Chapter 44


    My eyes fluttered open, and my head throbbed with a dull ache. Though body was heavy with


    exhaustion, it felt like I was being restricted in movement. I blinked and my eyes darted around at


    the space around me.


    The room wasrger than expected. It appeared to be a barn shed, which exuded an aura of


    neglect.


    The air was musty, carrying the scent of damp wood and decaying hay. Cobwebs clung to the


    corners, and dust particles floatedzily in the dim light that filtered through the cracked windows.


    The ground floor was cluttered with remnants of the past. Wooden crates and rusted tools were


    strewn haphazardly across the floor. Broken pieces of furniture, long forgotten and abandoned,


    were scattered throughout the space, their once vibrant colors now faded with time.


    The walls were adorned with peeling paint, and patches of wallpaper clung stubbornly to the


    surfaces. Old, weathered horse saddles leaned against them. A sense of eerie tranquility filled the


    air, interrupted only by the asional sound of rodents scurrying in the shadows.


    I looked out the broken windows, attempting to guess the time of day. Brooding clouds loomed


    overhead, floating along a gray sky. I could hear the rain beating against the steel roof in a low


    hum.


    A sharp whine emanated from the doors ahead of me as they slid open, startling me into alertness.


    Panic surged through me as memories of my encounter with Bruce flooded back. He poked his


    head in a grinned.


    “Good morning, Coco,” Bruce’s voice rang throughout the open space, making my skin crawl. He


    walked inside and slid the doors shut behind him before prowling toward me.


    I made a move to back away, only then realizing that I was bound to a chair. The rope rubbed my


    skin raw as I shifted. My heart began to pound in my chest as red at him.


    “Let me go, Bruce,” I pleaded, my voice shaking.


    Bruce stepped closer and poked out his bottom lip. “Oh, I don’t think so, Coco.


    Besides, you kind of forced my hand here,” he said, his eyes gleaming with malevolence.


    Tears welled up in my eyes. “Please, I won’t tell anyone what happened here. Just let me go,” I


    begged desperately. “You don’t have to go this far!”


    But Bruce’s grip on reality seemed to have slipped entirely. Any hint of amusement had left his


    expression since ourst discussion, reced with something sadistic. “I’m not letting you go until I


    get that money. And if you won’t give it to me willingly, then I’ll have to involve your lover,” he


    hissed.


    At first, my mind drifted to Lucas, who I had pretended to date openly. He couldn’t have been


    watching me that closely to even guess we were dating, especially since that was an act we


    reserved for Timothy. Except, there was a knowing look in his eyes as he tilted his chin up.


    “Let’s see if lover boy can drop that hockey stick of his for a few seconds toe ‘rescue‘ you,”


    said Bruce. “I’m sure he’ll b


    able to part with a few dors, or so.”


    My jaw dropped. “No, don’t bring Timothy into this!”


    Bruce raised an eyebrow, looking highly intrigued. “So protective. Before, you could hardly stomach


    the guy, and I saw how he did you with that little bet of his.”


    Just the thought of even Bruce knowing about Timothy’s bet made my stomach curdle. He thought it


    would be easy to try me after that, as if I was desperate enough.


    Regardless, he knew he was triggering me by dragging Timothy into this twisted game. “He’s a part


    of your life now, Coco, and he’s going to pay for it. I wish I could just throw my legs back for ae


    up instead of working my life away,” he spat.


    “You bastard,” I mumbled, leering up at him. “I worked hard to get to where I am!”


    “Of course, you did.” Bruce walked closer to me, his knees knocking against mine. He leaned over,


    his lips right at my ear as he said, “With every inch of your body.”


    Tears streamed down my face and I turned away, ashamed that I could even cry in front of him in


    the first ce. “I don’t belong to you, Bruce. You can’t control me or my life,” I asserted.


    Bruce onlyughed cruelly. “You do belong


    make sure you give me exactly what I wao me now, Coco. And I’m going i


    A


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    8.54%%%


    With that, Bruce turned and left the shed, leaving me alone in the suffocating room. I had to find a


    way out and escape this nightmare before Bruce carried out his threats.


    Frantically, I looked around the shed for anything that could help. My eyes fell on a rusty shovel


    tucked away in a corner. It was a long shot, but I had to try.


    Summoning every ounce of strength, I stood up, the weight of the chair making my breath ragged. I


    shimmied over to the shovel and turned around so that the sharpest edge was near my wrists. With


    trembling hands, I began sawing at the rope that bound her.


    Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as I worked on the rope. Each second felt like an eternity as I


    fought through the pain and exhaustion. After a while, I strained to look over my shoulder,


    desperate for any progress.


    The shovel had made a nice gash in the rope, not enough to split it. Where would I even go once it


    was off? From the sound of it, I was in an isted area.


    There was a likelihood of Timothy winding up right where I was. No words could describe my


    disdain for Bruce for dragging Timothy into this. If Timothy had the sense, unlike I had, he would


    stay away.


    That would be in his best interest at least. As much as I didn’t want to entertain the idea, part of me


    was hoping that he would arrive. Bruce was using me for ckmail, after all, since he hadn’t been


    able to ckmail me.


    I sighed and shifted around in my seat, the motivation leaving me. Instead, I watched the raindrops


    trickling down the broken ss and propel themselves onto. the dusty floorboards.


    Would Timothy give into his wishes in exchange for me? It felt almost selfish to believe he would. As


    disgusting at Bruce was, he was right about my naivete.


    It was what led to me sleeping with Timothy all those years ago. I had fallen victim to his soft kisses


    and tender touches, only to receive the final sting upon finding him and his friends having augh at


    my vulnerability.


    Timothy had undoubtedly changed since then. He was more focused, but he had also taken on a


    gentleness that seemed to emanate warmth. Despite all the pain he had caused me, I couldn’t deny


    the sweetness I saw in his actions now.


    3/4


    11:21 Thu, 21 Mar GGA


    54%6


    He went out of his way to help, offering a hand to those in need without hesitation. His smile was


    still reserved and guarded, but his hazel eyes gave off a hint of softness. Still, I wondered if I’d get


    to see those eyes again, admiring me from a distance as I denied him.


    As the rain continued to fall outside, I began to fall in and out of consciousness. The exhaustion was


    getting a hold of me, enticing me. Forgiveness didn’t erase the past, but the anger and resentment


    that had once consumed me was fading.


    For once, I wanted to feel weightless. That came temporarily as I was imed by sleep.


    SEND GIFT


    COMMENT


    111


    11 21 Thu, 21 Mar GG