“No, Cameron!” I paused for a moment, quickly regaining my composure. I looked at him, and my hand moved downward, placed on his hand, gripping tightly.
“No.” I uttered the words firmly. “I am Carter’s wife, and you today are someone else’s fiancé! Cameron, there can’t be a third kind of relationship between us!”
Cameron froze, then burst into a mocking laughter.
“Very well!” he laughed. “Did my brother conquer you? Are you determined to follow him and live as a widow for the rest of your life?”
His large hand caressed my disheveled hair bit by bit. “You’ve been living well with him lately, haven’t you? Still want to have children with him?”
I turned my face aside, remaining silent.
He suddenly squeezed my shoulder, his voice roaring like a wild beast in my ear, “Answer me!”
My last bit of sanity completely collapsed. “Yes, yes!” I cried out. “I want to spend my life with him! I am his wife, and I want to stay with him forever! I want to have his children!”
Cameron’s expression changed…
Suddenly, immense pain swept over me. He pinned me to the sofa, thrusting fiercely again and again…
I followed the movement of his body, my back rubbing harshly against the sofa, the pain between my legs gradually turning into numbness. I stared blankly at the ceiling; the entire world was spinning, and my soul felt emptied, turning into a lifeless shell.
He continued, cursing as he went, “Laura… you little slut!”
“Has he ever done this to you?”
I lifted my eyes, meeting his eyes filled with evil and mockery. He thrust deeply, reaching a point I couldn’t endure, and my cries of pain only seemed to excite him more.
He seized my shoulders. “No, this can’t be right. Carter could never do this to you… he’s simply impotent!”
“Then what about this? Has he?” He suddenly lowered his head, biting hard into my chest.
“Cameron…”
“Has he touched you? Kissed you?” He was like a wild beast gone mad. “Tell me!”
“No, no!” Unable to endure any longer, I pleaded, “Cameron, please spare me… Carter and I have nothing, I beg you…”
“Speak! Whose woman are you?”
“You…”
“Who am I?” he growled.
I trembled with fear, staring at him, and timidly said, “You… Cameron.”
“Say it all together!”
I closed my eyes. “I am Cameron’s woman. I am your… woman.”
Only then did Cameron let out a low exhale, releasing me, and he turned away.
I stumbled into the bathroom.
There is blood on the toilet paper… I crouched down, gasping for breath. I had no strength even to turn on the shower, and the pain below was burning.
I buried my face between my knees, wanting to cry but unable to shed tears.
Cameron opened the door, looking at me coldly. He had already composed himself. His gaze upon me was like looking at a pile of rags, with an indifference that pierced deep into my heart.
I shouted at him with a hoarse voice, “Get out!”
“Cameron, can’t you… leave me with some dignity?”
He remained expressionless… Then he walked over, grabbing my wrist and lifting me from the floor.
“I’ll arrange for a doctor for you. Go to the doctor tomorrow.”
I stared at him, a sense of humiliation rushing to my head.
“No need.”
“That won’t do. I damaged that place today, and I need to make sure it’s healed. What if I want you later?”
I gathered all my strength into my other hand and slapped him hard.
The sound was loud, echoing so intensely that even I shuddered. My palm stung from the impact, and half of Cameron’s face turned red.
I looked at him silently. At that moment, I wasn’t fearless, but I was willing to endure his storm for that one slap.
Cameron didn’t say a word. He gently touched the side of his face that got hit, his expression chillingly dark.
The air was deathly silent, and it felt as though centuries had passed in the flow of time.
For a while, he released my wrist, glanced at me with a disdainful snort, and walked out of the bathroom. I stood there in a daze for a moment, realizing that these days might be my ovulation period. I quickly rushed out to search through my bag-I always carried contraceptive pills with me, precisely to prevent Cameron’s sudden attacks.
However, with a snap, the pill bottle in my hand was knocked over.
Cameron looked at me and chuckled, “What are you taking?”
“You don’t need to worry about it!”
“Don’t bother taking them. Even if you manage to avoid it this time, can you guarantee you’ll be able to dodge it so smoothly next time?” He put his hands in his pockets. “Laura, I’ve said it before, in your lifetime… you can only bear children for me!”
“I’m sorry.” I stared back at him. “I’d rather take contraceptives until I’m infertile than give birth to your child!”
“What did you say?”
He kicked the pill bottle fiercely, and pills scattered everywhere.
I clenched my fist tightly when, at that moment, I heard a knocking sound on the door. I was startled, and Cameron hooked his arm around my waist and pulledme aside, signaling me with his eyes.
“Cameron, are you inside?”
The person outside pushed the door open.
Cameron gently released me, nonchalantly keeping some distance.
The door fully opened, and he instantly put on another expression.
“I’m here,” He smiled, “Come, Queenie, let me introduce…”
“Is this Laura?”
Queenie was tall, with fair skin, and her chestnut-colored curly hair naturally cascaded over her shoulders. She possessed all the typical features of a beautiful, wealthy woman, and of course, she had more elegance and charm than those ordinary wealthy women. Otherwise, how would my discerning stepmother want her as a daughter-in-law?
I couldn’t help but admit that she stood by Cameron’s side, and they were a perfect match. They were a match made in heaven, while I… played the most disgraceful role between them.
“Hello.” I nodded slightly. “I’m Laura.”
Queenie stepped forward, took my hand, and tried to walk into the room. I suddenly remembered the mess inside the room, felt a panic, and hurriedly stood in front of her.
A trace of suspicion flashed in her eyes. “How did you find your way here?” Cameron gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
“I haven’t seen you around, and I thought you might be trying to escape the wedding!” Queenie also naturally leaned against him.
“Silly girl, how could I?” Cameron affectionately flicked her nose. Such sweet gestures between lovers were something he had never done to me.
A wave of bitterness surged in my heart…
“I came here for a smoke,” Cameron said. “Didn’t expect to run into Laura. Just asked about Carter’s situation.”
“Oh… asked about Carter’s situation? Is there a need to close the door for that?”
I was extremely nervous. Although this was meant as a joke, when I made eye contact with Queenie, I faintly sensed hostility in her gaze.
“You don’t suspect that Laura and I have something going on, do you?” Cameron raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you come in and check?”
Queenie hesitated for a moment, tightened her grip on his hand, and softly scolded, “You really know how to joke!”
“The ceremony is about to begin. Let’s go back,” Cameron suggested.
I followed them, watching the two of them chat and laugh as they walked ahead, entering the banquet hall one after the other.
When people saw them, they all offered their congratulations in unison. The ceremony officially began, and I sat below, watching from a distance.
I watched Cameron smile on stage, watched Queenie nestle beside him.
I watched as they held hands.
I watched as they exchanged rings.
I watched as they kissed.
…
“Laura, what’s wrong?” Carter gently nudged me. I suddenly snapped out of my thoughts and saw him placing food on my plate.
“Nothing.”
I kept my head down. Fortunately, the banquet hall had dimmed the lights for the ceremony’s effect, and Carter couldn’t see my distraction.
Luckily, I wore something conservative today. The dress was the most ordinary style, and he couldn’t see the bruises and marks left by Cameron on my body.
But not being seen didn’t mean it didn’t exist.
I had still betrayed him…
A wave of sadness washed over me. I quickly poured him a glass of wine, and his gaze locked onto my empty wrists.
“I remember you brought a lily today, didn’t you?”
I was startled. With no other choice, I had to come up with a random excuse. But Carter looked at me skeptically and asked, “Where did you go just now? It took so long.”