Chapter 2

It was on Braeden's birthday two years ago.

Braeden was working late at night in the company, and Anna delivered the cake she had made herself.

On her way to his company, she was kidnapped by a group of thugs.

They took her to an abandoned factory where she was held for three days and nights. When she was finally rescued, her body was covered in bruises and wounds. The intense fear and trauma had left her with aphasia.

She desperately tried to explain what had happened, but she couldn't utter a word.

She could only repeatedly gesture, her hands trembling and eyes reddened, using clumsy sign language to vehemently deny that she had been raped.

But no one understood her gestures or believed she was still a virgin -not even Braeden.

Yet, he had once kissed her forehead with tears in his eyes and told her that she was the purest woman in his heart.

He had once done everything he could to comfort, protect, and accompany her.

"Everything is fake..."

Cold raindrops pelted down as Anna collapsed into the rain and became unconscious.

When she awoke, she found herself in the private hospital owned by the Hayes Group.

"What were you doing in the pouring rain?" Braeden's eyes were full of concern as he gently touched her forehead. "Luckily, your fever has gone down. From now on, I'd like you to stay on the estate. You're not allowed to go anywhere. Understand?"

Braeden's voice was gentle, and he sounded as if he felt sorry for her.

His eyebrows knitted tightly, and his eyes were red-rimmed. Clearly, he had spent a sleepless night taking care of her again.

Anna tried to say something, but her recovery from aphasia was incomplete. Her words seemed lodged in her throat. She failed to utter a single word.

In the past two years, there were various rumors about her.

Some said that when she was rescued, she was barely clothed.

Others claimed that she had been ruined during those three days in the abandoned factory.

Anna once wrote a long letter to clear her name, but in the end, she deleted it all after she finished it.

No one would believe her anyway.

Instead, they would dissect every detail of her existence as casual table talk.

Even Braeden had seemingly accepted the fact that she had been violated.

In the past two years, he barely touched her.

"Anna, I don't want you to stay trapped in the shadow. I respect you, and we'll have sex after we get married."

Anna always thought Braeden was restraining himself out of sympathy for what she had suffered.

Now she understood that he saw her as tainted.

Since that incident, Anna hadn't had the courage to face the judgmental stares outside.

To "protect" her, Braeden bought an estate on the outskirts for her.

Anna stayed there for two years. She only left for medical check-ups at the private hospital. Otherwise, she was like a bird trapped in a gilded cage and had never stepped outside the estate.

He imprisoned her in the name of love. In fact, he only thought she brought him disgrace.

A lump of raw emotion swelled in Anna's throat, thick and suffocating.

She turned her head away and forced back her tears.

Just then, Braeden's phone rang and snapped her back to reality.

He glanced at her. She had no reaction. Then he answered the call.

After a moment, he walked over to Anna and gently caressed her cheek. "There's an emergency at the company, and I need to handle it. After you finish this IV drip, the bodyguard will escort you back to the estate. Wait for me at home."

Braeden's footsteps gradually faded away.

Anna gritted her teeth while pulling out the needle from her hand.

She lifted her heavy legs and got out of bed. Then she walked to the window.

Downstairs, a woman wearing sunglasses saw Braeden get out. She smiled happily and walked to him eagerly. Then she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Braeden looked flustered, and he hastily pulled her into the car.

Yet, the car didn't start for a while.

Anna watched from above as the car began to shake rhythmically.

She held her breath, and her eyes were stung and red.

It felt like an eternity before the car drove away.

Anna's heart sank heavily.

Blood trickled from the needle mark she hadn't properly bandaged.

She remained motionless for a long time before tending to her wound and returning to the hospital bed.

"Braeden, are you really so impatient?" Anna asked in her mind repeatedly. "Do you think I'm so blind that I haven't noticed your dirty secrets? Do you think I can't live without you?"

Taking a deep breath, she wiped away her tears.

She used her phone to schedule an appointment to cancel her ID card and household registration.

The cancellation period was seven days.

She then messaged her elder brother, Collin Briggs, who was abroad. "Collin, I need your help... Come and take me away seven days later."

He replied instantly. "Five years ago, you cut ties with our family to stay in the country with Braeden. What happened today? Has he done anything bad to you?"

Anna's throat tightened.

She wanted to hug Anna and cry.

After a while, she rubbed her eyes and replied, "No. I... I miss you all."

"Alright. I'll bring you home in seven days. Anna, if Braeden ever mistreats you, I won't let him off easily."