Chapter 116

Scarlett’s POV

"Mr. Gray, dinner is ready," I said softly, keeping my gaze lowered.

Richard sat behind his desk, tension radiating from him like waves. His fingers were crossed into a tower in front of him, and I could feel his sharp gaze examining me. My fingers involuntarily tightened, cold sweat seeping through.

"Close the door!" his voice commanded, as if wrapped in frost.

I obediently turned, pushing the door shut with trembling hands. The soft click of the latch sounded unusually loud in the silence. My steps hesitated about three feet from the desk, not daring to approach him any closer.

"Sir..." my voice was barely audible.

"Turn around!" Richard ordered coldly.

A chill ran down my spine. I knew what would happen next—the whipping, the punishment—these were all ways Richard vented his frustrations on me. I had no choice. Now, in everyone's eyes, I was just a helpless orphaned girl without any means of self-protection. The more I resisted, the more suspicious Richard would become.

"Please be gentle, sir," I whispered, turning my back to him.

But the familiar whipping I expected didn't come. Instead, I felt his hand caressing my collar, then with a ripping sound, he tore the fabric of my blouse. Cold air swept across my exposed shoulder, and I couldn't suppress the trembling that ran through my entire body.

"Sir, please forgive me! I don't know what I did wrong—" My plea was cut short when his fingers pressed directly on the gunshot wound on my shoulder.

"You saw him?" His icy voice was right by my ear, his breath scorching against my skin.

Just as I was about to speak, his fingers roughly gripped my chin, forcing me to face him. His eyes were cold and full of suspicion, searching mine for any trace of deception.

"That night you were injured, you saw him?"

My mind raced. There were two men at the dock that night—an East Asian man called Tristan Watson, and another man wearing a black mask who was Tristan's leader. Which one was Richard asking about?

Think, Scarlett, think. Giving the wrong answer could be fatal.

"Sir, I don't know what you're talking about," my voice trembled. "I haven't seen anyone, I really don't know anything!"

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and combined with my vulnerable appearance, I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He wanted to believe me, or at least, he wasn't entirely certain I was lying.

But Richard hadn't built his business empire by trusting women's tears.

"Get out!" he commanded, his fingers contemptuously releasing my chin.

Without hesitation, I clutched my blouse and backed toward the door. Just as I grasped the doorknob, his commanding voice came again.

"From today on, you will stay here, in Gray Manor," he said, his voice surprisingly casual. "Wherever you want to go, whenever you want to go out, you must report your schedule to the butler!"

"Yes!" I nodded repeatedly, my face full of submission. Only after walking out the door did I exhale shakily, filled with relief at having survived.

Back in my room, I leaned against the closed door, my racing heart finally slowing down. As soon as my nervous emotions eased, my mind cleared considerably.

Their conversation just now involved too many things. And was the "he" Alexander mentioned the same "he" Richard was questioning me about?

Ralph... the masked man...

Who were they? What connection did these people have with the Gray family? The mysteries were mounting, and I became more certain that my situation here was increasingly dangerous. Even if Richard never discovered my relationship with Alexander, once my identity as Obsidian Palace's "chess piece" was exposed, he would eliminate me without hesitation.

My gaze moved to the handbag on the bed. Was aligning myself with Alexander the only path I could take?

With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I reached for my bag and rummaged through it. My fingers paused, not finding what I expected.

The ring was missing.

I emptied everything from my bag onto the bed, frantically searching through lipstick, phone, wallet—but the carefully selected velvet box was nowhere to be found.

Did I leave it in Alexander's car?

I hurriedly got up to go find it. Hopefully, he hadn't left yet.

Just as I opened the door, a strong hand reached in and pulled me into the hallway. I hadn't even had time to catch my breath before being pushed into another room, followed by the crisp sound of a door closing.

My back was pressed against the wall, and then Alexander's lips forcefully claimed mine, stealing the oxygen from my lungs. His hands roamed over my body, lifting the front of my clothes.

My bottom was hoisted up, and my legs were positioned around his waist. Then a powerful kneading sensation came from my chest.

My skin transmitted a sharp pain, stimulating my chest to rise upward, as if eagerly offering itself to his hands.

"It hurts~" I instinctively cried out, my entire body tensing.

My arms involuntarily rested on his shoulders as I leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Don't, it really hurts."

My plea seemed to penetrate the haze of desire that enveloped him. Alexander pulled back slightly, his blue eyes scrutinizing mine.

"Really?" he asked, stopping his movements.

"Yes," I sobbed softly, tears falling onto his shoulder. "Violet said that area is torn... it probably won't be possible for a few days."

The softer my voice became, the more wickedly Alexander smiled, but I could feel his hand on my chest relaxing, now squeezing with moderate pressure.

Finally, he carried me to the bed, his movements gentler. In the dim light, I carefully adjusted my position on his lap.

"Then next time, I'll be gentler?" he suggested, his fingers idly tracing patterns on my arm.

I didn't respond immediately, my mind worried about Richard's earlier warning. If my movements were restricted to the manor, then Acacia's matter would have to be delayed.

"What are you thinking about?" Alexander's voice interrupted my thoughts.

I looked up at him. "Thinking about how to make you happy," I murmured, nuzzling his thigh with my cheek.

Alexander's body instantly stiffened. "You know what I want to do, yet you still dare to tease?"

"I can use..." I hesitated as I spoke, looking at him with heated eyes.

A smile spread across his face as his fingers traced my lips.

"Did you do this for Richard too?" he asked, a hint of jealousy in his tone.

I immediately shook my head. "No!"

With tears glistening in my eyes, I looked at him sincerely. That he could ask such a question meant my earlier display of vulnerability hadn't been wasted.

"I don't believe you..." Alexander's smile turned wicked.

"Richard really never touched you? Weren't you two playing very... stimulating games?" His breathing quickened.

My hand hesitated slightly, and my voice began to tremble.

"No... he never touched me once. He only hit me."

"Those things... he was going to use them last time, but then I was with you..."

A flash of satisfaction crossed Alexander's eyes.

"What about the drug?" he asked, closing his eyes as his fingers ran through my hair.

"Mmm..." Knowing I couldn't hide this from him, I simply stopped talking and boldly unbuttoned his pants.

What drugs, what whippings, what humiliations...

None of it compared to keeping Alexander happy at this moment.

Just as Camila had said, even if I wanted to move against Obsidian Palace and Marvin, I needed to have the ability to protect myself first!

Within the room, potent elements of intimacy filled every corner.

Until Alexander was satisfied and let out a low moan, I couldn't help but lean forward to press my lips against his.