Chapter 3

"Since you saw it, I might as well give you a heads-up." William's voice sounded behind me. "Sophie said Briarwood has amazing views. I remember you were from Briarwood, so I figured you could supervise the decorating process and double as Sophie's tour guide." I lifted my gaze to him. He was about to say something else, but when he saw my eyes turn red with tears, he held his tongue. This was the first time in eight years I'd ever shown such vulnerability before him. "Giselle? Are you crying?" William's voice was a little hoarse. "I won't make you go to Briarwood if you mind it that much." Everyone in the industry knew I loved William to the moon and back. He could treat me however he wanted, and I wouldn't retaliate or throw a fit, much less shed a tear. Yet, despite how much I loved him, he still chose to marry another woman and hold a wedding in my hometown. As I re-examined these facts, I couldn't help but find that even for someone as cruel as William, he'd crossed the line. William sighed. I recovered before he could suggest pushing back the wedding. It was as if I hadn't just teared up. I asked blandly, "No, I don't mind. When do we leave?" His fists, which had been tightly clenched just moments ago, relaxed at his sides. "This weekend. You can get out of the picture once the wedding's over." I voiced my agreement. I'd been helping William gain a strong footing in the Carter Group all these years, solving one problem after another for him. I'd do anything he asked and give him everything he wanted, even if the costs were unrealistic. And now, my mission was finally coming to an end. … We touched down in Briarwood that weekend. While Briarwood was a nice city, it was located near the border, where things could get rather chaotic. William had arranged security for Sophie and checked into the fanciest hotel in the city. With false thoughtfulness, Sophie suggested, "William, with all the hard work Ms. Harlow has done, maybe we should let her stay with her family while we're here. It's not often she comes home. She must miss them a lot." William didn't even turn to look at me. "Did you get that, Giselle? You may go home if you wish." I nodded obediently. He'd probably forgotten the first thing I said to him when I offered to become his secretary eight years ago. I'd told him I didn't have any family and begged him to let me stay by his side. … That night, I checked into a derelict motel. I had a nightmare where bullets rained down from the sky and corpses were strewn everywhere. I bolted upright, beads of cold sweat ran down my skin. Then, rummaging through the innermost layer of my suitcase, I pulled out two items from my suitcase: a lucky charm and a diary with a password lock. I went back to sleep with those items tucked tightly in my arms. … The next day, a few of William's close friends, who also happened to be his groomsmen, touched down in Briarwood. "Oh, my, I didn't think Ms. Harlow was still working for you, William." William exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke as a cocky look flashed in his eye, snorting. "Yeah, she was born to be a lapdog. It's in her nature to be clingy." I'd been silent throughout their exchange. Then, I suddenly spoke up. "I seem to recall you telling me to get out of your sight once the wedding's over. I've already handed in my resignation and completed my handover. I will leave, don't worry." A hush fell upon the room. William must have felt embarrassed, for his eyes narrowed dangerously at me. He breathed out another mouthful of cigarette smoke, this time in my face. Contempt laced his every word as he drawled, "You think you can leave me that easily, Giselle?" I was the one who'd shielded him from danger and taken his place in prison after the company ran into a crisis. For him, I could abandon my pride, reputation, future, and even my life. It was as if protecting him was the sole purpose of my existence. He doubted I'd leave him, not when I was crazily in love with him. He didn't buy my story for even a second. "Come on, don't tell me you've learned to play hard to get, Giselle." His friends burst into laughter. "I am curious, though, if Ms. Harlow is as obliging as the rumors made her out to be. Has she truly never given you shit for picking on her?" William quirked a brow. "Feel free to try it yourself." The person who'd spoken earlier kicked me in the shin, forcing me to kneel. He deliberately tapped the ashes of his newly lit cigarette onto my palm. The ashes burned me, but I didn't so much as blink. Encouraged by my silence, he smirked and reached to tear my clothes out of the way. However, he stopped when he saw the horrible, grotesque scars that mapped my skin. "What the hell are these marks on your body? They're disgusting!" Upon hearing this, William glanced over, but I'd already straightened my shirt collar. He must have thought his friend was talking about hickies, for he eyed me with bare disgust. "What, did Mr. Waterhouse leave those on you?" He chuckled dryly. "I must say, you're quite wild in bed when it comes to screwing older men." I lowered my gaze, baffled. William seemed oblivious to the kind of torture I'd suffered at the hands of those kidnappers, which was odd, considering they'd acted under his orders.