Chapter 7 Someone Help Me

Ice-cold water struck Melinda's face, snapping her out of unconsciousness.

Blinking through the blur, she found herself trapped in a shadowy room littered with menacing implements.

Rough ropes bit into her wrists.

Ryan's twisted smile grew as he crawled onto the bed, fingers yanking at her collar.

With a gleam in his remaining eye, he flicked a lighter and set a candle aflame. "Miss Dawson, have you forgotten me already?"

Ryan was the president of Waetron Bank, infamous for his vicious methods of torturing women in bed. He had lost an eye after being stabbed by a woman. Sebastian had punished him severely for it.

Tonight, vengeance might be all he wanted.

It was no accident that Declan delivered her into Ryan's hands-every move calculated to degrade her, to make her pay for whatever Claire had suffered.

But she hadn't done anything wrong. The punishment wasn't hers to carry.

"Ah!" A sharp cry tore from her lips as molten wax landed on her bare skin, agony arching her back.

"You look even better when you struggle." Ryan lunged at her, eyes alight with perverse pleasure. "Let's begin-I'm going to enjoy breaking you."

Crushed by despair, Melinda's heart burned with hatred for Declan. She hated Claire, too.

Tonight, escape felt impossible.

Her own fate mattered little, but she couldn't bear to think of what would happen to her family if she died.

It felt as if her heart was being ripped to shreds-survival was the only option left.

Determination flickered in her bloodshot gaze, cold and sharp.

No humiliation could break her resolve now; living mattered more than dignity.

A wild grin appeared on Melinda's lips as she leaned in and whispered something low in Ryan's ear.

Whatever she said, it sent a jolt through him. For a moment, his twisted confidence faltered. "I didn't expect you to be this bold."

Taunting him, Melinda pressed her toes into his side, hiding her revulsion behind a teasing smirk. "Scared? That's why you're not a match for Declan."

"Declan only clawed his way up by using your old man. He started with nothing. What's there to fear?" Grabbing his phone, Ryan positioned it beside the bed. "Once this is done, I'll be famous, and you'll be ruined."

Laughter spilled from Melinda's mouth, even as terror coiled tight inside her.

Deep down, she knew this was her last, desperate wager-a test of whether Declan or she could stoop lower.

...

Relentless buzzing rattled Declan's phone.

He glanced over; chaos reigned in the group chat.

Henrik's name flashed in a mention.

A tired sigh escaped him. He had no intention of joining the conversation.

Before long, his phone exploded with call after call. "Declan, did you really just stand by while Melinda was destroyed?"

His answer was unwavering. "And if I did?"

On the other end, Henrik's breath came shaky. "She's broadcasting live with Ryan. Go check this out. There are a hundred thousand people watching. Looks like Melinda wants to drag you down with her. She's got guts, I'll give her that."

One click on Henrik's link, and Declan's features turned stormy.

Had Melinda lost all sense?

In a flash, he shot up from his spot by the bed.

Panic seized Claire as she clutched his arm, her voice trembling with anxiety. "Declan, my head hurts. Please don't leave me!"

...

Silence pressed in; twenty minutes slipped by without a sound from the hallway.

Despair crept into Melinda's eyes, the light slowly fading.

"Half a million people are watching now. Still waiting for your hero to show?" A sinister laugh filled the room as Ryan's hand caressed her cheek. "I know your game-you want Declan to barge in and save you. Too bad for you, he only cares about Claire!"

A bolt of shock ran through Melinda, her thoughts cracking like thunder.

She had quietly wished Declan might show even a hint of regret or outrage. But he didn't.

Everything she valued-her dignity, her life-had been stripped away.

Not even the public broadcast of her humiliation could rouse him; he was probably in bed, lost in dreams with Claire.

Her arms dropped, drained of all resistance.

Spotting her surrender, Ryan pounced, seizing her ankle and forcing her legs apart. "A live show for the ages! Imagine-everyone will see me with Declan's ex-wife."

He tightened his grip around her neck, choking off her breath and trapping her completely.

The live feed spread, destroying what little remained of her reputation, leaving only thoughts of oblivion.

Refusing to surrender, she summoned every scrap of defiance left.

Her father's image flashed in her mind. Answers had to be found. The Dawson family needed justice, and Declan would have to pay.

She swore she'd reveal Claire's true nature to the world.

Death could wait-she wasn't ready to give in.

Desperation broke through her lips. "No! Please-someone help me..."