Chapter 2

Loretta's POV

"Get away from me! Don't touch me, you pathetic slut!"

Arthur violently slapped my hand away. His eyes were so vicious he looked ready to swallow me whole. "Marigold is right! You're nothing but a twisted psychopath! You never deserved Killian, and you don't deserve to stay in this house!"

I froze, feeling like I'd been plunged into an icy abyss. Even Arthur was brainwashed!

Did that bathroom only work on men? It had to be! Only sick, sexual leverage could control a man like that!

Trembling, I pulled out my phone and dialed Aunt Elara—Arthur's wife.

Twenty minutes later, Elara's SUV screeched to a halt outside the manor. She stomped in on her heels, radiating murderous rage. "Where is Marigold, that homewrecking old bitch?! I'm going to rip her face off!"

Yet, Marigold remained unnaturaly calm. She glided down the stairs, looking at Elara as if greeting a guest. "Darling, you're too upset. Take a deep breath. Come to the bathroom with me and wash your face."

"You think I'm afraid of you?! Let's see what kind of game you're playing!" Elara shoved past her and marched right through that door.

At that moment, my blood ran cold. I refused to believe a woman could be possessed too!

Ten agonizing minutes passed.

When Elara finally walked out, her previous rage was completely gone. In its place was an eerie, feverish look of fanaticism.

"Aunt Elara?" My voice shook violently.

Elara looked down her nose at me, her once-loving eyes now filled with venomous hatred. "Loretta, you selfish little bitch! How vicious do you have to be to envy your own mother? You deserve to rot in hell for upsetting her! I regret not letting Arthur slap the teeth out of your mouth!"

She actually walked over and affectionately hooked her arm through Marigold's, sneering at me.

The consecutive betrayals smashed my sanity like a sledgehammer. Everyone had gone mad! My love, my family—everything had been swallowed clean by that door!

"Get out. Everyone get the hell out!" I shrieked, breaking down completely.

Once it was just Marigold and me left in the living room, I glared at her with murder in my eyes. "Why?! What kind of filthy things are you doing in there?! Why do you insist on destroying my life?!"

Marigold walked up to me coldly, her eyes like those of a poisonous snake. "Because I do not allow it, Loretta."

Her freezing fingers clamped onto my jaw, her nails digging deeply into my flesh.

"Listen to me very carefully. You will never date anyone in this lifetime, let alone put on a wedding dress. You belong to me while you live, and you'll be a ghost of Black Oak Manor when you die! If you ever dare disobey me and sneak around with a man again..."

She leaned into my ear, her voice dripping with blood-curdling murderous intent. "I will kill you with my own two hands."

I shoved her away and stumbled blindly out of the manor.

The night wind sliced across my face like a knife. I sprinted all the way to the heart of Vale City, hammering like a maniac on my best friend Marnie's apartment door.

"Loretta? Jesus Christ, what happened to you?" Marnie pulled me inside.

Sobbing uncontrollably, I poured everything out—Killian's betrayal, that bizarre bathroom, Arthur and Elara’s sudden possession, and the vicious death threat.

Marnie slammed her hand hard on the table, shaking with rage.

"This is crossing the line! Marigold is a sick freak! Seducing her own daughter's fiancé and messing with your uncle! And that bastard Killian! Don't you worry, Loretta. I am going to tear Black Oak Manor apart today and get you justice!"