Chapter 5

My daughter was being assaulted, and her own father was cheering it on?

The final thread of my sanity snapped!

I threw my phone with all my might straight at his smug, hideous face!

"You monster! She is your daughter!!"

The phone struck his cheekbone with a loud crack. He shrieked in pain, stumbling backward.

He touched his face, saw the blood on his fingers, and his eyes filled with pure, murderous rage.

"Daughter? Trash!" He spat out a mouthful of bloody spit.

He lunged forward, grabbing me by my hair and pulling so hard I felt my scalp ripping!

"That useless brat doesn't deserve to be my daughter! I only have one child, and that’s my son, Leo!"

My head was screaming in pain as he dragged me toward the basement stairs. I scratched at his arms, leaving deep, bloody gashes.

"Let go of me! You're insane, Richard!"

"Insane? Yes! I am insane! I’ve played the perfect, submissive husband for twenty years, and I am fucking done!"

He screamed insults as he violently dragged me down the stairs.

He kicked open the basement door and threw me hard onto the cold concrete floor.

My head spun, and my bones felt like they were shattered.

Richard panted, ripping his collar open like a wild beast that had finally shed its disguise.

"You want to know something, Chloe?" He knelt down, grabbing my jaw in a painful grip.

He forced me to look at his triumphant face. "Right here! On this dirty couch! While you were upstairs pulling all-nighters to make millions, Melanie was down here giving me everything you couldn't!"

My stomach churned. I dry-heaved on the floor.

"You absolute piece of trash!"

"Me? Trash?" He laughed hysterically, his face completely distorted.

"You're the joke here! You thought you were some powerful CEO? You're nothing but a glorified ATM! Every single penny you made went into raising my son with Melanie!"

He got more and more excited, bragging about how they had played me for a fool.

How they had converted Vivian’s $50,000 allowance into Leo’s elite tuition, designer clothes, and luxury toys.

How they had slept together right under my nose, laughing at how oblivious I was.

Every word tore my past twenty years into bloody shreds.

Once he was done insulting me, he stood up, straightened his suit, and put his sophisticated mask back on.

"You care so much about your darling daughter?" He sneered.

He threw an old tablet onto the ground in front of me. "Watch! See how she’s earning money for her useless mother!"

The tablet screen lit up, showing the live feed.

It was worse than before.

Vivian was forced onto her knees. Several men stood around her.

Someone was forcing a bottle of alcohol down her throat while others pawed at her.

Vivian’s eyes were completely vacant, like a broken doll. Her face was smeared with tears and cheap alcohol.

Melanie’s voice echoed from the speaker, dripping with malice.

"Yes, just like that! Let your mother see how 'hardworking' her daughter is!"

My heart stopped. I lunged like a wild animal to grab the tablet, but Richard kicked me squarely in the ribs.

"Watch her! That’s what you get for crossing me!" he laughed.

"Once Mr. Thomas is done with her, you’re next! I’m going to sell both of you to the dirtiest brothels in the city!"

With that, he slammed the basement door shut and locked it from the outside.

Pitch blackness and absolute despair swallowed me.

On the screen, the obese man was laughing as he unbuckled his belt, moving toward my trembling daughter.