"Jane! You need to know your place. I promised you I would throw a fortune at you tonight to help you unwind and you should be content. I don’t like greedy women!"
But his cold, harsh words were easily shattered by Jane.
"Mike, I bought your favorite maid outfit. Tonight, you can tear it up to your heart’s content…"
The air froze for a moment.
I heard Mike’s breathing suddenly become heavier, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
He pulled out his phone and sent me a voice message, his tone unbelievably gentle.
[Karen, I drank too much at the bachelor party tonight, so I’m staying at a friend’s place. You sleep well and tomorrow I’ll marry you.]
After he sent the message, he lifted Jane by the waist.
I watched as he hurriedly left, unable to suppress the tears that silently slid down my face again. But the pain from the wounds on my face made it so I couldn’t even cry properly.
It turned out, his tenderness was so fake.
It turned out, his love was so cheap.
I closed my eyes and memories surged in like a tidal wave.
Two years ago, Mike knelt down on one knee, placing a ring on my finger, his eyes filled with starlight.
"Karen, marry me. In this lifetime, I will only love you."
Six months ago, after I stayed up late preparing a birthday surprise for him, he hugged me tenderly. "Silly girl, you are a thousand times more important than any gift."
Yesterday, he kissed my forehead, swearing with all his might.
"Karen, starting tomorrow, please guide me through the rest of our lives! I promise, I will never let you suffer even a little."
The Mike in my memories was a completely different person from the cruel and violent adulterer he was today.
I curled up in the darkness, my body cold, as my consciousness slowly sank into the abyss.
If this was love, then I would rather have never met him.
The squeaking sound of rats suddenly jolted me awake, my body drenched in cold sweat.
As soon as I moved, the rats cautiously backed away a few steps, but they didn't run away, as though they knew I was so weak that I didn't even have the strength to drive them away.
The iron door creaked open and a man with a brutish face threw a bowl of spoiled food into the room.
"Eat it. Don't starve to death. Mike said, you still have debts to repay."
A hoarse, desperate sound escaped from my throat as I shook my head with all my might.
I didn't gamble.
And I certainly didn't owe any debts.
The man frowned impatiently.