Chapter 2

Jillian POV

The words hung in the air, heavy and sharp. I sank to my knees, the injured leg screaming in protest, but I didn't care. The physical pain was a dull throb compared to the hollowness in my chest. "Please," I choked out, looking up at Hildegarde, my eyes pleading. "I can't... I can't do this anymore."

Hildegarde gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Her eyes, usually so sharp and commanding, softened with shock and sorrow. "Jillian, my child..."

"I'm done," I whispered, the finality of it a strange relief. "I just want out."

She knelt beside me, her touch gentle on my shoulder, a tenderness that felt like a lifeline in the wreckage of my life. "Are you sure, dear? This isn't a decision to be made lightly."

"I'm sure," I said, my voice gaining strength. "More sure than I've ever been about anything."

She looked at me for a long moment, truly seeing me, not the wife of her grandson, but the broken woman before her. Finally, she nodded, a slow, deliberate movement. "Very well, Jillian. If this is truly what you want, I will help you. But... there's a condition."

My heart sank a little, but I was beyond caring. "Anything," I said, my voice flat. "Just get me out."

She squeezed my shoulder, a silent promise. "You will get your divorce. And you will be well compensated. But you must promise me, Jillian. Promise me you will not let this break you. You will rise from this. You will be stronger."

"I promise," I said, the words a silent vow to myself as much as to her. I stood up, leaning against the wall, the strength in my legs returning, fueled by a new, cold resolve. "Thank you, Hildegarde."

She only nodded, her expression grim. I knew she understood. I left the room, the hospital corridor feeling strangely empty, like the life I had just walked away from.

The next few days were a blur of pain medication and legal discussions. Hildegarde's lawyers were efficient, moving with a speed that suggested years of experience in high-stakes divorces. I was a ghost, drifting through the motions, my mind numb with grief and betrayal. I spent most of my time in my temporary apartment, staring blankly at the walls, the silence a deafening reminder of my emptiness.

One evening, there was a loud bang on my door. Before I could even react, it burst open. Two hulking men in dark suits stormed in, their faces grim. My heart leaped into my throat. What is happening?

They grabbed me, my injured leg buckling under me. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?" I cried out, struggling against their iron grip.

They didn't answer, just dragged me out of the apartment, down the hallway, and into a waiting black SUV. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the sudden, brutal abduction. Who were these men? Why were they doing this?

They drove for what felt like hours, the city lights blurring into an indistinguishable streak. When the car finally stopped, I was disoriented, my head throbbing. They pulled me out, shoving me inside a grand, imposing house.

The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a dimly lit room, my head pounding. My hands were tied behind my back, and my leg, still in its brace, was throbbing with renewed pain. Panic clawed at my throat. I looked around, my eyes adjusting to the gloom.

Then I saw him. My younger brother, Cristopher. He was huddled in a corner, his face pale, his eyes wide with terror, tears silently streaming down his cheeks. His hands were also tied, his bright, ambitious spirit utterly crushed.

"Cristopher!" I cried, trying to reach him, but the ropes bit into my wrists. "What have they done to you?"

He just shook his head, unable to speak, his body trembling violently. The sight of my innocent brother, always so full of life and dreams, reduced to this terrified shell, ignited a fierce, protective rage within me.

The door creaked open, and Damian stepped in. He looked at me, then at Cristopher, his face a mask of cold indifference.

"Damian! What is this?" I demanded, my voice raw. "Let him go! What did he do?"

He merely scoffed. "Your brother, Jillian, is a thief. A corporate spy."

My jaw dropped. "What? That's insane! Cristopher would never do anything like that!"

"Oh, but he did," a syrupy voice purred from behind Damian. Aida. She floated into the room, perfectly dressed, a picture of false innocence, her eyes gleaming with malicious triumph. "He stole sensitive company data. He sold secrets to our rivals. He tried to ruin everything Damian has worked for."

"That's a lie!" I screamed, my voice cracking. "Cristopher, tell them! Tell them it's not true!"

Cristopher whimpered, shaking his head. "I... I didn't..."

Damian's eyes, cold as ice, fixed on me. "He confessed. He admitted everything. He's been expelled from college. His reputation is ruined. And it's all thanks to you, Jillian."

"Me?" I stared at him, bewildered. "What are you talking about?"

"You provoked Aida," he said, his voice hard. "You chose to disrespect her. And this is the consequence. This is your doing, Jillian."

"This is your doing!" I yelled, my anger finally breaking through the numbness. "You're twisting things! Cristopher is innocent! You need to investigate this properly!"

Damian merely crossed his arms, a chilling smirk playing on his lips. "There's nothing to investigate. Aida said he did it. And I believe her."

My world tilted on its axis. He believed her. Without question. Without proof. Against my brother. Against me.

"Please, Damian," I pleaded, my voice breaking, the anger dissolving into despair. "Don't do this. He's just a kid. You'll destroy his future."

He remained impassive, his gaze distant. Aida, meanwhile, watched with a smug satisfaction that made my blood run cold.

Cristopher let out a heart-wrenching sob. "I told them... I told them everything they wanted to hear," he choked out, fear twisting his young face. "They said... they said if I didn't, they'd hurt you, Jillian."

"No!" I screamed, struggling against my bonds. "Don't listen to them, Cristopher!"

Aida stepped forward, a cruel smile on her lips. "Oh, he listened. He confessed to everything. And now, he'll pay the price."

Before I could react, one of the men pushed Cristopher forward. He stumbled, falling to his knees. Aida then held up a small, elegant knife. "And for lying to me," she purred, "he'll suffer."

"No! Don't touch him!" I shrieked, my eyes wide with horror as Aida began to mockingly cut at Cristopher's clothes, humiliating him.

Cristopher, his face a mask of primal terror, suddenly scrambled to his feet. With a desperate lunge, he broke free from the man holding him and ran towards the window, which was surprisingly open slightly. "I won't let you hurt her!" he yelled, his voice a raw, broken sound. "I won't!"

"Cristopher, no!" I screamed, knowing exactly what he was about to do. He was aiming for the small crack, the desperate hope of escape. I lunged forward, hitting the ground, the ropes chafing deep into my wrists, tearing at the skin. I could only watch, helpless.

He was fast, but the window was too small, too high. He slammed against the glass, an impossible escape. The men grabbed him again, pulling him back. But Cristopher, in his desperation, fought back with a sudden, unexpected strength. He clawed at their faces, bit at their hands.

"You won't break me!" he shrieked, his voice laced with pure defiance. "I'm not a thief! I never betrayed anyone!"

As the men wrestled him back, something snapped in Cristopher. His eyes, fixed on me, suddenly filled with a profound, heartbreaking resolve. "Jillian," he gasped, his voice barely audible, "Live for me. Be free."

Then, with a horrifying, gut-wrenching scream, he twisted free and threw himself headfirst against the heavy, ornate mirror on the wall, shattering it into a thousand sharp pieces. The impact was sickening. He fell to the ground, a pool of crimson rapidly spreading around him.

"CRISTOPHER!" I shrieked, my voice tearing through the air. I lunged, desperate, but the ropes held me fast. My head hit the floor, pain exploding behind my eyes. No. Not him. Not my brother.

Everything went black again.

I woke up to the sterile smell of a hospital room, alone. My head throbbed, my wrists ached, and my heart felt like a gaping wound. "Cristopher!" I cried out, trying to sit up, but my body refused to cooperate.

A nurse rushed in, gently pushing me back down. "Easy, Mrs. Ramsey. You've had a concussion."

"My brother," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. "Where is Cristopher?"

The nurse's face softened with pity. "He's... he's in critical condition, Mrs. Ramsey. But he's stable for now."

Relief, a fragile, fleeting thing, washed over me. He was alive. He was still fighting.

Just then, Damian walked in, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. He held a phone to his ear, listening intently, then nodded. "Understood. Tell them she'll apologize." He hung up and looked at me. "You're awake. Good."

"What about Cristopher?" I demanded, pushing myself up despite the pain. "What are you going to do?"

"He's still alive," he said, his voice flat. "For now." My heart clenched. "But if you want him to stay that way, you need to do something for me."

"What?" I asked, dread coiling in my stomach.

"You're going to publicly apologize to Aida," he stated, his gaze hard. "For everything. For trying to ruin her, for making false accusations, for everything she says you did."

"I'll do no such thing!" I cried, my voice rising. "She's lying! She framed Cristopher! She tried to hurt him! She's a monster!"

Damian' s eyes narrowed. "Your appearance is a mess, Jillian. You look pathetic. Get it together. Aida's reputation has been damaged by all this speculation. You will apologize, or I will ensure your brother's condition... deteriorates."

A cold, terrifying chill ran down my spine. He was threatening my brother's life. He was willing to let Aida destroy my family. My anger flared, hot and consuming, but a deeper part of me, a weary, defeated part, knew I had no choice.

"You... you bastard," I whispered, the words barely audible. "You truly are a monster."

He didn't react, just stared at me with an unwavering, merciless gaze. My chest ached, a deep, unbearable pain. I had given him eight years of my life, my love, my patience. And this was how he repaid me. By destroying my brother and demanding my utter humiliation.

A bitter, humorless laugh escaped my lips. "Fine," I choked out, tears streaming down my face. "I'll apologize. Just... just promise me Cristopher will be safe."

"He'll be safe," Damian said, his voice devoid of any real warmth. "As long as you cooperate."

The words felt like ash in my mouth. I had played the devoted wife, the understanding partner, for so long. Now, I was nothing more than a pawn in his cruel game. My self-worth, my dignity, shattered into a million pieces.

"Good," he said, his tone dismissive. "Get dressed. We're going to Aida's room."

He turned and walked out, leaving me alone in the silent room, the taste of betrayal and humiliation heavy on my tongue. I closed my eyes, a single, raw sob escaping my lips. My brother's life, my last remaining family, depended on this. I had to do it. I had to swallow my pride, my rage, my shattered heart.

I slowly pushed myself out of bed, every movement a protest from my bruised and aching body. The thought of facing Aida, of bowing down to her lies, made my stomach clench. But Cristopher. My sweet, innocent Cristopher.

I picked up the clothes the nurse had left for me. My hands shook as I dressed, each button, each zipper, a struggle. I hated the person I was becoming, the defeated, broken woman. But I had to survive. For Cristopher.

With a heavy heart, I finally made my way to Aida's room, my injured leg dragging slightly. The hallway felt endless, each step a descent into a new hell. I finally reached the door, my hand trembling as I pushed it open.

Before I could even step inside, a hand shoved me hard from behind. I stumbled, falling to my knees onto the polished floor. The brutal force of the shove sent a jolt of pain through my injured leg, making me cry out.