Chapter 1
At the Chicago Business Summit, yet another girl conveniently “fainted right in front of Silas Duncan.
Silas grabbed the girl by the collar of her dress and tossed her a good fifteen feet away.
His face was a mask of ice as he glared at the city official overseeing the event.]
“If my wife says I’m dirty, you can kiss that patent goodbye.“[]
But three months later, he personally brought back Rebecca Brown, the young woman I sponsored, to be his personal assistant.]
Less than a month after that, a video of Rebecca, clothes in disarray, bolting from the private back room of Silas’s office went viral across Chicago.]
Silas knelt before me, swearing on his life that nothing had happened between them, promising he’d fire her that very night.||
I felt sorry for the girl, so I recommended her to my old mentor in Boston.
But who would have guessed that on Silas’s birthday, she would fly a thousand miles back, a homemade cake in her hands.
In a freak incident, their plane was hijacked by the mob. Rebecca was brutally assaulted and then kidnapped.
And just like that, I became the vicious, scheming, jealous woman in everyone’s eyes.
Silas Duncan, stone–faced through the entire ordeal, scrambled overnight to raise the five–million–dollar ransom and flew overseas to get her.
When he returned, he was supporting a battered, traumatized Rebecca, who looked like a terrified fawn.]
“Rebecca’s pregnant with one of the kidnapper’s children, and she’s suffering from severe depression. I have to give her some form of comfort.“]
“Charlotte Martin, let’s get a divorce.“]
I was still reeling from the shock when Rebecca suddenly collapsed to her knees with a thud.]
“Charlotte, it’s all my fault. I’m so worthless. I should have just died over there.”
“Please, Charlotte, don’t misunderstand Silas. He loves you. I just had no other choice.” She stammered.[]
With that, she fell forward, sobbing uncontrollably on the floor.]
Silas instantly rushed to her side, pulling her into a protective embrace and peppering her forehead with kisses.[]
a
*Shh, shh, Rebecca, it’s not your fault. People will understand. They won’t say a thing.”
“From now on, you belong to me. Your child is not a bastard. We’ll get engaged, and I’ll publicly announce that the baby is
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mine.”
It was a dagger to the heart. I stared at Silas, utterly stunned.
My gaze shifted to Rebecca, wrapped in a thick down coat, looking small and terrified. A numb, aching pain spread through my chest.
My mouth opened, but no words came out. Defeated, I just looked back at Silas.[]
Silas caught my expression and spoke with a flash of annoyance.]]
“If you hadn’t sent Rebecca away, this never would have happened. You’ve ruined her entire life, do you realize that?”
“Making Rebecca my wife is how I’m going to compensate her. And if you can manage to not be jealous, you can stay on here with me. As my mistress, I suppose.“]
With that, he helped Rebecca towards the master bedroom, murmuring gently to her.
“Just make do for tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll have the master suite completely redecorated. Buy whatever you want.”
“I’ll draw you a hot bath in a bit, and we can reapply your ointment. I promise your skin will be even fairer and smoother than before. Don’t be sad. No one will ever hurt you again.”
He finished by giving her nose an affectionate little tap.
I watched them disappear into the master bedroom. Watched them go into the master bath together. Heard the sound of the shower running
I stood there numbly, leaning against the wall, my eyes glued to the master bedroom door.
My mouth was still hanging open. There was so much I wanted to say. I wanted to scream that I was genuinely trying to help Rebecca, that studying with my mentor was a once–in–a–lifetime opportunity, that I could have even arranged a full scholarship for her to study abroad.
But it seemed there was no point in explaining anything now.
I just needed to ask one last question.]
“Silas Duncan. Divorce? Are you serious?”
When Silas emerged supporting Rebecca, his own clothes were soaked through, but he was tenderly dabbing her skin with a fluffy towel
Her pale skin was covered in ugly, pitted scars, but Silas didn’t flinch. He tended to them reverently, like a pilgrim at a shrine.[] The tenderness in his eyes was like a brand on my own. Before I even realized it, tears were silently streaming down my face.
“Go pack your things out of the master bedroom. You can move into the guest room. It’s closer to Rebecca, so it’ll be more convenient to take care of her as her pregnancy progresses.”
I took a deep breath and wiped the tears from my face.
“Silas Duncan, were you serious about the divorce?‘
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Silas’s face tightened, as if he’d heard something disgusting.]
“Charlotte Martin, you did this to Rebecca. What more could you possibly want?”
“For me to throw her out on the street? To let everyone laugh at her, call her a slut pregnant with some bastard’s child, and let her die in a gutter?”
“Charlotte, I’m atoning for your sins! If you hadn’t sent her away, she could have had a wonderful future! Do you have any idea how many of the young guys at the institute were crazy about her?”
I dug my nails into my palm, clinging to my last shred of sanity.]
“Silas Duncan, and I suppose you were one of them?“]
“Can you tell me, when did you fall for her? Or maybe, when did you two start sleeping together?”
SLAP! The sharp crack of a hand across my face echoed in the room.
Silas’s voice was a furious roar.]
“Charlotte, you are disgusting! Is sex all you ever think about? Can’t you find an ounce of compassion? A shred of human decency?”
I just stood there, hand pressed to my stinging cheek, staring at him in a daze.
A flicker of emotion crossed Silas’s face. His raised hand fell limply to his side.]
“Charlotte, I really…”
Just then, Rebecca’s timid voice cut in.]
“Silas, I’m scared. Could you still hold me while I sleep tonight?”
