Chapter 4Only after Goodbye

Whitney took me straight to the largest hospital in Rivergate and ordered a full examination of my ears.

When the doctor confirmed that the blow to my left ear had caused permanent hearing loss, every trace of color drained from Whitney's face.

She staggered backward until her back slammed into the wall. She stared at me blankly, her eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't understand.

"How... how is that possible?"

The drive home was unnaturally quiet. The silence was so complete I could hear every breath we took.

I kept my eyes closed, pretending to sleep, yet I could still feel her gaze burning into me.

After a long while, her hoarse voice finally broke the silence.

"When did this happen?"

I answered calmly, "The first night after I was kidnapped. I called you for help. After you hung up, they found out I'd used the phone and beat me for it."

The tires screeched as she slammed on the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road.

She turned toward me, panic written all over her face.

"I never got your call! Back then, I..." Her voice stopped abruptly. Something seemed to occur to her, and her expression turned deathly pale.

She started the car again without another word.

Exactly what I'd expected.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I turned to stare out the window. She already suspected Aaron. But in the end, she still chose to believe him.

Then again, everyone in high society knew how devoted she'd always been to him.

She'd flown abroad countless times searching for a treatment that might cure his heart condition.

Back in college, she'd even secretly changed her major to medicine behind her father's back, all for Aaron.

On our wedding day, she and Aaron had arrived late together.

My mother had been positively beaming. She'd taken every opportunity to hint that I should step aside.

Over the years, there had been no shortage of rumors. Still, I'd trusted Whitney. I'd forgotten that, in their eyes, I was still that filthy little beggar they'd brought home years ago.

The one who was always abandoned.

I was then, and I still was.

The moment we got home, Aaron hurried over, smiling as he reached for Whitney's handbag the way he always did.

She sidestepped him without a word. Her expression was cold as she walked past him, took my hand instead, and led me upstairs.

I glanced back. Aaron's face darkened instantly. His eyes fixed on our intertwined hands with undisguised hostility.

The moment we entered the bedroom, a video notification appeared on my phone.

It was a grotesque face, and there was heavy, disgusting breathing. My body immediately began trembling uncontrollably.

The caller ID flashed Aaron's name. My shaking fingers answered the call. His icy voice came through the speaker.

"You've got two days to divorce Whitney and move out of the house. Otherwise, everyone will get to see exactly what my dear big brother looked like while he was being violated."

"Aaron, you monster!"

The line disconnected.

My vision turned red with rage as I hurled the phone against the wall. It shattered into pieces.

Panting, I collapsed onto the floor.

My fists clenched until my knuckles cracked. Hatred spread through me like poison.

I wasn't afraid of dying.

I only wanted to know…

Why?

Why was I the only one condemned to live in hell?

They were the ones who'd brought me home, and they were also the ones who'd driven me into despair...

I'd drag every last one of them down to hell with me.

That night, when Whitney climbed on top of me once again, I didn't resist the way I always had before. I forced myself to suppress both the revulsion and the instinctive trembling that gripped my body.

She kissed me desperately, her hands slowly roaming across my skin. Her words came between broken kisses.

"August, I was wrong before. Let's start over. Let's forget everything that's happened, okay? I'll find those kidnappers. I'll make them pay..."

Suddenly, she froze. Her eyes dropped to my chest. It was covered in fresh scabs, one healing wound after another. There were even bruised bite marks.

It was as though all the strength had drained from her body. She sank onto the bed beside me, trembling as her fingertips traced each wound.

"W-What... what happened to you?"

I stared at the ceiling. My voice was completely flat.

"Proof of what they did to me during those three days. Oh... and this."

I handed her my phone. "It's the video Aaron used to threaten me today. He wants me to divorce you."

I pushed myself upright and gently took her hand.

Resting my forehead against the back of it, I pleaded in a voice stripped of all pride.

"Whitney, please let me go. My life is all I have left. I just want to live. I'm begging you... please."

The room echoed with my voice while the video's vulgar insults and horrific scenes carved into my heart all over again.

Whitney couldn't even bear to watch until the end. She turned the phone face down and covered her face with both hands.

Tears slipped through her fingers, one after another, landing on my back.

"I'm sorry, August… I'm so sorry..."

The only sound filling the enormous bedroom was her muffled sobbing, yet my heart remained completely still. None of them knew how I'd survived those three days.

A long time later, she suddenly grabbed my hand with desperate force. Her voice had broken from crying.

"I'll help you get revenge, August. I swear I will. And after that, we'll start over. Whoever you want revenge against, we'll make them pay together."