Chapter 4

"You're still trying to deny it?" Baxter's chest heaved with rage. "I thought you were just saying it out of spite. But I didn't expect you had it all planned from the start. What more is there to say?" Vanessa's ears were ringing from the slap. She found it strange too. She had only made a casual remark that morning, yet things just happened to line up like this. Unless… She lifted her head and shot a sharp look at Tabitha, who was still in Baxter's arms. Tabitha was smiling faintly, the earlier grievances gone. It was obvious who was behind it. "Why are you glaring at Tabby?" Baxter snapped, his anger surged. "You're lashing out just because you got exposed? It's all my fault for being too indulgent with you. This time, you need to suffer a little to learn your lesson." Indulgent? When had he ever indulged her? Even if he had indulged someone, it was never her. Hearing such heartless words made Vanessa's chest ache. She let out a self-deprecating smile and asked, "So, what punishment do you have in mind this time? Was he going to threaten her into apologizing? Or offer up more of her nudes as compensation? Whatever it was, she wasn't afraid anymore. But it wasn't either of those. Baxter took her back to the villa and locked her in the abandoned storage shed out back. That was another one of her deepest fears. As the door was about to shut, Vanessa clutched his hand tightly, trembling as she begged, "B-Baxter, don't leave me here!" She was afraid of the dark and had claustrophobia. It was a phobia she developed as a child, and Baxter knew that. He had even stopped his habit of sleeping with the lights off just to accommodate her. But now, all because of Tabitha, he was using it to punish Vanessa. Even so, the severity of the punishment seemed excessive. Baxter looked down at her, his face devoid of sympathy. "I already told you that you need to learn your lesson. Otherwise, you'll keep bullying Tabitha." With that, he pried her hands off and shut the door. Then, everything went black. Vanessa hit the door with all her strength. There was no reply from the other side. She was surrounded by the damp, rusty air and the squeaking of rats and bugs in the corners. Gasping for breath, she curled into a ball and cried until she passed out from exhaustion. And even then, she had a dream. In the dream, she brought Baxter to meet Sonya. But Sonya saw through him immediately. "Ness, he doesn't love you. If you marry him, you'll regret it." In the end, her mother was right. Vanessa was starting to regret it now. But it was already too late. … The next day, the storage room door opened. But it wasn't Baxter who opened it. Instead, Tabitha had someone let her out. In the living room, only Tabitha was there. She was still dressed in a white dress, brush in hand, painting at the easel. She looked pure and serene, but Vanessa knew how twisted she was beneath that innocent appearance. Tabitha paused her movements when she saw Vanessa walk in. Then, she twirled her paintbrush and circled around Vanessa, examining her as she said, "Such a mess, and yet still somewhat attractive. No wonder Baxter was taken in with you. But unfortunately for you, I've got my eye on your position now." Vanessa looked at her calmly and smiled nonchalantly. "You want it? Alright, I'll give it to you then." Tabitha was momentarily stunned, then visibly annoyed. "I don't need you to give it to me! He was mine to begin with. "If I'd known he'd become this successful, I wouldn't have left with that new money guy. You wouldn't even have a chance with Baxter then." So Baxter was really abandoned. Vanessa let out a soft chuckle. She wasn't sure whether to feel sorry for Baxter or laugh at his predicament. "What are you laughing at?" Tabitha was enraged by her indifference. It felt like she was talking to a wall. Just as she was about to lash out again, she caught sight of someone entering from the corner of her eye. A glint of malice flashed across her gaze. She stumbled dramatically toward the easel, knocking everything over in the process. And in one swift motion, she grabbed a sharp utility knife with her right hand. "Ah! It hurts!" she screamed. Blood instantly pooled on the floor.