Chapter2

My phone vibrated relentlessly, bombarded with a nonstop barrage of harassing texts.

The vile words they sent made my stomach churn.

"Nice tits, bitch. Let daddy get a taste."

"Hey gorgeous, let's hook up tonight. I'll treat you to a real hot dog."

My fingers trembled as I blocked number after number.

My mother said she had arranged an extended leave of absence for me, so I didn't have to go back to campus. But I didn't want her to know about my plans to go abroad, which meant I had to go back to the university myself to handle the paperwork.

She never had the time to care about me, anyway. She probably wouldn't even notice once I was gone.

Even though the photos and videos had been taken down, everyone around me already knew what had happened. The gazes they threw my way were heavy with scrutiny and mockery, trailing behind me in hushed whispers.

"You'd never guess. She looks so innocent, but she's a total slut behind closed doors. Who knows how many guys she's banged."

"Who knows? Just stay away from her. You might catch something."

A suffocating wave of shame and terror enveloped me. My chest tightened until I could hardly breathe. I had no memory of how I actually made it off campus.

Wandering down the street in a daze, I was suddenly intercepted by a group of men closing in from the opposite direction.

The leader pulled out a phone, flashing my leaked private photos on the screen as he looked me up and down.

"This is you, right? Damn nice body."

"Since you're such a freak in private, how much for a night?"

"Come entertain my boys and me. I want to see how Nolan Gray's girlfriend tastes."

My whole body went rigid. I stumbled a half-step back. "What do you want?"

They exchanged knowing smirks. Ignoring my frantic struggles, they dragged me into the shadows of a dim alley.

They pinned me down, their faces twisted into predatory grins.

"Get away from me! Don't touch me!"

But my wrists and ankles were firmly pinned holding me down. I didn't even have the strength to thrash against them as filthy hands groped my body.

The sharp, tearing sound of fabric echoed in my ears.

"Stop fighting it. Nobody is coming to save you. Just make us feel good, and we'll go easy on you."

I bit my lip so hard that the metallic taste of blood bloomed in my mouth. Seizing the brief moment they let go to unhook their clothes, I reached into my bag and pulled out the knife I kept hidden inside.

My hand trembled violently. "Stay back..."

The first time I was harassed, my mother told me I dressed too provocatively. She told me to never wear skirts again.

I had been wearing my school uniform at the time.

If Cullen hadn't shown up just in time that day, I wouldn't have known what to do. Ever since then, I had carried a paring knife with me wherever I went.

My heart hammered with absolute, paralyzing terror.

Yet, they weren't afraid. They just laughed, their faces full of sick amusement as they lunged forward to snatch the blade from me.

In the ensuing struggle, the blade plunged into my chest.

The leader panicked. Terrified of a murder charge, he hastily let go of me and backed away.

I collapsed onto the filthy concrete, warm blood rapidly soaking through my clothes. Dark spots swam in my vision, washing over me in waves.

Yet, through the fading light, I could still hear them frantically whispering into a phone.

"Mr. Black, we have a situation. She stabbed herself."

Through the receiver, Cullen’s voice drifted out.

"Is she dead?"

Then came Nolan’s voice. "Jesus, Cullen, you're fucking ruthless. I can't believe you actually hired guys to corner her."

Cullen let out a cold, sharp laugh. "I just sent them to scare her a little. If she wants to kill herself, who's to blame?"

"If she's still breathing, dump her at a hospital. But make sure she never finds out we set this up."

It felt as if a merciless hand had reached into my chest and crushed my heart. The agony was suffocating.

All this time... he had truly wanted to destroy me.

A memory flashed in my fading consciousness—words he had spoken once before.

"I know she didn't actually kill my mother. But I refuse to let her live in peace."

"My dad might feel guilty about them, but I sure as hell don't."

Tears slipped uncontrollably from the corners of my eyes.

Just before the darkness finally pulled me under, I felt someone hoisting me off the ground. The back of my head rested against a stranger's arm—an embrace utterly devoid of warmth.

My tears slid silently into my hair.