Cursing under his breath, Owen turned, locked the bedroom door behind him, and stormed into the bathroom.
I didn’t know what he was angry about.
Scenes like this had played out countless times over the past eight years.
The sound of the bathroom door slamming echoed through the room.
But moments later, it opened again.
He came back with handcuffs and shackled me to the doorframe.
This time, he didn’t look back.
Soon, the sound of rushing water filled the air.
Julia’s voice rang out, laced with embarrassment and disbelief.
“Mr. Carter, Ms. Sheryl is still outside. This isn’t—”
Before she could finish, whatever protest she had was swallowed by him.
Her bathrobe landed in a heap outside the door.
Owen had left the bathroom door wide open on purpose.
Through the foggy glass, their silhouettes moved together in a rhythm I’d long since grown numb to.
From shame... to grief... to nothingness.
The thunder outside the window rumbled.
Rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows.
In a trance, I remembered a time when we were in love.
No matter where Owen was, he would rush home at the first sound of thunder, just to hold me through the night.
He knew how much I feared storms.
He’d wrap his arms around me and never let go. His hand would gently stroke my back until I fell asleep.
He did love me once.
And he truly hates me now.
My knees were so bruised I could no longer feel them. My legs were swollen and discolored.
Finally, he emerged—carrying Julia in his arms like a victor claiming his prize.
Without a word, he unlocked the cuffs from my wrists.
“Change Julia’s clothes. And don’t you dare close your eyes.”
On the bed, Julia lay completely bare, cheeks flushed pink.
“Sorry to trouble you, Ms. Sheryl ,” she said sweetly, feigning innocence.
Owen chuckled coldly. “How could it be trouble? She loves watching. It’s her favorite thing.”
“She can’t sleep unless she hears me with another woman. Tsk. She's born a slut.”
I lowered my eyes, opened a new box labeled Cat Maid, and began dressing Julia.
The little cat ears twitched playfully as I adjusted the outfit.
It looked... adorable.
Owen forbade me from closing my eyes, so I had no choice but to take in every lingering mark on Julia’s body—evidence of their night together.
When I helped her into the last piece of black lace, Owen finally snapped.
He grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward him, his expression was twisted with disgust.