Another strike. And another. Each one landed harder than the last. My body trembled, my hands pressing against the floor as I tried to stay upright.
Through the glass window, I could see outside. Hudson was there. Standing in the garden. His back facing this room. One hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone. His posture relaxed, like nothing in the world could touch him.
Then he laughed. Low, soft.
“…Amber,” I heard faintly through the glass.
Of course. Who else?
“Since you don’t understand,” Mrs. Hayes said coldly behind me, raising the strap again, “then I’ll beat it into you.”
The leather cut through the air and landed again. My vision started to blur. Pain spread everywhere, hot and overwhelming. I could feel something wet soaking through my clothes but I didn’t look.
“I w-won't,” my voice came out weak, barely there. “I won’t take it…”
Another strike. My body gave out and I collapsed forward, barely able to hold myself up.
Through my fading vision, I saw him again. Still standing there. Still talking. Still not turning around. Not even once.
A small, broken thought crossed my mind. Was I ever anything to him? Or was I just… someone he could lose without noticing?
Everything started going dark. And just before I lost consciousness, I felt something strange.
Relief.
Maybe… this was good. Maybe after this, I wouldn’t feel anything for him anymore.
…
When I woke up, I was already in a hospital bed. Everything felt heavy, and my back burned the moment I tried to breathe a little deeper.
“Mr. Hayes, the injuries are quite severe,” someone beside me said. “The leather strikes cut deep. Some areas reached the dermis. It’ll take time to heal.”
“Then use the best damn medicine,” Hudson’s voice came, low and cold. “I don’t care what it costs. Get the best doctors and make sure she doesn’t get scared.”
“Yes, of course.”
Footsteps faded, and the room went quiet.
I slowly opened my eyes.
He was there.
Standing beside the bed, looking down at me.
When he realized I was awake, he moved closer, his brows slightly furrowed. “You awake? How are you feeling?”
I tried to shift, but the pain hit instantly, sharp and burning. I sucked in a breath and forced a small voice out. “I’m fine, there are people here to take care of things. If you’ve got something to do, you should go.”
I expected him to leave.
He didn’t.