CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
TRUE COLORS
ALICE’S POV
“I’m here to stay forever,” I whispered, pressing my lips together, trying to stop a lump from forming in my throat.
Mom glanced at me while stuffing the last folded dress into the suitcase, her hands shaking slightly. “That’s an expensive joke, Alice,” she mumbled, her voice laced with disbelief. “I’m sure he’ll be here any moment to take you home.”
“He won’t be coming, Mom,” I replied softly, my heart sinking further with each word. I wondered why everyone still believed he would come back for me. Why couldn’t they see what was so clear to me? He didn’t want me anymore.
Mom froze, her hand lingering on the suitcase before she slowly turned to face me. “Why, dear?” she asked, her tone softening, worry evident in her eyes.
“Because… because…” The words felt too heavy to utter, too harsh to speak out loud. I shut my eyes tightly, trying to force back the lump in my throat, but the tears were already threatening to spill over. “He divorced me,” I finally muttered, the truth escaping my lips like a bitter poison. I braced myself for her reaction, but there was only silence.
I looked away, the weight of my failure crushing me. I couldn’t keep my marriage together. I let someone else ruin it. The shame gnawed at my insides.
Suddenly, I felt warm hands gently taking mine, and I slowly opened my eyes to see Mom standing in front of me, her face full of concern. “I’m not disappointed in you, Alice,” she said softly, squeezing my hands. “I’m proud of you, dear. Proud that you’ve been strong through all of this. I know how much you endured every day, the harsh treatment, the pain. Even if you didn’t say anything, I could see it in your eyes, in your expression, and in the way your sister talked about you.”
“But I failed,” I stuttered, tears welling up in my eyes. “I couldn’t save my marriage. I couldn’t…”
Mom’s grip on my hands tightened. “You didn’t fail, Alice. You did everything you could. Sometimes, it’s not about fighting to keep something together; it’s about knowing when to let go.”
A tear slid down my cheek, and I sniffed, trying to hold back the rest. “Can you give me an honest answer, Mom?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“Anything, my dear,” she urged, her tone gentle.
“Am I that bad? Or is Elizabeth just better? Why does she always get what I want? Why does she always snatch everything from me?” My voice cracked, the pain I’d been holding in for so long finally breaking free. “Why did Liam choose to sleep with her in our bed? Why did he decide to divorce me? Why am I so unlucky? Just tell me why, Mom. Why?”
The tears flowed freely now, my heart aching as though it was being torn apart. Mom pulled me into a tight hug, and I clung to her as if my life depended on it, sobbing into her shoulder.
“It’s going to be okay, dear,” she whispered, her voice shaky with emotion. “Everything is going to be okay.”
ELENA’S POV
“Hello, sister.” A smirk spread across my lips as I stared down at her helpless form. Her eyes slowly peeled open, her breaths coming in rasping gasps. “Do you remember me?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
“I… I don’t… I don’t remember anything… please… spare me,” she stuttered weakly, and I felt my blood boil.
“Answer me!” I yelled, my hand tightening around her jaw, my fingernails digging into her skin.
“I don’t remember… please…” she whimpered, her voice shaking.
A cruel smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I shoved her face away in disgust. I turned to the box opposite her, slowly pulling out a whip and two naked wires. “Guess what time it is?” I taunted, flashing her an angry grin. “It’s lecture time!”
Her head snapped up, eyes wide with terror. “Please… please don’t… I promise I don’t remember anything… please don’t whip me,” she begged, her voice rising in panic.
“You sound so sincere,” I mocked, tossing the wires to the ground and straightening my whip. “But based on the fact that I’m thirsty for pleasure, I’ll consider your request… next time.”
“Please… please…” she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
Before she could finish her sentence, I lashed the whip across her body with all my might, watching with satisfaction as she screamed and writhed in pain. Each cry, each sob that escaped her lips, filled me with a twisted joy.
After what felt like an eternity of watching her suffer, her strength began to fade, her body slumping as she grew weak from the relentless flogging. I finally stopped, tossing the whip aside as I bent down to pick up the wires.
Her voice was barely a whisper now, a weak stuttered plea. “P… pl… e…a…se.”
I chuckled darkly, finding her too weak to even form a complete word, but not weak enough to avoid what was coming next. I attached the wires to her legs, a gleam of satisfaction in my eyes as I grabbed the remote next to her.
With a deliberate, slow motion, I tapped the red button, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. Her screams reached a new pitch as she convulsed, the current coursing through her veins. I watched her get electrified, and before I knew it, an uncontrollable laughter burst out of me, echoing through the room as I reveled in her agony.