Chapter 27: A Body That Betrays Me

Pain was temporary.

At least, that's what I told myself.

The bruises would fade. The soreness would pass. But the damage they left behind? That would never disappear.

And no matter how much I tried to disappear inside myself, they wouldn't let me.

They wanted obedience. Total submission. No hesitation. No resistance.

And if I didn't give it to them willingly, they would take it by force.

The Breaking Point

The day started like all the others.

Leo had given his usual orders. "Wake up. Sit straight. Eat."

I obeyed.

I always obeyed.

But my body was weak. My head swam, my limbs trembled. The exhaustion was too much.

And Leo noticed.

"You're moving too slow," he said, his icy-blue eyes narrowing.

I didn't answer.

He stepped closer. "Say it."

I swallowed hard. "I'm sorry."

Leo didn't respond. His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist, pulling me up too fast. My body swayed violently, my vision blurring.

Adrian let out a low whistle. "Wow. She looks like she's about to drop."

Leo's grip tightened. "Stop acting weak."

I wasn't acting.

I barely heard Nico's voice in the background. "Something's wrong."

Then the world tilted.

And everything went black.

Punishment Doesn't Stop

I didn't know how long I had been out.

Minutes? Hours?

All I knew was when I opened my eyes, Leo was still in front of me.

And he wasn't happy.

"You think passing out is going to get you out of this?" he asked, his voice low, controlled.

I blinked slowly, my body too weak to respond.

I felt hands—strong, unrelenting—gripping my arms. Lifting me up again.

Nico.

He didn't say anything. He just forced me to stand.

My body protested instantly. My head swam, nausea twisting in my stomach.

Leo exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "We've been too easy on you."

Easy?

They had destroyed me.

Leo stepped closer, gripping my chin harder than necessary. "You're not getting out of this, Sophia."

"I…" My voice cracked. "I can't—"

The slap was fast, precise. Leo's hand connecting sharply with my cheek.

My head snapped to the side.

But I didn't fall.

Because Nico was still holding me up.

Leo let out a slow breath. "Try again."

Adrian's Turn

By the time Adrian stepped in, I was already too far gone.

My body was shaking violently. My hands felt cold, my stomach twisting painfully.

I could barely register when he crouched in front of me.

"Tsk," Adrian muttered, studying my face. "You look like hell, sweetheart."

I swallowed hard.

He smirked. "You think this is the worst of it?"

I didn't respond.

His fingers trailed down my arm, brushing over old bruises.

"You're so quiet now," Adrian mused, his voice light, teasing. "Remember when you used to fight us?"

I stared blankly past him.

Adrian chuckled. "Guess that fire's all gone, huh?"

I said nothing.

His hand suddenly shot out, gripping my jaw, forcing my face up.

"You're not fooling me," he murmured.

I blinked slowly.

Adrian tilted his head, his smirk widening. Then, just to prove a point, he kissed me.

Not for passion.

Not for love.

For control.

To see if I would resist.

I didn't.

I couldn't.

When he pulled back, he ran his thumb over my bottom lip.

Adrian let out a slow breath. "…You really are broken."

The Sickness Starts

The first wave of nausea hit me the next morning.

I barely made it to the bathroom before my stomach violently rejected everything inside it.

My hands clutched the sink, my body shaking, cold sweat dripping down my spine.

I had barely eaten in days.

But this wasn't hunger.

This was something else.

My stomach twisted again, a sharp, uncomfortable cramp pulsing deep inside me.

I gasped, gripping the counter. Something was wrong.

Really, really wrong.

The door suddenly opened.

I stiffened.

Nico stood there, his emerald-green eyes scanning me instantly.

His gaze flickered to the sink, the way my hands trembled against the counter.

I tried to straighten, to act like nothing was wrong.

His head tilted slightly.

"…How long?" he asked.

I didn't know what he meant.

How long had I been sick?

How long had I been weak?

How long had he known?

I swallowed hard. "It's nothing."

Nico's gaze darkened.

He didn't believe me.

But he didn't push. Not yet.

Instead, he exhaled slowly and stepped forward. And then, for the first time in days, his hand touched my stomach.

The movement was too careful. Too knowing.

I froze.

My heart pounded violently against my ribs.

Nico watched my face carefully. Studying. Calculating.

I couldn't breathe.

Because suddenly, I knew.

And so did he.