Cecelia curled up on the icy floor. The cold raced from her toes straight to her head, freezing her from the inside out.

The next moment, the door was kicked open, bringing a wave of hostile air with it.

In the darkness, Shaun yanked off his tie, his bloodshot eyes locked on her as he lunged like a beast gone wild.

She struggled with everything she had, but the heavy tape sealed her mouth shut. All she could manage were ragged, muffled whimpers from deep in her throat, like a trapped animal crying in despair.

Before she knew it, her clothes were torn to shreds. She trembled all over as the memory of him causing her miscarriage years ago flashed through her mind against her will.

Back then, his gaze was just as red, brimming with a frenzy that could tear the world apart.

She convulsed from the pain of the miscarriage, her nails digging deep into his back as she screamed herself hoar

On the day Larry was discharged, Shaun came to pick him up.

When he realized that Shaun only planned to take him home, he started throwing a tantrum. "I want to live with Mom and Dad. Get rid of that awful woman. She has taken Mom's place, and I don't want to see her anymore."

Shaun's face fell the moment he heard that. "Knock it off, Larry. Don't ever speak like that again. From now on, Cecelia is your mom."

Larry refused to listen and yelled, "She's not! She made me eat mango. She's evil."

Watching Larry throw a fit, Shaun felt a headache coming on. He wanted to give Larry a place in the family, but he had never planned to let Alice move in. After all, Cecelia was his lawful wife, and he had never wavered on that.

Alice bit her lip hard at those words. She held Larry close, rocking him gently until his sobs quieted. She nervously glanced up at Shaun, like she was walking on eggshe

Cecelia frowned. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."

Alice rushed up to Cecelia, dropped to her knees, and broke down in tears. "Just tell me, Cece. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have put Larry in your care, thinking I could make him the Hawkins family's heir.

"I'm begging you. Give Larry back to me. I'll leave with him right away, and I won't ever show my face in front of you or Shaun again."

Alice was sobbing hard, her shoulders shaking like crazy. If Cecelia hadn't seen the menace in her eyes, she would have believed her.

Cecelia shook off Alice's hand and huffed. "I didn't see Larry today. Stop acting crazy in front of me."

Shaun could no longer keep his anger in check. "I gave your display room to Larry because you were in the wrong, Cecelia. It was your chance to reflect on what you had done."

He moved closer, his towering figure looming over Cecelia. "Even if you're upset, take it out on me. Don't go after a five-year-old kid."

She also erupted in anger, raising her wrist. "I told you it wasn't me. Doesn't this thing have a tracker? Can't you check where I've been?"

Thinking Cecelia meant the phone GPS, Alice interrupted between sobs. "Even with GPS, you can just leave your phone somewhere. It doesn't prove you didn't go after Larry."

Shaun coldly cut Alice off. "Enough!"

He met Cecelia's unyielding gaze. Her stubborn stare didn't flinch, and it made him hesitate. "Since Cece says it wasn't her, then we'll look somewhere else."

Alice called out, "Shaun—"

She still had things to say, but his phone suddenly rang again. He picked up the call, and his tensed brows instantly relaxed. "You found him? Alright. I'm on my way."

After hanging up, Shaun turned to Alice. "I found Larry. He's in an old factory."

Alice's expression stiffened, as if she hadn't expected Shaun's men to be so efficient.

He took a deep breath, and the hostility in his eyes dissipated. "I jumped to conclusions, Cece. After I find Larry, I'll apologize to you in person."

With that, he turned and quickly walked away.

…

Cecelia had completely lost her appetite from all the drama, but since she was leaving the country soon, she decided to still meet up with Eliza.

Standing at the curb, she flagged down a cab. However, a few minutes into the ride, her head felt heavy, and she drifted off to sleep.

When Cecelia opened her eyes again, she found herself in a dim room, wearing a mask and unfamiliar clothes. Her mouth was sealed with tape.

Just as she was struggling to get up, she heard Alice and Shaun talking outside.

Alice started, "The person who kidnapped Larry is in that room, Shaun. Since you're miserable right now, why don't you take it out on her?

"I looked into her. She's just a broke college student who tried to kidnap Larry for ransom, and she hasn't been with anyone. I put a mask on her, so she won't ruin your mood."

Shaun's voice was rough and ragged, his breathing quick and uneven. Another episode of his sex addiction was hitting hard, and he was barely holding on.

He held her chin, his gaze darkening. "She isn't even worth my time. You're the only one I want, Alice."

She brushed a kiss against the corner of his mouth and said reluctantly, "But I'm pregnant, Shaun. You wouldn't want anything to happen to our baby, would you?"

Her words were all protest, but her legs told a different story, playfully teasing him with them. A muffled groan slipped from his throat. What little reason he had left collapsed in a heartbeat.

But Shaun still somehow stopped himself from making a move on Alice and said in a husky voice, "Then, I'll make an exception this once."

He had already hurt Cecelia once because of his lust. There was no way he was going to make the same mistake and hurt Alice.

Cecelia curled up on the icy floor. The cold raced from her toes straight to her head, freezing her from the inside out.

The next moment, the door was kicked open, bringing a wave of hostile air with it.

In the darkness, Shaun yanked off his tie, his bloodshot eyes locked on her as he lunged like a beast gone wild.

She struggled with everything she had, but the heavy tape sealed her mouth shut. All she could manage were ragged, muffled whimpers from deep in her throat, like a trapped animal crying in despair.

Before she knew it, her clothes were torn to shreds. She trembled all over as the memory of him causing her miscarriage years ago flashed through her mind against her will.

Back then, his gaze was just as red, brimming with a frenzy that could tear the world apart.

She convulsed from the pain of the miscarriage, her nails digging deep into his back as she screamed herself hoarse. 

But he kept going, letting the blood soak the sheets beneath them.

This time, Shaun was convi

Chapter 8