Chapter 4 You'r Liar (Trigger Warning)

The short text message was met with a quiet sigh from the girl of snow. She turned off her phone with a light tap and slipped it back into her jacket pocket. Her gaze remained empty, focused on the blanket of snow slowly accumulating on the street.

The alley, though narrow, offered protection from the harsh night air. The overhanging roofs of the shops shielded most of the alley, guarding her from the snow and biting wind. A large trash bin stood in one corner, tightly closed, an additional barrier against any wind that might slip through. There was no foul odor; only the dry silence, which felt clean, almost too sterile for an alley on a night like this.

Time passed. Nearly an hour went by, and Ann began to feel sleepy. Her eyes grew heavier, her small head bowed into the embrace of her hands.

Crunch... crunch... crunch...

The sound of footsteps broke the silence. The snow beneath them made a soft, rhythmic sound as they drew closer. Ann lazily opened her eyes but did not lift her head. She didn't need to see who was coming-she already knew.

The man was by her side. Without saying a word, without demanding his presence, he stood two meters away, just like always, at a distance that never changed.

Ann closed her eyes again, letting those moments fill with familiar silence. There was a strange warmth in her chest, calm, as though the sound of the man's footsteps had melted into snowflakes, rising slowly into the cold night air and then vanishing into the heavens.

Her heart was at peace, her heartbeat flowing like a gentle melody, as if she were sitting atop a high mountain, surrounded by fog and clouds. The image filled her mind-she imagined sitting at the peak, waiting for the dusk to descend slowly, watching the sky turn from blue to dark, until night fully took over. She wanted to sleep undisturbed, without calls forcing her to make videos, without the obligation to wake up at dawn. Just peace, just mornings bringing autumn with beautiful leaves.

Ann opened her eyes slightly, gazing at the snow still falling at the end of the alley. For a moment, she felt as though time had stopped. Tonight, she wasn't in a hurry, no longer feeling lost. She just wanted to enjoy this final meeting, engraving it in her heart like an inscription in the snow that would slowly fade

.

Buzz... buzz... buzz...

Ann flinched, irritated by the sudden interruption that shattered her daydream. The thoughts that had filled her mind for a moment now became distorted, scattered by the ringing phone. The number ending in 0027 appeared on her screen, making her reluctant to answer. With a quick motion, she stuffed the phone back into her jacket pocket.

But this time, her peace was disturbed. Her small eyes glanced to the right, toward the man who still stood, silently leaning. For the umpteenth time, Ann dared not look at his face. All she could see was his shiny black leather shoes, and that would be all she remembered-no more than shoes that never changed.

Buzz... buzz... buzz...

The phone rang again. The same number, the same tone. Ann took a deep breath, holding back the emotions bubbling inside her, before finally answering the phone.

"Do you have a boyfriend now, so you've forgotten your duty?" The voice was hoarse, heavy with emphasis. Every word sounded like a threat she had heard too many times.

Ann remained silent, only listening to the voice echoing in her mind. Her deep eyes were now focused on the snow slowly falling from the night sky, as if indifferent to everything around her.

"Hahaha..." The laugh broke the silence, a laugh that was all too familiar, that had haunted her too often. Over the past year, the man had forced her to make videos and then laughed at the results-a laugh that reminded Ann she was just a woman to be ridiculed. Those words kept echoing in her ears, reminding Ann of how little she meant to him.

Feeling the sadness creeping back, Ann was even more certain she had made the right choice to never open her heart to another man. Because, in her mind, she didn't deserve it.

"In 10 minutes, if you're not here, I'll call the hospital and disconnect your grandmother's equipment!" The voice grew sharper, more menacing.

Tut... tut... tut...

She exhaled roughly, feeling the weight of the world growing harder to bear. Her trembling hand slipped into the warm, furry pocket, searching for a little comfort amidst the emptiness that enveloped her. Ann stood up, brushing the snow from her body, trying to shake off the chill that was more than just the cold air.

Step by step, she walked out of the narrow alley. Her head hung low, her eyes focused on the leather shoes, now dirty with snow, getting closer. Ann's steps slowed, her heart wavering, feeling heavier, making her hesitate.

Just when her foot was in front of the leather shoes, Ann stopped. Without looking, with a voice almost drowned out by the evening wind, she took a deep breath and said.

"Goodbye."

Seven minutes later, Ann stood in front of room 510. She didn't need to take off her hat to hear the hotel staff's curses as they came toward her. Angry? Of course, she was angry. But everything they said was true. She was just a woman in need of money, dirtier than anything she had ever encountered. She felt no need to defend herself for something that was already wrong.

In her hand, a hidden card was tucked away. Under her clothes, there were scissors she had just bought. If only she could teach that madman a lesson, maybe it would ease the pain she had already felt. But how could she possibly take on someone with a strong background like Jake Thorpe? Even if she reported it, it would all turn back on her.

The door to the room opened slightly. Through the crack, Ann could see the darkness inside, and as her hand reached for the doorknob, a large hand pulled her inside roughly.

A second later, her back slammed into the hard wall. Her hat fell to the red carpet, adding to the disarray in the silence of that night. Ann coughed, her mouth open as though she wanted to scream, but a large hand quickly pressed down on her mouth harshly. A pair of golden-brown eyes stared at her, filled with dark shadows, dimming her courage. The sharp line of his jaw moved, emphasizing the power of the man in front of her.

"Do you dare defy me?" Jake growled, his voice hoarse and sharp, like a predator stalking its prey. There was no empathy, only cold calculation.

Ann could only stare at him in silence. The hand was too big, too strong, making it hard for her to breathe. She stared into those brown eyes intensely, as if refusing to give in.

"Do you dare look at me like that with your dirty eyes?"

Without thinking, Ann bit the hand that covered her mouth hard, causing Jake to groan in pain.

"You!" Jake released his grip on Ann's face, stepping back. Ann quickly moved away, standing tall despite her trembling body.

"Mr. Thorpe! You lied to me! Do you think I would believe you? All this time... haven't you played with me enough?" Ann's voice rose, her eyes turning red, though no tears fell. It was as if she were holding back a flood of emotions ready to burst at any moment.

"Arghh! Let go!" Ann groaned as Jake pulled her hair roughly, making her feel each strand being yanked from its root.

"Ahh... you already know." Jake jerked Ann back into the wall. "Then why? Your debt is still high. Don't think your grandmother's death will cover that debt. I thank your foolish father. Because of him, we have the perfect actor for our video!"

"Bastard!" Ann screamed, her voice full of hatred.

Slap!

Jake's hand landed hard on Ann's cheek, making her face throb, her chest tightening. Her ragged breaths couldn't calm the tension gripping her heart.

Jake looked at Ann's face, chuckling softly with a satisfied expression before he dragged her toward the large bed covered with red sheets. Roughly, he tossed Ann onto the bed.

His cold voice called out, "You can come out now; make the video. I'll be back in an hour!" Jake's voice was loud and merciless.

After hearing that, several people came out from the dressing room. They looked at Ann with hungry gazes. Some of them were already showing urges they couldn't hide.

Ann counted quickly. One, two, three, four, five... At that moment, she felt as though everything collapsed in an instant. Desperately, she quickly stood and grabbed Jake's hand as he was about to leave. "No... please don't do this, I beg you," her voice trembled.

But Jake just glanced at Ann's small hand without compassion. His full lips curled into a small grin before coldly releasing her hand and walking away.

Ann didn't stand still. With all the strength left in her, she ran toward the door. "Please... please... Mr. Thorpe! No..."

Slam!

A large hand held Ann's body, pulling her back to the large bed. Ann struggled, her body trying to fight with all its strength, while her voice sounded full of pain. "Sir, please... I don't want to do this, let me go!"

Around her, all eyes were on her, their intent unmistakable. Each one waiting, as if they already knew what would happen next.

One of them stepped forward, lifting his chin slightly and speaking in a hoarse voice, "We'll let you go after the video is done."