Chapter 5

Royce drove off with Audrey in his Ferrari, leaving under the envious glares of the entire neighborhood.

My parents stood taller than ever, bursting with pride.

"See that? Audrey was born to be a princess. Some people are just born losers, destined to rot in the mud," my dad sneered, glaring at me.

My mom rolled her eyes at me with disgust. "Well, she's marrying Oliver sooner or later anyway. The sooner she moves out, the better."

Just as she said that, a heavily built, intimidating man walked up our driveway.

It was Oliver.

"Audrey told me you guys wanted me to take Elena home to live with me. I'm here to pick her up."

He grinned, his dirty, predatory eyes scanning my body.

My parents froze, then quickly called Audrey.

On speakerphone, Audrey's voice sounded cold and manipulative.

"Mom, Dad, Elena is a curse to this family. I finally got a billionaire boyfriend."

"If she stays at home, she might scare him away! Since she has to marry Oliver anyway, she might as well move in with him now."

My parents exchanged a look and decided she was right.

"Elena, pack your bags and go with Oliver," Dad ordered.

I looked at them with numb eyes. I wasn't surprised by their decision at all.

Oliver rubbed his hands together excitedly.

He had a bit of money, but his favorite hobby was using women as punching bags. He had already beaten two of his previous wives to death.

He always targeted girls whose families didn't care about them. That way, even if he killed them, he could just pay a small settlement, and the family wouldn't press charges.

He had set his sights on me even before his last wife died in the hospital.

Because everyone in our town knew my parents hated me.

Once I married him, he could lock the doors and torture me however he wanted, and no one would care.