But Lucian was done with her–beyond disappointed, and not an ounce of mercy left.
Just thinking about how blind he’d been to fall for someone like her–how thoroughly she’d played him–made his
stomach churn.
He waved a hand, signaling the bodyguards to take Vanessa away.
Vanessa broke. As she was being dragged toward the basement, she managed one final question.
“Lucian… did you ever really love me? You used to say it all the time–if you loved me, shouldn’t you have accepted
everything about me, even my flaws?”
“I did,” Lucian said quietly after a pause.
“But I’m not the kind of man who can turn a blind eye. I couldn’t accept your flaws–because, truth is, I never really knew
the real you. I only ever loved the version of you you let me see.”
The truth spilled out, and with it, a flood of memories.
He had once truly cared for Vanessa. He’d honestly thought about a future with her.
If she’d been innocent–if none of this had come to light–maybe today’s ‘surprise‘ would’ve actually been a proposal. Maybe he would’ve married her.
But life had no room for what ifs.
Even if he’d married her, he’d never have been able to let go of Celeste.
That love had long been etched into his bones, so deep it became habit.
What once ran deep could never truly be erased.
Hearing Lucian’s words, Vanessa let out a bitter, self–mocking laugh.
Things had come to this–he hadn’t loved her enough. And truth be told, neither had she.
She’d done it all for money, for status. She could’ve kept pretending for a lifetime, but now the illusion had shattered. He’d
never believe her again.
It was over. Everything was over.
A single tear slipped from her eye and disappeared into the cold concrete.
Vanessa didn’t resist anymore as she was dragged into the basement, where countless fists and boots rained down on
her.
The barrage of punches fell like a torrential downpour, pounding her so hard it felt like her organs were being knocked out of place.
Crack–sharp, distinct. The sound of breaking bones echoed in the air, followed by waves of searing pain.
Her face went deathly pale, her whole body soaked in cold sweat, like she’d just been hauled out of water.
But the bodyguards showed no mercy. They only obeyed Lucian’s orders–no hesitation, no compassion.
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The doctor was on standby. If something broke, they’d just patch her up. As long as she lived, the punishment continued.
No one knew how many nights passed. Her wounds would scab over, only to split open again. The pain came in endless
cycles–fresh, brutal, numbing.
Then, one day, the basement door creaked open again. Lucian stepped inside, calm and unhurried, his eyes cold as they swept over her battered frame.
“Vanessa, the punishment’s over for now. You’re free to go.”
To Vanessa, the words sounded like angels singing. But she didn’t react right away. She just stared at him, stunned.
“You… you’re really letting me go? You’re really going to spare me?”
Her voice was a rasp–scraped raw from screaming too much, too long.
Lucian simply nodded.
“Yeah. You can leave.” But that doesn’t mean I’m letting you off the hook.
He didn’t say the second part aloud. He just waited to watch her crumble all on her own.
Physical pain was nothing. She still had debts to pay–things she stole from Celeste, things she’d have to give back.
But Vanessa didn’t think that far. All she wanted was to escape.
She scrambled to her feet and fled, lungs heaving for air.
The front gates were open, just like always.
She didn’t dare ask Lucian to drive her home. She half–stumbled, half–crawled down the hill alone until she finally caught a cab back to campus.
However, she never noticed Lucian’s car following her at a quiet distance.
Back at school, Vanessa covered her face and rushed toward her dorm.
But the moment students spotted her, they started whispering and pointing, their eyes filled with disgust and judgment.
She didn’t think too much of it. Maybe she just looked too rough, too messy.
Whatever, she thought. Once I clean up, they won’t even recognize me.
But when she stepped into the dorm, the look on her classmates‘ faces froze her in place–nothing but scorn and disdain.
Chapter 17
