Not getting the answer he wanted, Hubert's eyes turned vicious. He released my hair only to strike me hard across the face, the blow leaving my head ringing. Rage flared through me—yet beneath it, an even greater anticipation stirred.
'You're angry already? You've seen nothing yet, Hubert. The worst is still waiting for you,' I muttered internally.
He loomed over me, striking my face again and again with his palm, as he sneered, "You think keeping your mouth shut means I can't deal with you?"
He reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and powered it on.
Holding it up to my face, he unlocked it with the facial scan, then scrolled straight into my contacts.
When he spotted my emergency contact, a cruel smile spread across his lips.
He dialed.
"Hello? What's wrong?"
On the other end, my husband, Blake, answered with his usual gentle voice.
I opened my mouth, desperate to speak—but one of the bodyguards clamped a hand over it, suffocating my words.
"You're Celestine's husband, right?"
Hubert's voice was cold, dripping with disdain.
"And who the hell are you?"
Hearing an unfamiliar man, Blake's tone sharpened, his calm was instantly replaced by unease.
Hubert met my eyes, mocking me as he replied, "I'm Celestine's ex. But don't worry—I'm married now. I've got no interest in her anymore."
There was a short silence, then Blake demanded, "Then why are you calling me with her phone?"
"No real reason. I just thought you should hear the truth about your lovely wife."
Hubert began his assault, every word a dagger meant to bury me alive.
"Do you know how she got those burn scars? She tried to set herself on fire when I dumped her and wanted to die with me. If my wife hadn't tried to save her, she'd already be ashes."
"When that failed, she threw herself at man after man, desperate for company."
"She's lived off my wife for years—sold her wedding jewelry to buy gifts for boytoys, gambled away her money, maxed out my credit cards, made my wife pay her debts."
"She even got caught playing mistress and was beaten by the man's real wife."
"Oh, and she was at the hospital recently, getting treatment for a dirty disease. If I were you, I'd go get tested."
"Tell me, doesn't it shame you to be married to a filthy woman like her? Don't you feel pathetic being cuckolded? If I were you, I'd be dead already."
Each word was venom, each sentence a blade, hacking at my dignity until nothing remained.