ManyWriters

For ten years of our marriage, whenever Damian Blackwood cheated, I was the one who cleaned up his messes.
It had become an open secret, whispered throughout the elite circles of Los Angeles.
Until he started toying with a viral model from Texas and carelessly knocked her up.
As was my routine, I threw down a ten million dollar check, ordering her to have an abortion and disappear.
But that very night, as Amber Lynn lay in the hospital, tears streaming down her face, Damian lost all control and kicked the door open.
"Who told you to lay a hand on her?"
"Claire, Amber isn't like the others. I'm keeping this child."
"From today onwards, you are to take care of her every need. If anything happens to the child, you'll be held solely responsible!"
His investment partner, standing nearby, tried to placate me:
"Mrs. Blackwood, this is just a passing fancy for him. Don't take it to heart. Amber is merely a pretty plaything; how could she ever measure up to you?"
"Making a bit of a fuss is one thing, but that should be the end of it. You wouldn't actually dare to divorce him, would you? You've endured this for ten years; this time will be no different."
He had cheated hundreds of times before, and each time, I was the one managing the public relations fallout.
Everyone said I was hopelessly devoted to Damian, that I'd sooner die than leave his side.
But this time, I suddenly felt… weary.

Gilded Cage, Broken Wings

When I opened my eyes again, I had been taken to a private club in Las Vegas.


Damian sat in the head seat, his gaze cold, and threw a set of photos in front of me.


"Amber is just a young girl. By deliberately publishing her private photos from before her plastic surgery, were you trying to drive her to her death?!"


"If the PR team hadn't noticed something was amiss and intervened in time, Amber would have been hounded to death by cyberbullies by now!"


He cut me off, his voice icy, "If not you, then who could it be! The TMZ exposé was already over, yet these photos still ended up online. Those online trolls even have chat logs with you. Do you even believe your own excuses when you say these things?"


"The only person Amber posed a threat to is you, Claire. I really underestimated you."


As he finished speaking, a bodyguard nearby handed over a syringe filled with a murky liquid.


The private doctor's face turned pale. "Sir, although this drug can act as an aphrodisiac, it's incredibly harmful to the body. Madam was just discharged from the hospital; her kidneys can't handle these side effects..."


"If something goes wrong, I'm afraid even a miracle couldn't save her..."


Damian’s face was cold as he shot him a sharp glare.


My eyes reddened, and I instantly lost control of my emotions."What are you trying to do? I told you it wasn't me!"


Damian strode forward, roughly seizing my chin, then disgustedly flung it away.


"When you make a mistake, you should atone for it. What Amber has gone through is irreversible, so you will keep her company."


"Tonight, I've arranged ten clients for you. Each has bid a million dollars. Enjoy yourself."


His tone softened, a rare occurrence, yet his words were more chilling than ice.


"I won't mind that your body is tainted. This is my final act of mercy."


"But your clients all have... particular tastes. To ensure they are thoroughly satisfied, this drug is essential."


The needle pricked my skin, and my lips rapidly turned pale.


Yet an uncontrollable heat surged through me.


The doctor, wiping away cold sweat, tried to stop:


"Sir, this is already beyond a single dose. If we inject any more, she really will—"


Before he could finish, an assistant hurried over.


"Mr. Damian, Miss Amber is threatening to kill herself! You should go see her, I can't restrain her!"


Damian's expression instantly darkened.


"Inject until she's delirious, then send her straight to the room!"


I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face at the same time.


"Listen to him. Continue.""He's slept with hundreds of women, and I've only slept with ten. It's perfectly fair."


Enraged, Damian was about to step forward.


Without sparing me another glance, he dropped the room key and hurried away.


The ceiling above me gradually blurred, the image doubling.


Before I lost consciousness, I thought I heard a soft sigh near my ear.


"Mr. Ethan is abroad. This is all I can do for you. The antidote injection will be a little painful, so please bear with it."


"Just wait two more days, and he'll come to take you away..."


Chapter 2