The pain made me unusually alert.
I couldn’t lose Carter. I had to cling to this last shelter. As long as I remained Carter’s wife and part of The Lynch Family, I wouldn’t return to the nightmares of the past. I could gather strength until the day I escaped from this place, fled to a city where no one recognized me, and lived the rest of my life in peace.
I turned to Cameron and bit my lip.
“Cameron… I will do as you say.”
Cameron was momentarily surprised, “That’s more like it! I told you, you’ll never escape from The Lynch Family, never escape from me!”
“Yes,” I softly agreed.
Of course, I wouldn’t escape. At least not at this moment. I would obediently comply. I understood that I needed to gather strength, and someday, I would use my own abilities to give myself a sky of freedom. At that time, you, Cameron, meant nothing in my life.
…
I held the vibrator in my hand and recited the pre-prepared lies perfectly in front of Carter. Carter watched me in silence. I lowered my head, unable to see his expression, but I noticed his hand on the wheelchair slowly tightening into a fist, then slowly relaxing.
My face burned with shame, and the sense of guilt felt like little insects gnawing at my heart. I clenched the thing in my hand, wishing I could break and tear it apart in the next moment. Tears fell from my eyes, dropping onto the back of my hand.
“I’m sorry,” I forced out those three words, exerting all my strength.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Carter,” I whispered. “But I didn’t expect to cause you such great pain.”
Carter remained silent for a long time…
Then he sighed softly, and held my hand. I was surprised by the coldness of his fingertips.
I raised my head, locking eyes with him. Those eyes held no blame, no hatred-only tenderness and pity, just like the care he had given me since childhood.
My heart ached, and I burst into tears, kneeling in front of him, resting my face on his knee. “Carter…”
I called his name softly, as if grasping a lifeline.
He gently stroked my long hair, then tentatively touched my waist, lingering there for a while. I felt uncomfortable all over, subconsciously wanting to pull away from him, but in the end, I didn’t do that.
“I should be the one who should apologize,” he lowered his head, his lips lightly touching my forehead. “I can’t even do what an ordinary husband should do. I’ve made you suffer.”
I was startled and buried my face in his embrace.
His lips descended slowly, brushing over my nose, meeting my lips. My heart was pounding fiercely, and Cameron’s figure flashed in front of my eyes.
I gently pushed him, but my body was stiff and tense. Carter didn’t continue, he just lightly touched my lips and moved away. He silently watched me, sighing softly.
Since this ‘confession’, there seems to be a subtle shift between Carter and me. He’s become more affectionate, often embracing me when we’re alone in the room. Sometimes, physical touches can bridge emotional distances.
Yet, I find myself recoiling from his touch, irrationally resistant. I don’t know what’s come over me. I feel guilty towards him, wanting to care for him for the rest of my life.
But in his presence, I always feel unworthy.
It’s not just him, but in front of everyone from The Lynch Family, I was lowered to the dust.
Especially in front of Cameron.
I knew he wouldn’t let me go.
…
He intentionally placed the vibrator under my pillow. It could be controlled with a mobile app. Once, as soon as I lay down, a buzzing vibration came from under the pillow. I lifted it and threw it against the wall filled with shame. However, the bedroom door was being opened.
Cameron stood in the dark.
I couldn’t see his face, but I knew he was smiling.
“Cameron,” I almost choked as I asked him, “How long are you going to torture me?”
The figure at the door remained motionless. After a long time, he silently turned around. However, just before he left, I heard a low, cold voice from that direction.
Three words.
“For a lifetime.”
A lifetime…
That night, I hardly slept at all.
A lifetime was too long, it’s a burden I couldn’t bear.
So, from that moment on, the idea of escaping The Lynch Family stormed through my mind. I frenziedly worked on this plan, saved money, planned routes, and even considered various emergency situations. I was determined to escape from Cameron.
After that confession, Carter also told me openly that he still hoped I could give birth to a child for him-a child with the blood of The Lynch Family. So, the plan for in vitro fertilization remained unchanged.
I agreed subconsciously, suddenly feeling that this might be a good opportunity to escape. Therefore, before another visit to the hospital for a checkup, I secretly called Cameron and told him that I was pregnant.
There was an unusual silence on the other end of the phone.
“I’m pregnant,” I gathered courage and repeated, “Cameron, did you hear me?”
My heart was pounding, and lying was not easy especially in front of such a man. Fortunately, it was over the phone; otherwise, I didn’t know if I would have fainted.
After a while, a faint “Hmm” came from the receiver.
I was startled, “Cameron… this is your child.”
“I know.”
“What should I do?”
“Don’t say anything more; leave the rest to me.”
After saying that, he hung up.
I listened to the busy tone on the other end of the phone, stunned for quite some time. My brain was blank, and I had no idea what I had just said or done. Only Cameron’s words, “leave it to me,” echoed clearly in my ears.
I couldn’t help but fantasize that if I were really pregnant with his child, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing. He was a responsible man, and he would take care of me. Perhaps we could even have a home.
Home?
This word made me shiver all over.
I rushed into the bathroom, scooped up cold water, and splashed it on my face. I stared at myself in the mirror, the person inside was completely unfamiliar.
Laura, how could you have such a dreadful thought!
I waited for my heartbeat to calm down and slowly walked out of the bathroom.
During dinner, Cameron secretly slipped a note under the table to me. My heart jumped to my throat, and I opened the note quietly. Cameron’s handwriting was on it. “I’ve arranged everything with the doctor. There won’t be any problems.”
I tore the note into pieces, casually throwing it into the trash can. When I looked up, I met Cameron’s eyes, a smile playing on his lips.
Clearly, he was pleased that I was pregnant with his child. But if he knew that all of this was a lie, could he still smile?
During those days, I discreetly packed my luggage when everyone in the house was asleep. There weren’t many things-just some personal items and the pocket money Carter gave me, which should be enough to sustain me for a while.
While packing, I found a credit card with no spending limit.
The raised steel imprint bore the name “Cameron.”
My heart trembled at the sight of that name. It was a nightmare, a curse. That card was the one he threw at me the first night he intruded into my room. That day, he had been drinking, didn’t do anything to me, just ran his hands all over me.
That was also the first time he kissed me. Our tongues entwined, and I could still vividly remember the nervousness, stiffness, and confusion at that moment. I whimpered softly, which angered him. He bit down on my tongue fiercely, and the piercing pain followed the sensitive nerves all the way to my heart.
It was the first time I experienced his terror, the first time I realized my own insignificance, and the first time I contemplated escape.
Now, that thought was about to become a reality…
A few days later, I accompanied Carter to the hospital again. The attending doctor came out happily, holding a report, informing us that my in vitro fertilization was successful, and we were soon going to be parents!
Carter was overjoyed, grabbing my hand in excitement, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes.
However, I knew deep down that this doctor was arranged by Cameron.