise's heart clenched. "You're threatening me? She's only 18 years old. She just got into college! How could you do something so horrible?" Zander turned off his phone. "If you take the punishment for Julia this time, Emma will be fine." Emma was Eloise's weakness. She fought back the tears in her eyes and said nothing more. She then walked into Ruby's room alone. Ruby's fingers stilled on her prayer beads as she looked at Eloise with disgust. "You're the one who stole my things? You were punished just a few days ago for stealing money, and now you've done it again! "Zander is unbelievable. He refuses to divorce you no matter what. I honestly don't know what he sees in a woman like you! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!" Eloise had heard those cruel words so many times that she was already numb to them. She lowered her head and remained silent, bitter thoughts filling her mind. Her fingers had already been crushed once, so whatever punishment Ruby had in store for her couldn't possibly be worse. Seeing how unresponsive Eloise was, Ruby grew even angrier and gave one of the housekeepers a look. Several burly housekeepers immediately pinned Eloise down and forced her hands out. All ten of her fingers were still twisted and misshapen from the torture, swollen and bruised with purple blotches. A housekeeper took out a pair of metal pliers and clamped them around Eloise's fingernail. Eloise's eyes widened. "No! You—" The housekeeper squeezed the pliers hard, ripping her fingernails back and exposing the bloody flesh underneath. Eloise threw her head back and let out a scream that barely sounded human. Chapter 5 This was only the beginning. The housekeeper quickly repositioned the pliers and started tearing out Eloise's remaining fingernails, one by one. Eloise's fingers curled inward. She could only make hoarse, strangled sounds as she desperately tried to crawl away, only to be dragged back every time. When the punishment was finally over, Eloise lay sprawled on the floor like a broken doll, the air thick with the smell of blood. Ruby ordered her housekeepers to throw her out. Zander, who had been waiting outside, caught her just in time. The moment his eyes fell on her injuries, a flicker of shock crossed his eyes. "Cade, get the medicine! "How could Mom be so cruel to you…" Eloise was still trembling. Slowly but firmly, she pulled her hand out of his. Zander sighed, looking weary. "Don't be like this. I know Mom went too far this time. Just tell me what you want, and I'll make it up to you." "Then, give me back the money I gave you." Zander froze. "What?" "You didn't need the money anyway, did you? Then, give it back. Emma needs money for college." Zander couldn't quite put into words what he was feeling. The card Eloise had given him before hadn't been enough to solve his problems, but it had carried all the love and sincerity she had for him. And now she wanted it back? It left him unsettled, but he had promised to make it up to her. So, he had Robert retrieve the card. "If you really need money, just ask Julia to wire it to you. Emma's your sister. She shouldn't have to worry about money." How laughable! Eloise was in too much pain to argue. She simply took the card, forcing herself to endure the agony. Just then, her phone rang. It was Grace Baker, the Maguire family's longtime housekeeper and also the woman who had raised her. Her voice was frantic. "A car from the Piersons just dropped Ms. Emma home. Mr. Maguire is about to hurt her! Please, come quickly!" A loud ringing filled Eloise's ears. Zander had said Emma would be fine, yet he had sent her back to the Maguire family? Eloise shoved Zander away and stumbled toward the chauffeur. "Take me to the Maguire residence!" "I'm sorry, Ms. Maguire. Without Ms. Sinclair's approval, I can't take you anywhere…" Tears streamed down Eloise's face. She rushed into the street but couldn't flag down a single car. With no other choice, she stumbled all the way to the Maguire residence herself. She fell more times than she could count. By the time she made it there, she could barely stay on her feet. The moment she pushed open the door, she saw her father, James Maguire, raising a stick to beat Emma. "Stop!" Eloise shouted. Eloise's eyes widened in horror. Without thinking, she threw herself in front of Emma and took the blow. A sickening crack rang out as a bone fractured. Eloise spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with bits of flesh. James was furious. "You ingrate! How dare you come back?" But Eloise was still Zander's wife, so he didn't dare lay another hand on her. He ordered the housekeepers to pull her away. Several housekeepers held Eloise back as she watched helplessly as Emma was beaten and left screaming on the floor. "Eloise… It hurts…" Eloise's heart broke. James glanced at Eloise and let out a smug, mocking laugh. "Aren't you married to Zander? Aren't you powerful now? So what if I beat this brat to death? You can't do a damn thing about it!" Right. Zander… Eloise frantically searched for her phone and dialed the familiar number. It took several tries before the call finally went through. "Zander, my dad is going to kill Emma! Please, send someone over…" Before Zander could say a word, Julia cut in, "How can you ask him to do that? It's against the rules. He's her father. He's not actually going to kill her." Eloise practically screamed, "What do you know? She really is going to die!" Zander's expression darkened. "Watch how you speak to Julia! She's right. Sending people over without permission would violate the rules. Stop making this difficult." With that, he hung up. Emma's cries for help grew weaker. "Help me…" Eloise's eyes were bloodshot. A surge of strength she had never felt before coursed through her. She shoved the housekeepers aside, grabbed a vase, and smashed it over James' head. "You…" James collapsed. Eloise called 911 and had Emma rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. All the way there, she kept murmuring, "Emma, you have to be okay… You're all I have left…" At the hospital, the doctor examined Emma and immediately said, "She needs surgery right away. You need to go pay the hospital bill." Eloise hurriedly pulled out the card Zander had given back to her and handed it over to the nurse. The nurse ran it through the card reader, then frowned. "There's no money on this card." What did she mean, there was no money? Eloise's mind went completely blank. "That's impossible. I… I still have money. I…" On the stretcher, Emma's breathing grew weaker and weaker. "You don't have to… do this… Eloise… It's too late… "I'm sorry… I couldn't… stay by your side… any longer…" No. No, no— Emma's head slumped to the side, and she went completely still. Eloise threw herself over her, crying out in anguish, "No!" Chapter 6 "If she'd gotten surgery in time, maybe…" The doctor let out a heavy sigh and gently patted Eloise on the shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss." Eloise sank to her knees, like a lifeless stone statue. Emma's voice kept echoing in her head. "Eloise, I hope you and Zander will be happy together!" "I got into Bromwich College!" "From now on, I'll protect you." And in the end, her last words had been, "I'm sorry." Sorry I couldn't stay by your side. Sorry I couldn't keep protecting you. Tears rolled down Eloise's cheeks, one after another, hitting the floor. The world would never again see Emma's warm smile, and Eloise had no family left. Her phone screen lit up. It was a message from Zander. "The card was with Julia before. She may have used some of the money. Check how much is missing. I'll pay you back tenfold." Eloise clenched her phone. Julia again. She had ruined her life, and now she had gotten Emma killed! Eloise had lost all reason. She forced herself to her feet and made her way back to the Pierson residence. The house was packed with guests, all there to celebrate Julia. Then, Eloise remembered. Today was Julia's birthday—the day she had planned to leave the Pierson family for good. Eloise pushed through the crowd and found Julia by the pond in the yard. "Eloise, why haven't you gotten your wounds…" Before Julia could finish, Eloise slapped her hard across the face. Everyone around them froze in shock. Julia covered her cheek, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes. Then, as if she were taking advantage of the momentum, she stumbled backward several steps and deliberately fell into the pond. "Julia!" Zander arrived just in time. His expression changed the moment he saw Julia in the pond. He jumped in and pulled her out, then turned to Eloise, his eyes blazing with fury. "Have you lost your mind?" "Yes, I have!" Eloise cried, desperation filling in her eyes. "I've been married to you for five years. Of course I've lost my mind!" Zander's chest heaved as he struggled to contain his anger. He glanced around at the guests and forced himself to calm down. "Look around you. Do you have any idea what kind of occasion this is? You're embarrassing us." He reached out to grab Eloise. She fought back desperately. Then came a sickening crack. Her arm had broken. Her face instantly went pale with pain. Zander froze for a moment. But when he saw her still trying to pull her arm free, his anger only intensified. "Let her cool off," he ordered the bodyguards. "Yes, sir." The bodyguards stepped forward and shoved Eloise into the pond. With a loud splash, icy water rushed into her mouth and nose, leaving her gasping for air. She struggled to lift her head above the surface, only for the bodyguards to force her back under. It hurt so badly… Was she going to die? Maybe that was for the best. There was no one left in this world who cared about her anyway… But she didn't get her wish. When she opened her eyes again, she was in the bedroom in the west wing, her entire body bound tightly. Zander stood in front of her, a trace of weariness in his eyes. "You caused a scene in front of all those guests. Eloise, you went too far this time." "You're the ones who pushed me this far. You're the ones who took everything from me!" Eloise thought. She tried to scream, but to her horror, no sound came out. "To keep you from saying anything else and ruining Julia's birthday party, I had something administered to you to make sure you stayed quiet," Zander said casually. "Mom thinks you've embarrassed the family enough. She says we don't necessarily have to get divorced. But you'll have to stay locked up. I know you don't want to leave me, so this is the only way. Just stay here and don't go outside." He got up and walked toward the door. But after a moment, he hesitated and looked back. "Don't worry. Once the party's over, I'll talk to Mom and ask her to let you out. If you behave, things can go back to the way they were." He paused before adding, "I'll even try to love you the way you've always loved me." No. She had stopped loving him long ago. A cheerful birthday song began playing outside. Chase slipped into the room and freed Eloise. He let out a weary sigh. "I had to wait until today so you could use the chaos to get away. I was afraid Zander would stop you. I never imagined you'd suffered this much these past few days… "Go. Your flight's already been booked." Eloise couldn't speak. All she could do was thank him deeply before limping toward the door. She glanced back. Chase had already left the west wing. He set the building on fire. Flames roared into the night, their glow reflected in Eloise's eyes. She took a deep breath, turned around, and walked into the darkness. The moon hung among the treetops, its soft, tender light breaking through the clouds and casting a soft glow over the world below. From this day forward, their paths would diverge, and Eloise and Zander would never chance upon each other again.