Chapter 5%
Her hand flew to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock–and then, like a mask peeling off, her expression shifted into something darker. “Brent has never laid a hand on me,” she whispered. “I’ve been protected all my life. No one touches me. How dare you!“{
She stepped back, heels clicking against the marble. Then, slowly and deliberately, she pulled out her phone.
“I’m gonna make you pay for it.”
Before I could process her words, the front doors opened. Two massive bodyguards in black suits stepped inside. I didn’t even know Brent kept them stationed at the house.
She ordered, “Hold her.““>
“What–wait, stop!” I backed up, but the guards closed in fast. One grabbed my left arm. The other snatched my right. Their grips were tight, brutal, unyielding. I couldn’t move. “I am Brent’s wife! You don’t dare hurt me!“}
Celeste laughed. “I’m his stepsister. And I’m pretty sure I’m more valuable than you are!“}]
The bodyguard hesitated a bit but when they followed Celeste’s order, I knew that even the bodyguards knew that Celeste was more important than me.N
Celeste stood in front of me now, arms crossed, her lip curled in disgust. “You thought one slap would settle things?” she said, tilting her head. “You humiliated me.”
Her hand shot out. Slap. The impact exploded across my cheek, sending a jolt of heat and pain through my skull. My head snapped to the side.
Slap. The other cheek this time. My jaw cracked. My ears rang.
She hit again. And again.
Her palm kept flying, switching sides, the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoing like gunshots. I lost count quickly. My skin burned. Then it broke. Blood trickled down my chin, and tears sprang to my eyes–not from emotion, but from sheer, sharp pain.
“Still think you’re better than me?” she hissed between strikes. “Still think you can walk around like this is your house? You’re nothing, Layla. You were always nothing.””
My knees gave out, but the guards held me upright, forcing me to take it all.}
My vision blurred, dark around the edges. Her face became a smear of rage, her voice a buzzing hum behind the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.
By the time she stepped back, I was breathless and broken. My face throbbed like fire. My lips were split, swelling already.”
She turned to the guards and casually asked, “How many?“}]
“One hundred, Miss Westwood,” one of them said without hesitation.
She smirked. “Good. That’s what happens when you lay a finger on me. No one touches me.“>
I was still wheezing, chest rising and falling as I fought for air, when the door behind us opened again.”
Brent. He stepped in and paused.
Took in the scene. Me–bloodied, restrained. Celeste–calm, unbothered.
His face didn’t change.”
“What’s going on?” he asked.”
I could barely get the words out. “She cut my hair,” I managed, voice hoarse. “Then she ordered them to hold me… and she slapped me. A hundred times. Ask them!”
Celeste didn’t flinch. “She hit me first,” she said with a shrug. “Besides–it’s just hair.”
I stared at him, desperate for anything. A sliver of concern. An ounce of protection. Something.
“She beat me, Brent. You’re really going to act like that’s nothing?“}]
He walked over, knelt slightly, and gently wiped a smear of blood off my chin with his sleeve like I was a child with jelly on my face.
“I’ll bring you to the hospital,” he said softly. “Don’t worry about it.“}]
I pulled away. “No. Don’t bother.”
“Layla-”
“I said no.” My voice didn’t crack this time. “I’ll go alone. You don’t care, so don’t bother.”
I turned, stumbling as I pulled free from the guards. No one moved. No one tried to stop me. My face burned, my body ached, and the taste of blood still coated my tongue.
I was halfway to the door when I heard his footsteps behind me.
For a second, I thought–maybe he’ll follow me.”
Maybe he’d changed his mind.”
Then Celeste’s voice cut through the hallway like a blade. “Brent,” she whined, cradling her hand. “My palm hurts. I think I bruised it. I slapped her too hard…”
I paused. My breath caught.
Brent didn’t even hesitate.[
I glanced over my shoulder in time to see him walking toward her. He took her hand gently, lifted it to his lips, and kissed the center of her
- 20.8%
J
palm.
And I was again forgotten so I just walked outside. I flagged a taxi with a shaky hand, the taste of blood still in my mouth.
When I got in, the driver asked, “Hospital?”
I shook my head. “No,” I croaked. “Take me here instead.” I gave him Myra’s address.
Myra opened the door less than ten minutes later.}]
She gasped. “Layla? What the hell–what happened to your face?!”
I didn’t explain. I didn’t have the strength. I dropped my bag inside the entryway and whispered, “Can I stay? Just until my visa arrives.“@ She didn’t say a word. Just pulled me into a tight hug and let me cry against her shoulder.”
The next few days blurred. Ice packs pressed to my cheeks. Warm soup. Quiet rooms. The hum of the news playing softly in the background while I stared at the wall.
I didn’t check my phone. I didn’t want to see more pictures of Brent and Celeste acting like everything was perfect. Like I hadn’t bled on their polished floors.
Then one day, a message buzzed in.”
Brent: Why aren’t you at the hospital? I told you to go. Where are you?”
I stared at the text. The audacity. Like I was just a name on his to–do list.
No anger. No apology. Just a reminder.”
I didn’t reply. I blocked his number instead.
That same afternoon, I zipped up my bag. Checked my passport. Then I headed to the airport.
When the plane took off, I didn’t look back.
I was done breaking for people who only knew how to shatter me.”
And this time–I wouldn’t be the one left behind.
