Chapter 3

A severe cold struck Lorna after she caught a chill.

Barely recovered, Rhett dragged her to the Flynn Enterprises tenth anniversary celebration.

Stepping out of the car, Lorna spotted a familiar figure.

Ruby wore an identical misty purple gown, her gaze toward Lorna brimming with defiance.

"Mrs. Flynn's dress is stunning! Wait, why is that woman wearing the exact same one? Who is she?"

"They're wearing the same outfit!"

"No way! She just got out of Mr. Flynn's car. What's her deal with him? His mistress?"

Hearing this, Ruby threw herself into Rhett's arms, pouting. "Rhett, I don't want to be the other woman."

Rhett frowned. "Why care what people say?"

Ruby squeezed out a few tears. "Rhett, don't treat me like this..."

An assistant approached, informing Rhett the ceremony could begin.

Lorna instinctively smoothed her hair.

At past events, Rhett always escorted her onstage for a brief speech.

But as her eyes scanned the room, Rhett was nowhere to be found.

"Now, please welcome Flynn Enterprises' president, Rhett Flynn, and his wife!" the host's voice boomed.

Where was Rhett?

The next moment, thunderous applause erupted.

Lorna froze. Rhett stood onstage, arm linked with Ruby.

A wave of shock hit her, her body trembling violently.

The crowd buzzed with whispers.

"At such a big event, the mistress is stealing the spotlight, and the real wife's left in the dust. What's going on?"

"When Flynn Enterprises nearly went bankrupt, it was Lorna's family that saved them. And now, just a few years later, he's replaced his wife!"

Each word pierced Lorna's heart like a needle.

Watching Rhett speak confidently into the microphone, Lorna felt suffocated by humiliation.

She quickly arranged for old company celebration videos to play on the big screen.

Someone gasped. "The woman in those videos with Mr. Flynn is the real Mrs. Flynn! The one today is the mistress!"

"Mistresses are this bold now? Parading onstage at events?"

"Get her off the stage! Make her leave!" several well-dressed women shouted in unison.

A splash sounded as someone threw a drink at Ruby's head.

Yellow liquid mixed with fruit bits dripped down her face, ruining her makeup.

Ruby, sobbing, buried her face in Rhett's shoulder.

Rhett wrapped his arms around her protectively.

His gaze turned venomous as it landed on Lorna. "Are you happy now, Lorna? Humiliating Ruby in public? You got what you wanted?"

Lorna bit her lip. "Those videos showed past celebrations. What's wrong with revisiting history?"

Rhett muttered a few polished words, then escorted Ruby off the stage.

The crowd whispered, casting sympathetic glances at Lorna.

Unable to bear it any longer, she hurried out of the venue.

Just outside, darkness enveloped her as a large sack was pulled over her head.

Dazed, she felt herself thrown into a vehicle.

When her vision cleared, she found herself in a basement.

A black-clad bodyguard dumped a bucket of ice-cold juice over her.

Her hair and clothes were soaked.

She shivered violently.

Before she could react, a bodyguard approached with a whip.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, but her phone buzzed.

Rhett's voice came through, cold as ice. "Now, do you see what you did wrong? You went too far today, humiliating Ruby. Don't blame me for returning the favor tenfold."

She heard him order the bodyguard cruelly. "Do it! Ninety-nine lashes. Teach her a lesson!"

The whip struck her mercilessly, blood splattering.

The first lash hit her knee, doubling her over in pain, her teeth tearing into her lip, blood filling her mouth.

The second lash struck her ribs, making her feel as if they snapped.

The third lash sliced her face, splitting her skin.

...

Pain overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, drowning her senses. She felt close to death.

Ninety-nine lashes. She lost count of how many times she passed out or struggled.

Finally, she lay motionless on the floor, despair closing her eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, the basement door slammed shut.

Relieved to still be alive, she struggled to rise when her phone rang again.

It was Rhett.

His voice was chilling. "Stay in the basement and reflect. You'll stay there until Ruby forgives you."

Lorna tried to speak, but her throat felt blocked, no sound escaping.

Ruby's voice came through. "Rhett, they hit her so hard. She won't die, will she? She's still your wife."

"She made the woman I love suffer. I had to teach her a lesson. Don't worry, she won't die. Just a warning to keep her in line."

His words left Lorna's heart cold and lifeless.