Chapter 6

When Rebecca regained consciousness, she realized she was lying on the cold surface of a table with her wrists tied up. She could hear Penelope complaining next to her. "Rebecca's been spoiled rotten. I didn't want to make things difficult for her. I only reported her to the police because I wanted to teach her a lesson. I want her to learn the rules." It was obvious that James' heart was aching for her as he held her in his embrace. He patted her back gently and said, "I understand, Penny. I'll stay with you tonight after you finish giving your statement, okay?" It was only then that Rebecca realized that they were in the police station. Since no one else was around, James and Penelope didn't bother holding back their affection for each other. Rebecca's chest felt heavy. However, the stinging pain lancing through the back of her neck reminded her that James hadn't held back at all when he knocked her unconscious earlier. "Tell us what happened, Ms. Sawyer. You were reported for causing a commotion. We brought you to the police station in hopes that you'll confess your crimes." Rebecca looked up upon hearing the police officer's words. She made eye contact with James, who had glaciers in his eyes. "Confess my crimes?" She fixed a smile on her face, ignoring how her chest felt suffocated. "These people broadcasted a video of me without my consent. They framed and provoked me. My neck hurts so much that I can't even move it right now. "Who's going to confess to the crimes that were committed against me? The only mistake I ever made was being blind enough to sleep with that bastard!" James' face contorted into an upset expression upon hearing her words. "How could you be so crude, Rebecca?" Penelope said weakly. "If you just apologized to me, I might have asked James to bail you out—" "Shut up!" Rebecca snapped, interrupting her. "I'll tear your mouth off your face if you say another word, Penelope." Penelope stumbled backward and fell against James' chest upon hearing Rebecca's threat. "I'm scared, James…" It was obvious that James was angered by Rebecca's attitude. He picked Penelope up before saying coldly, "If you're so eager to suffer, Rebecca, I'll fulfill your wishes. Your mental state has been unstable for a while now. I think it's time to send you to the hospital, so you can receive the treatment you need." He didn't spare a single glance back at her as he left the room. That afternoon, a psychiatric evaluation report that Rebecca had never seen before was delivered to the police station. She was transferred from the police station to the hospital and locked up with a group of patients who were mentally ill. Rebecca was trapped in the hospital for five days. They strapped her to an electrotherapy chair and force-fed her medicine. On top of that, her roommates all had a tendency to be aggressive. They slapped and choked Rebecca, robbing her of a good night's sleep. Although Rebecca retaliated every time they attacked her, there was only so much she could do when she was alone and outnumbered. On the day she was scheduled to be discharged from the hospital, some of the patients forcefully pinned her against the wall by grabbing her shoulders. They grasped a fistful of her hair and repeatedly slammed her head against the wall until she started bleeding. Rebecca's head was spinning when she finally walked out of the hospital in the dead of night. When she tried to hail a cab, a Jeep screeched to a stop next to her. A towel that had been soaked in a chemical solution was pressed to her nose and mouth. Even as Rebecca hovered between consciousness and unconsciousness, she could sense someone cradling her as they carried her into a hotel. The lights were dim. Rebecca forced herself to open her eyes and vaguely saw James' silhouette. He had a cigarette pinched between his fingers. The smoke that danced around the room made it impossible for her to discern the expression on his face. "It's done, Mr. Heaton. The reporters got plenty of good shots when I carried this bitch into the hotel just now." A loud bang reverberated around the room the moment the words left the man's lips. James had kicked the man's knee. "What did you call her?" he demanded. "Watch your tongue if you want to stay out of trouble." He stubbed out the cigarette and walked over to the bed. Rebecca could feel a pair of rough hands caressing her face slowly before finally stopping at the stitches on her forehead. "You're so well-behaved when you're asleep. Why are you so good at causing trouble normally?" James muttered, his voice laced with an inexplicable tenderness. James stopped his ministrations when he received a call a few seconds later. "Where are you, James? Can you come back to accompany me? Mom and Dad already left for their honeymoon. I can't sleep when it's thundering outside…" Rebecca could hear Penelope's troubled voice echoing from the receiver. James didn't linger. He turned around and exited the room with quickened steps, saying, "Don't worry, Penny. I'll come over right now." He then coldly gave his orders to the man in the room. "Remember not to touch her. You can only leave once you've ensured that she woke up safe and sound." The sound of the heavy door slamming shut cleared some of the fog in Rebecca's mind. However, just as she was about to forcefully open her eyes, a chill ran down her spine. A pair of hands roamed across her chest before tearing her shirt in half.