Lorie staggered to her feet, trying to run, but she barely got a step before Robert grabbed her arm, yanking her back with brutal force.
"There is no escaping ," he growled. "Before I throw you into that filthy world, I’ll have my turn with you." Without giving her a chance to resist, he dragged her toward the bedroom.
"No, Robert, please," she sobbed, her eyes overflowing with tears. "I’m sorry...I’ll do whatever you say—I’ll be loyal, I’ll make you happy. Just don’t send there. Please, I’m begging you."
"Shut your mouth," he roared, and his hand ca crashing down against her cheek once more.
"Uh..." Lorie stumbled onto the bed, falling forward onto her stomach.
Robert followed swiftly. Before she could crawl away, he grabbed her by the ankle and yanked her back, his grip bruising.
"Let go of ," she shouted, struggling beneath him. But he didn’t listen.
He trapped her beneath his weight, pushed her skirt up, and yanked down her panties forcefully. Without any foreplay, he entered her from behind and took her violently.
Lorie’s cries turned to sobs as she fought back, her strength no match for his.
Tears stread down her cheeks as she clutched the bedsheet, her heart breaking under the weight of helplessness. Her pleas choked by pain and fear, as the room darkened around her like a prison closing in.
Her pain slowly twisted into hatred and rage.
’This is all your fault, Anne,’ she thought bitterly, teeth clenched. ’This life was never ant to be mine. You were the one ant to marry him. But you tricked . You threw into this nightmare.’
A dangerous glint flickered in her eyes as her body moved up and down with every forceful thrust. The fire rising within her wouldn’t be satisfied with escape. It demanded vengeance.
’I won’t forgive you, Anne,’ she vowed silently, her grip on the sheet tightening. ’You stole your way out of this hell and left to burn. I’ll make sure you pay for every single pain you gave .’
~~~~~~~~~
Miles away, in another city...
Nathan burst through the hospital doors and hurried down the hallway. When he found her room, he paused at the doorway, his breath caught in his throat.
She was asleep. She looked fragile beneath the layers of crisp white sheets, far too still.
A quiet voice broke the mont. "You have arrived."
Nathan turned to see Helga, the housekeeper, approaching him.
She glanced at the woman in the bed, then t Nathan’s eyes. "She was asking for you."
Nathan stepped closer to the bed. "How is she? What did the doctor say?"
Helga folded her hands in front of her. "Stable, just weak. The doctor examined her and said she’ll be discharged soon. She just needs rest."
Nathan exhaled slowly, the tension in his chest easing. "Thank you, Helga, for staying with her while I wasn’t here."
Helga shook her head. "You don’t need to thank . I’ve served this family for decades, but they have never treated like a servant. Madam is like a sister to . Of course, I stayed."
Nathan gave her a small, tired smile. "Even so, I’m grateful. You should go ho and get so rest. I’ll stay with her tonight."
Helga nodded, placing a hand briefly on his arm. "I’ll co back in the morning."
With that, she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Nathan turned back to the bed. He pulled a chair close, sat down, and reached for her hand.
"I’m here now," he whispered.
His finger brushed the bandage wrapped around her wrist.
"Why, Mommy? Why would you do this to yourself?"
His throat tightened as he fought back the sting in his eyes. The sight of her, so pale, made sothing inside him ache in a way he couldn’t describe.
"Don’t you love ? Why are you trying to hurt yourself like this? What are you trying to escape?"
He stared at her face, searching for any sign that she could hear him. "If sothing had happened to you, how do you expect to live through that? Alone? Don’t you trust ?"
He drew in a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. "I’m doing everything I can. I haven’t stopped looking for her. I won’t stop until I find Raya."
She didn’t move.
Nathan lowered his head, his voice dropping to a murmur. "While I was eting the Granets, I ran into soone. Her na is Anne. She—" he paused, the mory still fresh, surreal. "She looks just like Raya."
He felt her fingers curling around his hand weakly. He jerked his head up and found her eyes open, locked on his face.
For a second, he didn’t breathe.
"Mommy, you are awake..." Nathan gripped her hand tightly, his lips curling into a smile. "How are you feeling?"
"What did you just say?" Margaret asked, her eyes flickering with anticipation. "You found your sister?"
Nathan’s face lit up the mont he heard her speak clearly. Relief washed through him in waves. "I’ll get the doctor—" He reached for the call button.
But she caught his wrist and stopped him.
"No. Don’t," she said. "I’m fine. Just... tell . Where is Raya? Did you bring her?"
The light in his eyes dimd. He sat back down slowly, his smile fading. "I don’t know if it’s really her. She looks like Raya. A lot. But I’m still trying to find out the truth."
Margaret turned her head away sharply, her hand falling from his.
"That’s not finding her," she muttered bitterly. "That’s nothing."
Her voice broke, years of held-in grief and hopelessness growing within her. "So many years... And still—nothing. You have done nothing."
Nathan felt a familiar squeeze in his chest. There were tis he couldn’t help but feel jealous of Raya, who had completely consud their mother’s heart and mind.
Margaret spoke of nothing but her daughter. She never asked how Nathan was coping. Never asked what he needed. Since Raya’s kidnapping, it had been like this—endless grief, endless guilt. It was as if Margaret’s entire world had shrunk down to just one person—her lost daughter. Everyone else faded into the background.
However, Nathan understood. It wasn’t that she didn’t love him. It was that she couldn’t forgive herself for not being able to save Raya. And that guilt had beco her shadow, consuming everything else.
He swallowed the ache in his throat and pushed a smile to his face. "I’ll bring her to you as soon as I’m sure it’s her."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "Let show you her photo."
That got her attention.
Margaret turned back to him, her eyes suddenly wide and alive, sothing close to hope glinting through the weariness.
Nathan tapped the screen, then turned the phone toward her. "This is Anne." He showed her the photograph of Anne and Augustine at the engagent party.
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