Chapter 4

I was blindfolded and taken to an unknown location.

Then, Maya's voice, laced with mock regret, drifted into my ears.

"What a shame. Ethan told me not to touch you."

"I guess I'll just have to get creative."

Before I could even process her words...

A brutal kick slammed into my stomach, sending me flying backward.

"Splash!"

Water instantly engulfed me from all sides. The freezing cold made my muscles spasm. My hands were tied behind my back. As I suffocated, gasping for air and inhaling water, a sharp, tearing pain erupted on my scalp.

Maya grabbed me by my hair, dragging me violently out of the water!

"Tsk, why won't a worthless bitch like you just drown?"

"Cough, cough—"

I desperately coughed up water, but before I could catch my breath for even two seconds...

Maya shoved me back down without mercy. I was pushed deep into the pool again.

Drowning, coughing, pulled up.

Pushed back down.

Over and over again.

By the time she pulled me up for what felt like the hundredth time, I didn't even have the strength to cough.

I hung from her grip like a ragdoll, gasping weakly for air as water dripped from my chin and hair.

Disgusted, she let go, and I collapsed onto the concrete floor.

"How boring. Passed out already? Weak bitch, you're no fun at all."

She kicked my limp body with the tip of her stiletto.

No response.

Maya picked up a bucket of ice-cold water and dumped it directly over my head.

The shock made my body shudder, forcing me back to consciousness.

"Fine, let's try something more fun. I heard electroshock therapy is great. No marks left behind, but highly effective."

"You guys, crank up the voltage. As long as she doesn't die, keep shocking her. I want to see just how tough this bitch really is!"

The moment she finished speaking...

An excruciating pain shot through my bones, exploding in my limbs. It felt like I had been thrown onto a high-voltage grid. My body contorted uncontrollably.

"Ah—!"

A bloodcurdling scream tore from my throat.

Wave after wave of electricity surged through me.

I blacked out from the pain, only to be shocked awake again.

I bit through my lip, my mouth filling with the metallic taste of blood. Eventually, drenched in cold sweat, I couldn't even make a sound.

Maya's twisted voice sounded like it was coming from a mile away, muffled and distorted.

"There we go."

"See? A few more sessions, and we'll cure you of your pathetic attitude."

She leaned down, her venomous breath brushing against my ear.

"Time flies. Ethan is here to pick you up. We'll stop here for now. But don't worry, we'll continue at the wedding!"

"Untie her and clean her up. Don't let Ethan notice anything."

The ropes binding my wrists were cut, and the blindfold was violently ripped off.

Someone hauled me up, carelessly drying my hair and face with a towel. They threw a large coat over me, barely covering my soaking-wet hospital gown underneath.

I was half-carried, half-dragged outside.

Seeing how pale I was, Ethan reached out to take my hand.

Terrified, I shrank away from his touch. As if waking from a nightmare, I bolted into the back of his car. I curled up in the tightest corner, wrapping my arms tightly around my knees, burying my face, shivering violently.

Ethan glared at Maya.

"What did you do?"

Maya shrugged casually, her voice light and careless.

"What could I possibly do to her? Ethan, don't accuse me of things."

"Look at her. There isn't a single scratch on her."

Ethan stared at Maya for a few seconds. He clearly didn't believe her, but he didn't press further. He opened the car door and got in.

Once inside, Ethan wanted to comfort me, but my body wouldn't stop shaking.

I violently resisted his touch, yet I couldn't utter a single word.

His heart ached.

He pulled me into his arms by force, whispering soothingly, "Don't be afraid. I'm right here."

"Maya is sick, and she can't control her actions sometimes. I promise, this is the absolute last time. Once the wedding is over, I'll have her committed to a closed facility. She won't bother us ever again."

I said nothing, shivering in silence.

The only thing keeping me going was my flight at noon.

Ethan patted my head and led me to the bridal suite.

"I still prepared a wedding dress for you. The one you chose first."

"I brought your purse, too. Take a rest and try to calm down. The makeup artist will be here soon. I have to greet the guests, but I'll come back for you later."

I watched Ethan walk away.

With trembling hands, I grabbed a notepad and a pen from the desk. I hurriedly wrote a note calling off the wedding, placed it on top of the wedding dress, grabbed my purse, and left for the airport without looking back.

Time ticked away.

Inside the banquet hall, the guests had mostly arrived. Even though they knew this wedding would probably be ruined again, they still showed up out of respect for the Carter family.

They whispered among themselves, gossiping about how Maya would sabotage the wedding this time.

Ethan stood at the entrance, greeting guests with a distracted mind, a deep sense of unease gnawing at him.

Even though there were no visible injuries on my body, his professional instincts as a therapist told him something was deeply wrong with my mental state.

Knowing he wouldn't get answers from Maya, Ethan turned to his assistant.

"Go investigate where Maya took Chloe last night. Find out exactly what she did."

The assistant nodded and left.

Just as he did, the makeup artist ran toward Ethan, holding a piece of paper, her face pale.

"Mr. Carter, something's wrong!"

"Ms. Miller left a note. She's gone!"

"She said she's calling off the wedding!"