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00:00I cheated.
00:02I'm full of dark, dirty desires, so why the hell did I marry a living poota?
00:06Three years.
00:08Not a single touch, not a single crack in his holy facade.
00:12Driving myself insane, I threw down a fake bomb.
00:14I cheated.
00:16He gently put his glass down, lifted his gaze.
00:19My spine turned to ice.
00:21He was smiling, but his eyes promised murder.
00:25The world envied Grace for marrying Eric, the supreme ruler of New York.
00:30But the joke was entirely on me.
00:33Our marriage was a grandfather-approved trap.
00:35Before the wedding, we'd met twice.
00:37Dinner one, matchmaking.
00:39He sat opposite me, white shirt buttoned to the very top, spine rigid, radiating holy and untouchable energy.
00:44No smile, just that polite world rebaking void.
00:47Under the table, Grandpa kicked me to play nice.
00:50I nodded sweetly while my brain screamed.
00:52He's hot?
00:53But does this man even have a pulse below the belt?
00:55Dinner two, engagement.
00:57His gift to me, a floutin' pen.
01:00Not a necklace, not a bag, a pen.
01:03My soul left my body.
01:05Shit!
01:06My grandpa kidnapped a monk for me, didn't he?
01:08My married life proved my suspicions right.
01:11Eric woke up at six every morning.
01:13Washed up, coffee, two fried eggs, one beef sausage.
01:16Straight to the office.
01:18Home, at 9pm on the dot.
01:21Wash up, tea, thirty minutes of reading, lights out.
01:24Precise, ordinally, dead calm.
01:27And me?
01:28I'm the type of girl who sees a hot guy and purrs.
01:31Hey handsome, wanna kiss?
01:33My head is filled with wild thoughts, and yet I married a...
01:36Forget it.
01:37Let's not go there.
01:38Our first month?
01:39I was confident, thinking he was just a slow burner.
01:42I walked past him in a slip dress, and he didn't even look up, just telling me to wear a
01:47coat.
01:47And, undeterred, I parked myself on the sofa, casually resting my bare leg right across his thigh.
01:54He just gently adjusted it, fearing my leg would fall asleep, and went back to his book.
01:59Driven insane, I confronted him.
02:01Eric, shouldn't we do what married couples do?
02:05He put down his book and looked at me.
02:07His gaze was so painfully tender, exactly like a holy Buddha pitying a lost soul.
02:12If you're tired, get some sleep.
02:15Month three, I stopped trying.
02:17Month six, I wondered if he had some secret, unspeakable dysfunction.
02:21After a year, I was numb.
02:23Was he good to me?
02:24Oh, absolutely.
02:25Polite, courteous, unlimited cards, designer bags, first class tickets anywhere in the world.
02:30But he just wouldn't touch me.
02:32When he did touch me, it was like a sterile, religious ceremony.
02:35Mechanical, detached, done, and he's out cold.
02:39Staring at the ceiling, I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
02:42Is this what early 20s are supposed to look like?
02:45Bound to a 30-year-old wooden statue?
02:47By year three, I was entirely dead inside.
02:50I gave up.
02:52At the end of the day, it was an arranged marriage.
02:55We were both victims.
02:56And love can't be begged for.
02:59Maybe divorce would be better for both of us.
03:02If I asked to split, he wouldn't agree.
03:04He'd just stare at me with that gentle perfection and ask,
03:06Was it something I did?
03:07I can fix it.
03:08Always calm.
03:09Always emotionless.
03:09So I needed a reason.
03:10After thinking, I picked the most brutal knife I could find.
03:13Cheating.
03:15As long as I told him I cheated, there was no way he could keep me.
03:18He'd definitely sign it.
03:20That night, I placed the divorce papers on the dining table.
03:23Eric came home exactly at nine.
03:25He changed his shoes,
03:27washed his hands,
03:28and paused when he saw the papers.
03:31What is this?
03:32A divorce agreement.
03:35He didn't pick it up right away.
03:37Instead, he made himself a cup of tea first.
03:40Then he sat across from me and slowly took a sip.
03:43Why?
03:45I cheated.
03:47The moment those words dropped,
03:49the air was instantly sucked out of the room.
03:51Eric's hand, holding the cup,
03:54froze in midair.
03:55One, two, three seconds ticking by.
03:57He set the cup down.
03:59So gentle.
04:00Not a single sound.
04:01But I noticed his knuckles turned slightly white.
04:03Then, he lifted his gaze and smiled at me.
04:06It was terrifying.
04:07Nothing like his usual warm, gentle grin.
04:10Who?
04:10Just one word.
04:12But my blood ran cold.
04:14Why do you care?
04:15Just sign it.
04:18Who?
04:19He asked again.
04:21No more warmth.
04:22No more saintly facade.
04:24He was barely holding on.
04:25Speaking of the divorce,
04:27it all started with my best friend, Amanda.
04:30My rider died best friend of four years.
04:32Or so I thought.
04:33She was pretty,
04:35gentle,
04:35and in hindsight,
04:37and honestly,
04:38she looked a hell of a lot more suited for Eric than I ever did.
04:42After I got married,
04:43she became a permanent fixture at my house.
04:45Every time she came,
04:46she brought the most exclusive coffee in New York
04:49and sat in the living room,
04:50chatting with me.
04:51Grace, you're so pathetic.
04:53A guy who ignores you completely?
04:55Does he even feel anything?
04:56No normal man is this cold.
04:58Honestly,
04:59some guys have issues.
05:00Maybe you should get him checked?
05:01At first,
05:02I thought she was just caring about me.
05:04But the more she talked,
05:05the more poison dripped into my heart.
05:07She's right.
05:08No man is a saint for three years.
05:11He wasn't cold to the world.
05:13He was just cold to me.
05:18On our third wedding anniversary,
05:20Eric actually showed up with flowers.
05:22A simple, unadorned bouquet of fresh jasmine.
05:25I took a photo and sent it to Amanda.
05:28Amanda soon replied,
05:30Just flowers?
05:31No jewelry?
05:32Honestly, girl,
05:33you deserve better.
05:33I placed the flowers on the nightstand.
05:35The faint scent of jasmine was delicate and lovely.
05:38Do you like it?
05:39Yeah.
05:40He didn't say another word,
05:41lay down,
05:42turned his back to me,
05:43and his breathing soon became steady.
05:45Looking at his back,
05:46Amanda's words echoed in my mind.
05:48Deserve better.
05:49But what is better?
05:50A man who would hold me and talk dirty?
05:52A man who would actively kiss me?
05:54A man who wouldn't just roll over
05:56and fall asleep right on schedule every night?
05:58I couldn't answer.
05:59I only knew this marriage was a slow,
06:01suffocating death.
06:02Next day,
06:03I brought up the divorce.
06:05Amanda asked me out for dinner.
06:06After having a couple of drinks,
06:08she suddenly held my hand
06:09and looked at me very seriously.
06:11My heart skipped a beat.
06:13Promise you won't freak out?
06:14Last time you had me grab that bag,
06:15I went inside,
06:17and Eric's study door was open.
06:18There was a photo on his desk.
06:20What photo?
06:20Some woman.
06:22Definitely not you.
06:23What does she look like?
06:24I didn't see clearly.
06:25He saw me and shoved it away.
06:27But...
06:28But what?
06:29His expression.
06:30How should I put it?
06:31It was very gentle.
06:33Her eyes were shining with a faint excitement.
06:35But I didn't notice it back then.
06:37I only felt as if a knife had been stabbed into my heart.
06:41It turned out he wasn't capable of love.
06:43He just...
06:44didn't have any left for me.
06:46His gentleness was reserved for someone else.
06:49On the way home,
06:50I sat in the car for hours.
06:52My phone lit up.
06:54Amanda.
06:55Three consecutive texts,
06:56full of care.
06:57I just replied with a simple yeah.
06:59When I got home,
07:00it was already eleven.
07:01The living room was dark.
07:03Eric should have been asleep.
07:04But as I passed the study,
07:05I noticed the light was still on.
07:07The door was closed.
07:09Locked.
07:09I pressed my ear against the door.
07:11There was no sound inside.
07:13But the light was on.
07:15I stepped back,
07:16staring at the door.
07:17What was he doing in there?
07:18Looking at that photo?
07:20Thinking of that woman?
07:21An emotion I had never felt before surged within me.
07:24Not anger.
07:25Not grievance.
07:25It was a relief.
07:27Finally,
07:27I had a reason that allowed me to leave with a clear contents.
07:30The next day,
07:31I went to see a lawyer.
07:32I wanted none of the assets.
07:34For three years,
07:35I spent plenty of his money,
07:36but it couldn't fill an empty marriage.
07:38The day the agreement was printed,
07:40Amanda called me.
07:41You ready for this?
07:42Yeah.
07:43Just hit him with irreconcilable differences.
07:44He'll agree to the divorce, right?
07:46No.
07:46I'm telling him I cheated.
07:47Even better.
07:48That'll make him walk away without a fight.
07:51Hanging up,
07:51I slid the divorce papers in an envelope.
07:53Twenty-five.
07:54Three years locked in a ghost marriage.
07:56My wild mind.
07:58Starved.
07:58My passionate heart.
08:00Homeless.
08:01A heart full of passion with nowhere to place it.
08:03I played the dutiful wife long enough.
08:05Game over now.
08:07I said I cheated.
08:08Eric asked me.
08:09Who?
08:09Panicked,
08:09I made up a name.
08:10He was just a college classmate,
08:12completely irrelevant.
08:14Lucas.
08:14Lucas.
08:15He got up,
08:17walked to the balcony,
08:17and made a call.
08:18All I could see was his stiff,
08:20straight back.
08:20When he hung up,
08:21he sat back down opposite me.
08:23Wait.
08:24Wait for what?
08:24The result.
08:25What verdict was he waiting for?
08:27I had no idea.
08:28But that word wait
08:29made me feel deeply uneasy.
08:31He just sat there.
08:32He didn't check the papers.
08:33He didn't blink at me.
08:34Just gripped the cup,
08:35staring at somewhere far away.
08:37One hour,
08:37two hours.
08:38Time dragged like quicksand
08:39under his dead,
08:40heavy silence.
08:41Three hours in,
08:42the phone tore the silence apart.
08:44Got it.
08:44So,
08:45how exactly did you cheat
08:46with a quantum physics PhD candidate in Canada?
08:49Long distance relationship?
08:50You had me investigated?
08:51He pushed his phone toward me.
08:52On the screen was a report.
08:54Lucas' photo,
08:54background,
08:55travel records,
08:56even his undergraduate GB pay
08:57were all there.
08:58Not you.
08:58Him.
08:59You said you cheated.
09:00I need to know who my opponent is.
09:01Opponent?
09:02It sounded like he was talking about a war.
09:04No shouting,
09:04no slamming doors,
09:06no tossing me out.
09:07He wasn't letting me go.
09:08My mind completely short-circuit.
09:11You didn't cheat.
09:13For the past three months,
09:14your routine hasn't changed at all.
09:17Tuesdays and Fridays,
09:18the gym in the afternoon,
09:20Wednesdays,
09:20dinner with Amanda.
09:22The rest of the time,
09:23you're mostly at home.
09:26There are no hotel charges
09:27on your bank statements,
09:28and no unrecognized numbers
09:30in your call logs
09:31lasting over three minutes.
09:32He said it casually,
09:34but every word was like a heavy hammer
09:36slamming into my chest.
09:37You have been tracking me?
09:39He didn't deny it,
09:41nor did he admit it.
09:42He just looked at me.
09:44Something in his eyes shifted.
09:46Three years of a gentle,
09:47flawless husband
09:48vanished in a heartbeat.
09:49Or rather,
09:50the mask finally shattered.
09:51What seeped through the cracks
09:52wasn't a saint.
09:53It was a monster.
09:55And my blood turned straight to ice.
09:56Grace.
09:57He called my name.
09:59Softly,
09:59gently.
10:00But it was nothing like before.
10:02It wasn't kindness anymore.
10:03It was a python,
10:04coiling around my body in the dark,
10:07tightening with every heartbeat.
10:08You can't fight it.
10:10You can't break free.
10:11If you're done with this marriage,
10:13just tell me why.
10:15Don't lie and say you cheated.
10:18Do you have any idea
10:19what those two words did to me?
10:22I shook my head.
10:23He lowered his head
10:25and laughed.
10:26There was something in that laugh
10:27that made my spine go numb.
10:30I was thinking about
10:31how to destroy him.
10:32Should I run him out of town,
10:34or just bury him?
10:35In the three hours
10:37I waited for the truth,
10:38I drafted four distinct plans.
10:41Any one of them
10:42would guarantee
10:42he'd never breathe near you again.
10:44He looked up at me,
10:45the gaze locked onto me,
10:47dead,
10:47flat,
10:48and chillingly empty.
10:49Then I realized
10:50he didn't exist.
10:51You lied to me.
10:53Warm light spilled over his face,
10:55doing nothing
10:56to melt the ice in his eyes.
10:58I stared at him,
10:59paralyzed.
11:00Three years of marriage
11:01wiped out in a single second.
11:03The gentle husband I knew
11:05was a lie.
11:06The man sitting before me now
11:07was a predator,
11:08telling me that he had planned
11:10four ways to erase a man
11:11from existence in three hours.
11:13He almost looked disappointed
11:15that the lover was a myth.
11:16For the very first time,
11:18terror gripped my soul.
11:20Even if my pathetic little lie
11:21was already exposed,
11:23I couldn't back down now.
11:24I had to run away.
11:26Deep breath,
11:27chin up.
11:27I swallowed my terror
11:28and forced my spine to straighten.
11:31Fine, yes,
11:32I didn't.
11:33But so what?
11:34I've been sick of this dead marriage
11:36for three years.
11:37We are completely wrong for each other
11:38and we are getting a divorce.
11:40I looked at his gloomy face
11:42to completely enrage him
11:44and make him sign the papers
11:45to let me go.
11:46I threw out
11:47the most vicious insult.
11:49Three years.
11:50I could wear a potato sack
11:52and you wouldn't bat an eye,
11:53let alone touch me.
11:54Why won't you just let me go?
11:56Are you hiding the fact
11:57that you're totally impotent?
12:00The moment those words left my mouth,
12:03the air in the living room
12:04stopped moving.
12:05A dead silence fell.
12:07Eric didn't retard,
12:08nor did he rage,
12:09but his cold face
12:10turned utterly dark
12:11at this very second.
12:12Like heavy,
12:13black storm clouds
12:14before a tempest,
12:15it made my spine shiver.
12:16He stared at my lips.
12:17A suffocating,
12:19terrifying pressure
12:20filled the air.
12:20He suddenly took a step forward,
12:22completely blocking
12:23all of my escape routes.
12:24A dark,
12:25suppressed laugh
12:25escaped his lips.
12:26Pure madness.
12:28He spun around,
12:29grabbed the divorce paper,
12:30and ripped it to shreds
12:31right in front of my face.
12:32The sound of tearing paper
12:34pierced the dead silence.
12:35He threw the pieces
12:36into the air.
12:38I was stunned
12:39by his frantic act,
12:41instinctively stepping backward.
12:42Run!
12:43I had to get out of here
12:44right now!
12:45Before I could even
12:46take a second step,
12:47a storching hot hand
12:48grabbed my wrist
12:49like an iron clamp.
12:50An irresistible force
12:51surged over me,
12:52and I was pulled straight
12:53into his hard embrace,
12:54the impact making my nose
12:55sting with soriness.
12:56Let me go!
12:57I struggled to push him away,
12:59but Eric didn't give me
13:00a single second.
13:01He ripped the silk tie
13:02from his neck.
13:03Before I could even scream,
13:05my wrists were bound
13:05tightly behind my back.
13:07He pinned me down
13:08onto the wide-leather sofa
13:10by his sheer physical dominance.
13:12Crapped deep in the cushions,
13:13completely paralyzed,
13:15I could only stare up
13:16as he closed in.
13:17Eric loomed over me
13:18from above,
13:19his eyes bloodshack.
13:20Where was the gentle,
13:21compassionate husband?
13:22This was a completely unhinged,
13:24psychotic beast.
13:25Sick?
13:26Impotent?
13:27For three years,
13:29I haven't touched you.
13:31Do you know why?
13:35Because you didn't want to?
13:38Because I was afraid.
13:41Afraid that once I touched you,
13:43I wouldn't be able to stop.
13:48The next second,
13:49he leant down,
13:50ruthlessly kissing my trembling lips.
13:52It wasn't a kiss at all.
13:53It was a bite,
13:55a punishment,
13:56an extreme act of possession.
13:58Three years of ice
13:58melted into pure,
14:00raging fire.
14:01His scent engulfed me,
14:02carrying an undeniable
14:03dominance and aggression.
14:05My mind went blank.
14:06All my sanity burned away
14:07by this kiss.
14:08In this burning,
14:09wild moment,
14:10my absurd theory about his
14:11infinites was thoroughly shattered.
14:13He wasn't cold.
14:14He wasn't broken.
14:15He had suppressed
14:15his terrifying possessiveness
14:16for three long years.
14:18And now,
14:18I had broken his cage
14:19with my own hands.
14:20This unleashed beast
14:22was claiming his domain
14:23in the most primal way.
14:24The night had only just begun.
14:26The next morning,
14:27blinding sunlight poured
14:28the windows,
14:28exposing the messy clothes
14:29scattered all over the floor.
14:31Eric had already gotten up.
14:32He stood by the sofa,
14:33meticulously dressed.
14:34That white shirt
14:34was once again buttoned
14:36precisely to the very top.
14:37He had returned to his usual
14:38aloof,
14:39godlike demeanor,
14:40as if the wild,
14:41out-of-control madman
14:42had never existed at all.
14:43Eyes clamped shut.
14:44I lay frozen,
14:45pretending to be asleep,
14:46while my entire body aching.
14:48I could feel him standing there.
14:49That deep,
14:50complex gaze felt almost tangible,
14:52locked dead onto me.
14:53He slowly leaned down,
14:54his cold,
14:55fragrant scent approaching.
14:56He left a kiss on my forehead.
14:58It was extremely light,
14:59yet filled with lingering attachment,
15:01even carrying a hint
15:02of fatal possessioness.
15:03Then,
15:04he stood back up.
15:05There we go.
15:05Happy night?
15:07The door closed.
15:08Only then did I snap my eyes open.
15:11I gasped heavily for air,
15:12my fingers instinctively touching my lips.
15:15They were still swollen and burning,
15:17reminding me everything that happened last night
15:19was not a dream.
15:20The man who had worn the mask
15:21of a living saint for three years
15:22was actually an absolute beast to his core.
15:26I thought I could easily handle him
15:27with a sheet of divorce papers
15:29to trade for my freedom,
15:31but who knew?
15:32I was actually playing with fire
15:34and burning myself.
15:35I hadn't just failed to escape this grave.
15:38I had personally unleashed
15:40an extremely dangerous monster.
15:42Grinching my teeth,
15:43I forced myself to sit up,
15:44desperate to adjust the pillows
15:45and flee this place as soon as possible.
15:47But the moment my hand reached beneath the pillow,
15:50my fingertips suddenly froze.
15:52Something hard,
15:53cold,
15:54wrapped in textured leather.
15:56My heart skipped a beat.
15:58I slowly pulled it out.
16:00A worn,
16:01black,
16:02heavily thumbed notebook.
16:03The edges of the cover
16:04had already worn a bit white,
16:06clearly flipped through frequently.
16:08For a clean freak,
16:09OCD-driven man like Eric,
16:11hiding a battered old book in the scouch
16:12made zero sense.
16:14It screamed of secrets.
16:16Dark secrets he couldn't let the world see.
16:18Breath shallow,
16:19hands shaking,
16:20I opened the cover.
16:23Boom.
16:24The moment it caught my eye,
16:26it felt like a bolt from the blue.
16:27My mind went completely blank.
16:30On the page,
16:31a date was written in stark contrast.
16:33It was five years ago,
16:35and taped right beside it
16:36was a slightly faded Polaroid.
16:39The girl in the photo was me.
16:41It was me during college,
16:43wearing a simple white t-shirt,
16:45laughing clartlessly.
16:46The angle of this photo
16:47was extremely hidden.
16:49It was a candid,
16:50stolen from a distant,
16:52unseen corner.
16:53I stared at the photo.
16:55The edges were curled and frayed
16:57from being rubbed,
16:59touched,
16:59and traced over and over again.
17:02It was undeniable proof
17:04of just how deeply
17:05its owner cherished it.
17:07My wrists began to shake uncontrollably,
17:10and the notebook trembled violently
17:12in my hands.
17:13No!
17:13This made no sense.
17:16How could he possibly
17:17have known me five years ago?
17:19We had only met
17:20for the very first time
17:22at a business gala
17:23three years ago,
17:24forced into a marriage
17:26because of our family's interests.
17:28So what on earth
17:29was this candid photo
17:31from five years ago?
17:33My brain went into overdrive.
17:35The cold marriage,
17:37the distant husband,
17:39the saintly facade.
17:40It all collapsed
17:42in one blinding flash.
17:44Eric,
17:46New York's golden god,
17:48wrapped in icely perfection.
17:50He had actually been stalking
17:52my life from the shadows
17:53for five long years,
17:55like a ghost lurking in the dark.
17:58He had watched me silently
17:59and obsessively
18:01for five whole years.
18:03The marriage,
18:04a setup.
18:05The coldness,
18:07a disguise.
18:08He wasn't a saint.
18:09He was a hunter,
18:11and I was the prize
18:12he had spent years cornering.
18:14I collapsed onto the sofa,
18:16completely paralyzed.
18:17I thought I was resisting
18:20a dead marriage,
18:21but I had no idea
18:22I had already fallen
18:23into his web.
18:24Just as my body went cold,
18:26the sound of steady footsteps
18:28suddenly echoed
18:29outside the living room.
18:31Step by step.
18:33Didn't Ellie already
18:34leave for the office?
18:35How could someone
18:36be coming in?
18:38I snapped my head up,
18:40slammed the notebook shut,
18:42and stared at the
18:43living room entrance.
18:45As the footsteps stopped,
18:46a figure I could have
18:48never imagined
18:49stepped into my view,
18:50breaking the suffocating silence.
18:52Why is he here?
18:55The footsteps stopped
18:56at the entrance
18:57of the living room.
18:58I clutched that
18:58black notebook tightly.
19:00Every nerve in my body
19:01strained to the limit.
19:02The person who walked in
19:03was George,
19:04Eric's old butler.
19:05He was carrying
19:05breakfast for me.
19:06He steadily placed the tray
19:08on the coffee table.
19:09His gaze swept
19:10across my pale face,
19:11then landed on the
19:12notebook in my hand.
19:13There wasn't a single
19:14shred of surprise
19:15on his face,
19:15as if he had expected
19:16me to discover
19:17all of this long ago.
19:18I stared at him warily.
19:20George, you...
19:20Ma'am,
19:21no need to be so surprised.
19:22His coldness
19:23was only because
19:24he was terrified
19:24of driving you away.
19:26Those words hit me
19:27like a physical blow.
19:28My head spun
19:28and my breath
19:29caught entirely in my throat,
19:30afraid of scaring me away,
19:31so he'd rather pretend
19:32to be an impotent loser
19:33than dare to touch me?
19:34What kind of morbid
19:35and crazy restraint
19:36is this?
19:37George didn't even
19:38blink at my shock.
19:39He slid a single object
19:40across the table,
19:41a cold,
19:42antique brass key.
19:44My blood ran cold.
19:45The forbidden key.
19:46The second drawer
19:47of Eric's study.
19:49A place where death
19:50awaited anyone
19:50who crossed the threshold.
19:52I gasped for air,
19:53his wild,
19:54predatory gaze
19:54from last night
19:55flashing through my mind,
19:56along with the five-year-old
19:58photo in the notebook.
19:59Enough.
19:59No more running.
20:01No more hiding
20:01in the dark.
20:03Psychopath or monster?
20:04I don't care anymore.
20:05I'm opening
20:06Pandora's box myself.
20:07I grabbed the key.
20:08Barefoot and broken,
20:10I stormed up the stairs.
20:11My footsteps
20:12on the solid wood stairs
20:13were hurried
20:13and resoluced.
20:14I stopped in front
20:15of the closed door,
20:16my heart pounding
20:17in my ears.
20:17I gripped the brass key,
20:19aligning it with the keyhole.
20:20With a click,
20:21the crisp lock mechanism
20:22sounded in the dead hallway.
20:23I shoved the door open,
20:25and a chilling,
20:25familiar scent
20:26instantly rushed over me.
20:27Eric,
20:28what else are you hiding
20:29in this dark,
20:30twisty sanctuary?
20:31Driven by my intuition,
20:32I walked straight to the desk.
20:34I inserted that brass key
20:36hard into the second
20:37locked drawer.
20:38To a sharp click,
20:40I pulled the drawer open.
20:41Tucked inside
20:42lay several thick,
20:43heavy manly envelopes.
20:45My fingertips trembled
20:46as I ripped open the seals.
20:48In an instant,
20:49countless photos
20:50scattered all over the floor
20:51like a burst dam.
20:52I stared at the photos
20:53on the floor,
20:54my scalp tingling.
20:55Photos everywhere.
20:56Fitting rooms,
20:57gym sessions,
20:58lazy afternoons
20:59eating strawberries.
21:00Every private second
21:01of my life
21:01had been watched,
21:02frozen in time,
21:03and locked in his drawer.
21:05My knees buckled.
21:06I collapsed into the chair,
21:07chest heaving.
21:08He wasn't a cold CEO.
21:09He was a master stalker
21:11lurking in the shadows.
21:12A psychotic predator
21:14who wore a saint's mask
21:15by day
21:15while worshipping
21:16my shadow in secret.
21:18The sheer crushing weight
21:19of his obsession
21:20made it hard to breathe.
21:22And then,
21:22the fear melted
21:23into a terrifying
21:24electric thrill.
21:25I was never abandoned.
21:27I was his entire universe.
21:29Caught forever in a web,
21:30he spent a lifetime spinning.
21:32I bent down,
21:33picking up the photos.
21:34Just then,
21:35a note pressed
21:36at the very bottom
21:37of the drawer
21:37caught my eye.
21:38The handwriting
21:38was bold and sharp.
21:40It was Eric's.
21:41A complete dossier
21:42on Amanda's every move,
21:43ending with a chilling decree.
21:45Let her dig her own grave.
21:46He knew.
21:47He had known
21:48about Amanda's treachery
21:49all along.
21:50He watched that bitch
21:51play her victim act.
21:52He just sat back
21:53in the shadows,
21:54letting her hang herself
21:54with her own rope.
21:56He was waiting.
21:57Waiting for me
21:58to see the situation
21:58clearly myself.
22:00Waiting for that snake
22:00to expose herself.
22:02His mind was an abyss.
22:03Terrifying,
22:04brilliant,
22:04and entirely untouchable.
22:06The phone suddenly
22:06rang urgently.
22:07The screen flashed
22:08the name Amanda.
22:09I took a deep breath
22:10and picked up the call.
22:11Grace,
22:11get over here.
22:12Now.
22:13Eric's hiding
22:13something huge.
22:16I hung up,
22:17grabbed the car keys,
22:18and strode out of the villa.
22:21My car roared
22:22out of the garage,
22:23heading straight
22:23to a Japanese restaurant.
22:25Game on, Amanda.
22:27You wanted a stage?
22:28I'll give you
22:29a front row seat
22:30to your own downfall.
22:31Let's see how long
22:32that pathetic clown act lasts.
22:34Once I tear it apart.
22:36I kicked open the door.
22:38Amanda was already there,
22:39her eyes red-rimmed.
22:41Seeing me,
22:42she hurried forward
22:42and seized my hand.
22:44Tears fell.
22:45Grace,
22:46you're finally here!
22:47Eric!
22:47Eric is a monster!
22:49Sobbing,
22:49she trembles
22:50as she unzips
22:51her designer bag.
22:52With a rustle,
22:53she dumps several photos
22:54onto the table,
22:55pushing them straight
22:56in front of me.
22:56I look down,
22:57a cold sneer
22:58rising in my chest.
22:59It is actually me
23:01buying medicine
23:01at the pharmacy
23:02the other day,
23:03captured from a deceptive angle
23:05with a young male clerk.
23:06The angle is
23:07incredibly sneaky.
23:09In the pictures,
23:10we look almost
23:10glued together,
23:11as if we are engaged
23:13in some shameful,
23:14intimate transaction.
23:15I spent a fortune
23:16back from a paparazzi.
23:17That bastard Eric!
23:18He hired someone
23:19to stalk you!
23:20He's trying to frame you
23:22for cheating
23:22and ruining your life!
23:24Looking at her face,
23:26slightly twisted
23:27with jealousy
23:27and excitement,
23:28I almost want to give her
23:29a standing ovation.
23:31What a classic case
23:32of the thief
23:32crying thief.
23:33If I hadn't already
23:34found the evidence
23:35of her bribing
23:36the paparazzi,
23:36I might have actually
23:37been fooled
23:38by this act.
23:39Her entire goal?
23:40To weaponize
23:40fake infidelity proof,
23:42blow up my marriage,
23:43and watch me crash
23:44and burn.
23:45She thought she was
23:45pulling the strings,
23:46waiting for me
23:47to throw a screaming fit
23:48and go to war with Eric.
23:50Sorry, darling.
23:50Wrong script.
23:51Wrong player.
23:52I coldly pick up
23:53the sake in front of me,
23:55tilt my head back,
23:56and drain it in one gust.
23:57The icy liquid
23:58slides down my throat.
23:59With a razor-sharp gaze,
24:01I stare at her.
24:02The air in the room
24:03grows strangely quiet.
24:04I don't get mad
24:05as Amanda expected,
24:06nor do I smash cups
24:07or slam tables.
24:08I just quietly
24:09watch her perform.
24:10Amanda's crying
24:11hitches slightly,
24:11a fleeting hint of panic
24:13flashing in her eye.
24:14She probably thinks
24:15she hasn't pushed
24:15hard enough.
24:16She grits her teeth.
24:17Her hand quietly sliding
24:19towards the inner pocket
24:20of her bag.
24:21There,
24:21something even more fatal
24:22seems to be hidden.
24:24A flicker of excitement
24:25flashed in Amanda's eyes.
24:26She reached into
24:27the hidden compartment
24:28of her bag
24:28and pulled out
24:29a neatly bound
24:30divorce agreement.
24:31Before I could react,
24:32she shoved it
24:33into my hands.
24:34You can't just roll over
24:35and take this.
24:36Eric is out
24:37to destroy you.
24:38Look,
24:39I got a top attorney
24:39to draft this on the fly.
24:41This is your leverage.
24:42Take it.
24:43You'll get a clean break,
24:44ditch his tail
24:44once and for all,
24:45and take a huge chunk
24:46of his equity.
24:49I kept my head down,
24:51remaining silent.
24:52My fingers gently traced
24:54the paper.
24:55Then I saw it.
24:57Tiny, hidden print
24:59at the very bottom right.
25:01This urgently drafted
25:02agreement was printed
25:03a full month ago.
25:04My brain clicked.
25:06It wasn't a peace offering.
25:08It was a calculated trap.
25:10Amanda and her little crew
25:11didn't just want me to vent.
25:13They set me up for execution.
25:15Those photos were merely
25:16the bait to drive me crazy
25:17and enrage Eric.
25:19This agreement,
25:20prepared a month ago,
25:21was her true target
25:22all along.
25:23She wanted my outburst
25:24to kick me out for good
25:26and scoop up a mountain
25:27of wealth in my place.
25:28Looking at her face,
25:30twisted with greed,
25:31I saw right through
25:32her dirty little game.
25:33My grip tightened
25:34on the paper.
25:35I stayed calm.
25:36Nice try, Amanda.
25:37But you're way out
25:38of your league.
25:40I hide the smirk
25:41in my eyes,
25:42putting on a brilliant show
25:44of blind fury
25:44and total despair.
25:46Without making a sound,
25:47I sweep that agreement
25:48and those photos
25:49all into my bag.
25:50I know what to do.
25:52I stand up abuppetly,
25:54my chair scraping harshly
25:55against the tatami mat.
25:57I coldly drop those words
25:58and leave the private room.
26:02The red Polari
26:03is like a beast
26:04tearing through the night,
26:06hurtling straight
26:06to Eric's villa.
26:07I step in my high heels,
26:09every single step
26:10falling with a decisive,
26:12ruthless rhythm.
26:13I throw open the doors,
26:14completely ignoring George
26:16as he approaches.
26:17I stride straight
26:17to the center of the room.
26:19Eric is sitting on the sofa,
26:20flipping through a thick file,
26:21not a single wrinkle
26:22on his crisp white shirt.
26:24Seeing him so damn calm
26:25and collected,
26:26the fire in my chest hit.
26:27Absolute boiling point.
26:29I walk right up to him.
26:31No detours.
26:32No testing the water.
26:33I slam the agreement
26:34and those fake photos
26:35onto the table.
26:36The photos scatter everywhere.
26:38I look down at him.
26:40My eyes as sharp as knives.
26:41Stop pretending.
26:42I saw the note
26:43at the bottom of your drawer.
26:45Amanda has already
26:46handed the knife to me.
26:47You set up such a massive trap,
26:49wasn't it just waiting
26:50for me to drag her out myself?
26:51I expected him to panic.
26:53Instead, Eric just stared down
26:54at the photos and the papers.
26:55Not a single trace of surprise,
26:57just a low,
26:58chilling chuckle.
26:59That laugh screamed
27:01absolute sadistic control.
27:03Slowly,
27:04his slender fingers
27:05loosened his tie.
27:06The saintly mask
27:07of a disciplined gentleman,
27:09gone for good.
27:10He just stands up
27:11and strides toward the bookcase.
27:13He presses a hidden button
27:14without hesitation.
27:15With a heavy mechanical rumble,
27:17the massive bookcase
27:18slowly splits down the middle.
27:19Eric pulls a cardboard box
27:21out of the secret compartment.
27:22He dumps the whole box
27:23onto the coffin table.
27:24Five years of logs,
27:26Amanda bribing hackers
27:27to spy on me,
27:28massive bank transfers
27:29to paparazzi,
27:30and a USB drive
27:31with recordings of her
27:31paying her cousin
27:32to fake that agreement.
27:34Ironclad evidence,
27:35enough to crush Amanda
27:36for good.
27:37Leaning heavily on the table,
27:38Eric locked his burning eyes
27:40onto mine.
27:41I stared at the evidence
27:42scattered all over the table.
27:43The rage completely
27:44burned through my sanity.
27:45A cutthroat elite?
27:47Me?
27:47Easy target?
27:48Think again.
27:48I grabbed the fake photos
27:50right in front of Eric
27:50and poured them to pieces.
27:51No hesitation.
27:52Just raw destruction.
27:53The torn pieces drifted down
27:54like snowflakes
27:55between the two of us.
27:56I raised my chin,
27:57locking eyes with him,
27:57our gazes burning
27:58with the exact same lethal edge.
28:00Eric.
28:01Clean house.
28:01I want her to wish
28:02she were dead.
28:03The moment those words
28:03left my mouth,
28:04the air in the living room
28:05instantly ignited,
28:06and Eric's deep, dark eyes,
28:08the mask of suppression
28:09and restraint cracked.
28:10A thrilling euphoria
28:11spread wildly through his gaze.
28:12He looked at me,
28:13a highly dangerous curve
28:14tugging at the corner
28:15of his lip.
28:16He pulled his phone out
28:17and dialed Zane.
28:17His voice dropped
28:18to absolute zero cold
28:20as an arctic glacier.
28:21Zane, wipe her out.
28:23Cute every cent to her company
28:24and seal all her exits.
28:26I want a total,
28:27brutal takedown.
28:29Make this the reckless bitch
28:30learn what it's like
28:31to crash from heaven
28:31straight down to hell
28:32in a second.
28:33Every single word
28:34carried a world-destroying intent.
28:36The terrifying power
28:37was fully unleashed
28:38in this very second.
28:39All me,
28:40hanging up the phone.
28:41Eric tossed it onto the sofa.
28:42He walked toward me,
28:44radiating a suffocating,
28:45ultimate possefinous
28:46that made me shiver.
28:47We stood side by side
28:48in the middle of the wreckage,
28:49staring out into
28:50the pitch black night.
28:51Amanda,
28:52are you still dreaming?
28:53You think you hold
28:54all the cards,
28:55but you have no clue
28:56what's coming for you.
28:58The next morning,
28:59Amanda sat in her office,
29:00still waiting to hear
29:01news of my fallout with Eric.
29:02What she got instead
29:03was a knock on hell's door.
29:05The office door
29:06was kicked open.
29:07Eric's assistant,
29:08Zane,
29:09stormed in
29:10with his bodyguards.
29:11With a wave of his hand,
29:12the guards locked down
29:13the office.
29:14Right in front of her,
29:15they slapped official
29:16seizure seals
29:17across the walls.
29:18It bolted out of her chair,
29:19white as a sheet.
29:20Eric's business empire
29:21unleashed its most terrifying
29:22media machine.
29:23City billboards
29:24and socialite chats
29:25lit up simultaneously.
29:26Hacker logs,
29:27bribe audio,
29:28and humiliating footage
29:29of her throwing herself
29:29at Eric.
29:30Flashed across the entire city,
29:32zero blind spots.
29:33Her 20-year saintly personality
29:34totally obliterated.
29:36Her phone blew up
29:37like a countdown to doom.
29:38Clients bailing,
29:40deletes blocking her,
29:41banks freezing her assets,
29:43wealth,
29:44status,
29:45and pride
29:45all gone in a heartbeat.
29:47Thumbling to the window,
29:48she saw her own
29:49grotesque reflection
29:50on the massive screen below.
29:52Oh no, no!
29:54Amanda completely lost her mind.
29:57She thought she was playing us.
29:58She had no idea.
30:00In Eric's eyes,
30:02this is what happens
30:03when you dare to touch me.
30:04Zane stepped forward,
30:05bringing his foot down hard
30:07on her forged agreement.
30:08He looked down at her
30:09like she was absolute trash.
30:11Once crossing Mrs. Blackwell,
30:12you don't even get to pick
30:13the day you die.
30:14With a single gesture,
30:15the guards hoisted her up
30:16like a helpless chicken.
30:17Despite her desperate
30:18kicks and screams,
30:19she was ruthlessly chucked
30:20through the revolving doors.
30:22She hit the hard asphalt,
30:23exposed to the mocking
30:25stares of the crowd.
30:26But even in the dirt,
30:28venom burned in her eyes.
30:30Gritting her teeth,
30:32she dragged herself back up.
30:35Thrown onto the street,
30:37Amanda was a disraveled mess.
30:38She had completely
30:39lost all sanity.
30:40She hailed a cab
30:41and rushed straight
30:42to our home.
30:43Clinging to the heavy iron gates,
30:44she banged on them frantically.
30:46She shrieked to see Eric,
30:47desperately trying to use
30:48whatever sob story
30:49she had left
30:50to turn the tables on me.
30:51Eric!
30:52It's me!
30:53Amanda!
30:53Please let me explain!
30:56Right at the peak of her screams,
30:57the heavy gates slowly swung open.
30:59I stepped out in a fiery red,
31:01hot couture silk robe,
31:02crossing my arms
31:03as I looked down at her.
31:04Amanda froze.
31:05A venomous glare
31:05instantly shot from her eyes.
31:07Just as she opened her mouth
31:08to snap,
31:08I slammed the thick stack
31:09of forged evidence
31:10right into her face.
31:11The sharp paper edges
31:12sliced her cheek,
31:13leading a thin,
31:14bloody scratch.
31:15Files rained down
31:16over her like snow.
31:17With my eyes blazing,
31:18I glared right back down at her.
31:20Amanda,
31:20the show is over.
31:21Did you seriously think
31:22your pathetic acting
31:23could fool Eric?
31:24Did you really think
31:25you could play me for a fool?
31:26Take a good look in the mirror.
31:27I walked toward her,
31:28step by step,
31:29and in front of everyone,
31:31I exposed every dirty trick
31:32she had hidden in the dark.
31:34Did you think a few fake photos
31:35would drive us to divorce?
31:36Did you think paying off
31:37your cousin to forge an agreement
31:39would get you a piece
31:40of our massive wealth?
31:41You idiot.
31:42From beginning to end,
31:43you were nothing but a pawn
31:44I used to test Eric.
31:46You were just the spark
31:47I needed to rip off his mass
31:49Now that the fire is blazing,
31:50you've served your purpose,
31:51and it's time for you
31:52to burn to ashes.
31:54Amanda was struck dumb.
31:55The scheme she prided herself on?
31:57Worthless.
31:58Pale and trembling,
32:00she stared at the evidence,
32:01finally realizing
32:02she had provoked
32:02the untouchables.
32:03She was done.
32:04Completely,
32:05utterly wiped out.
32:07Collapsing onto the cold steps
32:08in absolute despair,
32:09she knew there was
32:10no way back.
32:10But jealousy and resentment
32:12gnawed away her last shred
32:13of sanity like venomous vipers.
32:14Just as I turned
32:15to signal the guards,
32:16she bolted up like a corpse
32:18rising from the dead.
32:19With a death grip on my robe
32:20and a face twisted by madness,
32:22she flashed a hair-living grin.
32:24Channeling every last ounce
32:25of spite,
32:26she shrieked out
32:27her final venomous curse.
32:29Grace!
32:29You think you've won?
32:31You have no idea
32:32what kind of monster
32:33Eric really is!
32:35I froze,
32:35brow fumbling.
32:36A monster?
32:39Amanda clutched my robe
32:41with a death grip,
32:42screaming.
32:42Wake up!
32:43Eric is no angel.
32:44He's a psycho
32:45with deep-rooted mental issues.
32:47He drove an ex
32:48completely insane
32:49with his toxic control.
32:51Go ahead!
32:52Destroy me!
32:53But you're just chaining yourself
32:54to a monster
32:55for the rest of your life!
32:56Her manic laughter
32:57shattered the morning air.
32:58I frowned,
32:59looking down.
33:00I knew she was just thrashing
33:01in her dying breath,
33:03trying to drive a wedge
33:03between us.
33:05Still,
33:05the label monster
33:06with a psychological defect
33:07pierced my nerves
33:09like a poisoned thorn.
33:10A flicker of doubt
33:11crossed my mind.
33:12What was Eric's past
33:14really hiding?
33:15Just as my mind
33:15was thrown into chaos,
33:17the villa door
33:17was flung open.
33:18George strode out
33:19with a stony face.
33:20Gone was his usual
33:20gentle meniner.
33:21He walked right up to me,
33:23raised his leg
33:24without hesitation,
33:25and kicked Amanda's
33:26filthy hand away.
33:27He looked down at her.
33:28Shut your filthy mouth!
33:30You're about to be wiped out,
33:31and you're still
33:33running your mouth
33:33to sow discord?
33:35Mr. Backwell
33:36has only ever had eyes
33:38on Mrs. Blackwell.
33:39That ex-girlfriend lie?
33:41Nothing more than
33:42a dirty hit piece
33:42pulled by a rival company
33:44years ago.
33:44George's words
33:45were powerful and resonant,
33:47like a stinging slap
33:48directly to Amanda's face,
33:50completely crushing
33:50her final,
33:51wicked illusion.
33:52Drag her away.
33:53Don't let her filth
33:54offend the madam's eyes.
33:57Several bodyguards
33:58lunged forward.
33:59They dragged Amanda away.
34:01Her cream grew fainter
34:03until vanished
34:03down the road.
34:05Finally,
34:05the mess was cleared.
34:07The villa entrance
34:08slipped back into quiet
34:08peace.
34:10Standing there,
34:11I let out a long breath.
34:13My tightly wound nerves
34:14finally let go,
34:15but George's words
34:16sparked a tempest
34:17in my brain.
34:18He never touched
34:18another woman besides me.
34:20Three years of emotional ice,
34:22a secret photo
34:22from five years ago,
34:24and his terrifying,
34:25suffocating possessiveness.
34:26Just how deep
34:27does this man's rabbit hole go?
34:30Madam,
34:30I know you have your doubts.
34:32Mr. Bankwack
34:33would never dare
34:33care to explain himself,
34:35and it's not my place
34:35to speak for him.
34:37However,
34:38the truth is right here.
34:39My hands trembled
34:40as I took the note,
34:42slowly unopling it.
34:43An extremely secretive address
34:45was written on it.
34:46A house located
34:47in the suburbs.
34:48I gripped the paper tightly.
34:50The ultimate truth
34:51was finally within reach.
34:52I marched to my red Ferrari.
34:54Foot to the floor,
34:55the engine screamed,
34:56and the sports car
34:57vanished into the distance.
34:59Go, ma'am.
35:00The ultimate truth
35:01that Mr. Blackwell
35:02has hidden for five years
35:03is all there.
35:05The roar of the engine
35:07couldn't drown out
35:07my racing heartbeat.
35:09With a screeching halt,
35:10the sports car pulled up
35:11right outside
35:11the quiet wooden cabin.
35:13I didn't even
35:13pull the key out.
35:14Stepping out in my heels,
35:15I flung open
35:16the wooden gate.
35:17There in the courtyard,
35:18under the dippled shadows
35:19of the trees,
35:19was the retired patriarch
35:21of the Blackwell family,
35:22Eric's grandpa,
35:22slowly watering his flowers.
35:24Hearing the noise,
35:25he turned around.
35:26Seeing me panting and anxious,
35:28a flicker of relief
35:28and warmth
35:29crossed his weathered eyes.
35:30Grace,
35:31you're finally here.
35:33Eric has kept you
35:34in the dark
35:34for far too long.
35:36Grandpa,
35:37what is going on?
35:39Five years ago,
35:40what really happened
35:41back then?
35:42Grandpa sat down
35:43the watering can,
35:44gesturing to two cups
35:45of tea on the table,
35:46as if he had known
35:47I'd come all along.
35:49Five years ago,
35:51at the university cafeteria,
35:52Eric was giving
35:53a business speech
35:54at his old school.
35:55But the second
35:56he spotted you
35:56in the crowd,
35:57that cold,
35:58heartless iceberg of his
35:59completely lost his mind
36:01over you.
36:02My mind went
36:03completely blank.
36:04Five years ago,
36:05the university cafeteria,
36:06the secret photo
36:07in that black notebook,
36:08me laughing in the sunlight,
36:10flashed through my mind.
36:11It was never a coincidence.
36:13You thought your marriage
36:14three years ago
36:15was forced by the family elders?
36:16Wrong.
36:17It was Eric
36:18who used every ounce
36:19of his power and resources.
36:21He even traded away
36:22the family's core interests
36:23just to force your father
36:25to marry you to him.
36:26He was terrified
36:27that the wild possessiveness
36:29in his bones
36:29would scare away
36:30a free spirit like you.
36:32So,
36:33he forced himself
36:34to wear that mask
36:34of cold restraint.
36:36He would rather pretend
36:37to be a celibate cripple
36:38than let you see
36:39the absolute madness
36:40in his eyes.
36:41I froze dead in my tracks,
36:42an invisible hand
36:43squeezing the breath
36:44out of my heart.
36:44That suffocating marriage
36:45wasn't a dead end at all.
36:46It was a calculated,
36:47desperate gamble
36:48he had planned
36:48from day one.
36:49Grandpa sighed,
36:50his voice heavy
36:51with heartache.
36:52The whole puzzle
36:52fell into place.
36:53Three years of coldness?
36:55No.
36:56It was a shelter
36:56woven from an obsession
36:58so deep it scared people.
36:59He didn't lack love.
37:01He loved me
37:01to the point of madness.
37:03Tears spilled over,
37:04drowning my vision.
37:04I couldn't take
37:05another second of it.
37:06I spun around,
37:07sprinted to the Ferrari
37:08and floored the gas.
37:09The engine roared,
37:10tearing through the dark night
37:11like a bullet.
37:12Eric!
37:13You absolute lunatic!
37:14With brakes screeching
37:16to a halt,
37:16the villa was pitch black,
37:17dead silent,
37:18empty.
37:21I pushed open the door.
37:23The night wind rushed
37:24into the living room.
37:25The entire villa
37:26was in absolute darkness.
37:28With my heart
37:29cammering against my ribs,
37:30I didn't even bother
37:31changing my shoes,
37:32rushing eagerly
37:33into the dark living room
37:34in my slippers.
37:35Eric!
37:37No response,
37:38only the echo
37:39of my own voice
37:40ringing through
37:40the empty house.
37:41Just as I thought
37:42he wasn't home
37:43and turned to reach
37:43for the light switch,
37:44I caught sight
37:45of a tall,
37:46dark silhouette
37:47curled up in the shadows
37:48near the sofa,
37:49illuminated only
37:49by the faint moonlight.
37:50I froze,
37:52slowing my steps
37:53and walked toward him.
37:54The ruthless business tycoon,
37:55the man who ruled
37:56New York's elite,
37:57was slumped helplessly
37:58on the cold floor.
37:59His immaculate white shirt
38:00was completely deshambled,
38:01collar wide opened.
38:02His head hung low,
38:03broad shoulders trembling,
38:04and clutched
38:05in his long,
38:05bony fingers
38:06was the very silk tie
38:07he had used
38:08to bind my wrists
38:08last night.
38:09He gripped it so violently
38:10his knuckles
38:11were stark white,
38:12as if it were
38:12the only lifeline
38:13left in his entire world.
38:16My heart sank.
38:17Is this really
38:18the untouchable Eric?
38:19No.
38:20This was a wounded beast,
38:21completely hollowed out.
38:22He whipped his head up,
38:23bloodshot eyes,
38:25blazing red veins,
38:26and raw agony
38:26locked onto me.
38:27The madness and control
38:28were completely gone.
38:30He looked at me
38:30like a prisoner
38:31awaiting a death sentence,
38:32terrified of the final verdict.
38:35Every mask was stripped away,
38:37leaving only his raw,
38:38desperate terror
38:39of losing me.
38:40Total silence.
38:42No sudden moves,
38:43no trapping me
38:44in his arms like before.
38:45He just sat on the cold floor,
38:47looking up with tear-glazed eyes,
38:49waiting for me
38:50to cast him into the abyss.
38:52Looking at the man
38:53who locked me
38:54in a lifelong prison of love,
38:55my armor shattered.
38:57I couldn't hold back anymore.
38:58I stepped out of the dark,
39:00walking towards him
39:01step by step.
39:03Eric,
39:04our five-year game
39:05of hide-and-seek,
39:06with this hidden love of ours,
39:08finally ends tonight.
39:10Step by step,
39:11I closed the distance.
39:13The untouchable tycoon,
39:14reduced to a terrified child,
39:16staring up
39:17as if a single word of divorce
39:18would shatter his world.
39:20My armor,
39:22completely gone.
39:23I dropped to my knees
39:24right in front of him,
39:25snatching the tie
39:26from his white-knuckled grip.
39:27He thought I was going
39:28to beat him with it.
39:29Instead,
39:30I cuffed his trembling wrist
39:31with one end
39:32and slammed the other end
39:34around my own,
39:35tying a tight,
39:36unbreakable knot.
39:37Eric stopped breathing.
39:39Staring at our bound wrists
39:40in total shock,
39:41he whipped his head up.
39:43A fierce,
39:44overwhelming storm of emotion
39:45exploded in his blood-shut eyes.
39:47Grace.
39:48Aren't you afraid
39:49of me running away?
39:50Well, now,
39:52I've tied myself to you.
39:54I lunged forward,
39:55wrapping my arms around him
39:56in a fierce,
39:56unbreakable hug.
39:58Forget the loveless marriage.
39:59This wild,
40:00unhinged obsession.
40:02This was all I ever
40:03wanted.
40:04Frozen for a heartbeat,
40:06Eric let out a raw,
40:07guterial groan.
40:08Then he seized control.
40:10His massive arms
40:11slammed around me,
40:12crushing me against him
40:13as if he wanted
40:14to swallow me whole,
40:15merging us into one.
40:17The self-imposed shackles
40:18were locked tight by choice.
40:19In the shadows,
40:20his kiss was desperate,
40:22frantic,
40:22and dizzying,
40:23overflowing with the mad joy
40:24of a survivor
40:25reclaiming his world
40:26and a greedy,
40:28burning hunger.
40:29Silence in the villa,
40:30but a storm of body and soul.
40:32Five years of hidden devotion
40:33and three years of torture
40:35finally hit their ultimate,
40:37explosive payoff.
40:38But there's a catch.
40:39When a five-year,
40:41pent-upped beast
40:41finally drops all pretenses
40:43and lets loose?
40:45Yeah.
40:46I totally miscalculated
40:48his brand of crazy.
40:49Next morning,
40:50crawling out of bed,
40:51feeling like my bones
40:52had been put through a blender,
40:53I took one look
40:54at the aftermath
40:55and finally got the joke
40:57of inviting a wolf
40:58into the fold.
41:01Tonight's the night
41:02New York's most exclusive
41:03elite gala.
41:04Eric and I walked in,
41:05fingers locked so tight
41:06you couldn't slide
41:06a razor blade between them.
41:07The man who used
41:08to button his collar
41:09to his chin?
41:09Today,
41:10he left two buttons open.
41:11Even his tie bore my knot.
41:12Wherever we walked,
41:13jaws hit the floor.
41:15Was this really
41:15the untouchable man
41:16once deemed immune
41:17to mortal desires?
41:18He was an absolute,
41:20boundary-free,
41:20wife-slave.
41:21Of course,
41:22peace never lasts long.
41:23Holding my champagne,
41:25watching the crowd whisper,
41:26I knew someone was about
41:27to step up
41:28and try their luck.
41:29Eric,
41:29I've heard so much about you.
41:31Let me buy you a drink.
41:33A rich heiress
41:34dressed sotted over
41:35with a wine glass,
41:36swaying her hips.
41:37Her voice was so sugary
41:38it could make your skin crawl.
41:39She even intentionally
41:40pulled her neckline lower,
41:41her eyes practically glued
41:42to Eric.
41:43I raised an eyebrow,
41:44stepping back half a pace
41:45to enjoy the show.
41:46After all,
41:47cold as Eric used to be,
41:48he would at least maintain
41:49a surface-level politeness
41:50for the family's reputation.
41:51But the Eric now?
41:52He didn't even blink.
41:53His gaze was locked onto me,
41:54as if that woman
41:55was nothing but thin air.
41:56The iris couldn't save face,
41:57gritting her teeth.
41:58He twisted her ankle,
41:59throwing her entire body
42:00straight toward Eric's chest.
42:01The entire hall gasped,
42:02but not only did Eric not reach out,
42:04but he acted as if
42:04he was dodging some trash.
42:05He suddenly grabbed my waist,
42:07pulling me back in an instant.
42:08The iris fell flat.
42:09Red wine spilled all over,
42:10making her look
42:11incredibly pitiful.
42:11Complete silence fell
42:12over the room.
42:13Baby, did that hurt
42:13if you touch you?
42:15Oh my!
42:15The iris on the floor
42:16fled in absolute humiliation,
42:18covering her face.
42:19Looking at Eric's
42:19completely unapologetic face,
42:21I was utterly thrilled.
42:22With his arm around my waist,
42:23in front of everyone,
42:24he leaned down
42:25and printed a kiss
42:25on my lips.
42:26Let's go, Grace.
42:27It's too noisy here.
42:28He pulled me along,
42:29walking out of the banquet hall.
42:30But when I was stuffed
42:31into the back seat
42:32of the Rolls Royce,
42:33I realized something was wrong.
42:35Baby, you dress so showingly today.
42:37Shouldn't you give me
42:39some compensation?
42:40His slender fingers
42:41gently traced my back,
42:42his voice incredibly husky.
42:43My heart skipped a beat.
42:44This beast could never be satisfied.
42:47The back seat was spacious,
42:49yet suffocating.
42:50As the privacy perdition
42:52slowly rolled up,
42:53the entire cabin
42:54instantly became
42:55an absolutely private sanctuary.
42:57Eric's dark, deep eyes
42:58were locked onto me.
42:59His slender fingers,
43:00carrying a burning heat,
43:02slid slowly up my back,
43:03inch by inch,
43:04sending shivers.
43:05Seeing him completely
43:06drown in jealousy,
43:07my heart was practically dancing.
43:09I deliberately leaned in close,
43:11a mischievous smirk
43:12playing on my lips.
43:13Back at the banquet,
43:14at least thirteen men
43:15had their eyes glued
43:16to your back.
43:16Are you jealous?
43:18It's haute couture.
43:19How could it look good
43:20without showing my back?
43:21I thought he'd mask it
43:22with silence like before,
43:24but I forgot.
43:24He had already torn off
43:26his disguise.
43:27Eric, what are you doing?
43:28He stripped off his suit jacket
43:30and wrapped me up tight in it.
43:31Then, he ripped off
43:32the silk tie,
43:33bound my hands together
43:34swiftly,
43:35gently but firmly.
43:36He pinned me down
43:37onto the wide leather seat.
43:39The possessiveness in his eyes
43:40was so thick
43:41it was almost tangible.
43:42He stopped holding back
43:44and his burning kisses
43:45landed relentlessly.
43:46From my lips,
43:47to my neck,
43:48and down to my collarbone.
43:49I completely lost myself
43:51in this deep love.
43:52Last night's marathon
43:53nearly put me in the grave.
43:54Next morning,
43:55crawling out of bed
43:56with a broken back,
43:57I noticed the bed was empty.
43:58Wandering out for water,
44:00I looked over the balcony
44:01and stopped breathing.
44:02Downstairs,
44:03Zane and 20 top executives
44:05of the Blackwell Group
44:06sitting in there,
44:07dead silence.
44:08And at the center,
44:09Eric,
44:10chilling in casual loungewear,
44:11casually reviewing
44:12a multi-billion dollar
44:13corporate report
44:14like it's morning cartoons.
44:15The man literally brought
44:17the entire board meeting home
44:18because he couldn't
44:19leave me alone.
44:20Seeing me at the door,
44:21Eric cut off
44:22the executive mid-word,
44:23waving his hand.
44:24His gaze snapped
44:25at me instantly.
44:27I stood lazily
44:28at the top of the stairs,
44:29wearing nothing
44:30but a thin,
44:31silk nightgown.
44:32Down in the living room,
44:33over 20 executives
44:35in their sharp suits
44:36snapped their heads up,
44:37all of their eyes
44:38landing on me.
44:39For one second,
44:40the air was dead silent.
44:42In the next second,
44:44the custom flouten pen
44:45in Eric's hand
44:45was snapped in half
44:46by his sheer force.
44:48His expressionless face
44:49instantly darkened
44:50to the absolute extreme.
44:51All of you,
44:52turn around.
44:53Close your eyes.
44:54All executives
44:55turned around
44:55in perfect uniform,
44:56facing the wall.
44:57Before I could even react,
44:59Eric had already
45:00charged up the stairs.
45:01He ripped off
45:02his loungewear jacket
45:03and wrapped me
45:03from head to toe,
45:04leaving not even
45:05a single strand of hair
45:06for anyone else to see.
45:07He carried me in his arms
45:09and strode back
45:10into the bedroom,
45:11ticking the door shut.
45:12He left the executives
45:12downstairs,
45:13whose jaws
45:14had practically detached
45:15from shock,
45:16completely locked outside.
45:17Eric, are you insane?
45:18You're holding
45:19a board meeting!
45:22How could a meeting
45:23be more important
45:23than you?
45:24If they look at you
45:25even one more time,
45:27I'll gouge their eyes out.
45:28He turned around,
45:29pulled a thick document
45:30from the safe
45:30and presented it to me.
45:32I looked down
45:32and my breath
45:33caught in my throat.
45:34It wasn't some
45:34ordinary contract.
45:35It was a 100%
45:37equity transfer agreement,
45:38along with all the properties,
45:39funds,
45:40and offshore trusts
45:41under his name.
45:41Hundreds of billions
45:42in immense wealth,
45:44all unconditionally
45:44transferred to Grace.
45:45My hands trembled,
45:47eyes stinging.
45:48The most ruthless man
45:49in New York
45:50was handing over
45:50his entire kingdom
45:51just to buy a fraction
45:52of security from me.
45:54No hesitation.
45:55I picked up the pen
45:56and signed.
45:57A dangerous,
45:58ecstastic fire
45:59lit up his eyes
46:00and he pinned me
46:01to the mattress.
46:01A frantic,
46:02ear-shattering pounding
46:03hammered against
46:03the front door.
46:04My blood ran cold.
46:06Hold on.
46:07Wasn't Amanda
46:07completely wiped out?
46:09Eric, do you have
46:10any idea what this means?
46:11If I sign this,
46:12you'll be a penniless bregger.
46:13I know.
46:15Grace,
46:16now that this beast
46:17of mine has escaped
46:18its cage,
46:19it can never
46:20be locked up again.
46:21I'm terrified
46:22that my suffocating
46:23possessiveness
46:23will make you
46:24feel trapped one day.
46:25So,
46:26I am placing my lifeblood,
46:27my entire wealth,
46:28in your hands.
46:29If you are ever unhappy,
46:30you can tell me
46:31to get lost
46:32at any time.
46:33If I do this,
46:35will you promise
46:36never to leave me?
46:37Fine, Eric.
46:38I accept your life.
46:41Something has happened!
46:44I gripped the blanket
46:45in panic,
46:46a cold sweat
46:47breaking out
46:47across my back.
46:48Had I contracted
46:49some terminal illness?
46:51Zane,
46:52if you don't have
46:52a damn good reason
46:53for this,
46:53I will personally
46:54throw you off
46:55the top of this building.
46:56Mr. Blinkwack,
46:57the full physical exam
46:58you had the private doctor
46:59run on the madam yesterday,
47:00the expedited blood report
47:02is in.
47:02Eric snatched the report.
47:04His sharp eyes
47:05were now locked
47:05onto the very last line
47:07of the paper.
47:07He froze completely
47:08on the spot
47:09as if struck by lightning.
47:10His face turned
47:11visibly crimson
47:12and even his hands
47:12shook uncontrollably.
47:14I was on the verge
47:14of tears,
47:15my eyes welling up
47:16with red.
47:17But he suddenly
47:17spun around
47:18and lunged
47:18towards the bed.
47:19With a thud,
47:20he dropped directly
47:20onto one knee
47:21right beside my bed.
47:22Eric, what's wrong?
47:23Just tell me!
47:24Grace,
47:25we're having a baby.
47:27You're pregnant!
47:28Congratulations,
47:29Mrs. Blackwell.
47:30Every single employee
47:31gets a three-month bonus
47:32and broadcasts this joy
47:34on every commercial
47:35billboard in the city
47:35for an entire month!
47:37My mind went
47:38completely blank.
47:39He gently pressed
47:40his ear against my belly.
47:41The untouchable man
47:42was shedding tears
47:43of ultimate happiness.
47:45Sunlight streamed
47:46through the windows,
47:46bathing the bedroom
47:47in warmth.
47:48I leaned back
47:49into his chest,
47:50softly stroking
47:51his silky hair.
47:52This three-year
47:52dead-end marriage,
47:53born from my reckless
47:54fake affair rebellion
47:55and dragged through
47:56the toxic schemes
47:57of a manipulative ex-friend,
47:58had ultimately gifted me
47:59the most extreme,
48:00crazy love on Earth.
48:01I hadn't withered
48:02in this high society cage.
48:03Instead,
48:04I had completely tamed
48:05the supreme elite deity,
48:06turning him into my
48:07one and only
48:07absolute devotee.
48:09That was...
48:09being managed to��ando
48:09his ever
48:09in the same گ
48:09line over
48:09you still