I carefully stood up. My skin felt like ice, and I had to wrap the duvet around me to keep from shivering. I also felt quite weak. The door opened abruptly. My mouth dropped open i

His voice cut through me as I tried to settle into the chair that was the furthest away from him, making me wince in fear. "Sit beside me." I didn't even look him in the eyes, much less choose to defy him. I sat in the chair next to him and listened to him. I held my breath and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from shivering. A maid appeared out of nowhere and began giving us breakfast and fruits. My own parents didn't think it was profitable to feed me well, so I didn't know how long I had gone without a proper meal. After that, I spent a few weeks at an auction. I did not feel the slightest bit hungry, but I could smell the fresh scent of food. I was frightened. The devil sitting next to me terrified me. I could feel his gaze on me, observing my every action. He gave the instruction, "Eat." I immediately shoved a spoonful of fruit salad into my mouth and completed the dish without making any noise, fearing that dad would respond negatively to me. I did not dare disobey him once again. He was drinking a cup of tea and silently observing me, noting that I was utterly afraid of him. I reached for the glass of water with a shaking hand and took a few swallows to ease my parched throat. The sound of heels clicking abruptly interrupted, leading me to turn to look at Celine as she entered. She walked up to Alexander and stood behind his chair, kissing his neck and curling her hands around him while casting a critical gaze in my direction. "Last night was amazing, Alpha." She muttered, "I loved every moment," in his ear. A stabbing ache tore through my chest. She was completely mark-free. Not a cut, not a bruise, not a scar. Given the radiance on her cheeks and the hickeys that were the only markings I could see on her, she appeared to be as unaltered as a flower-or perhaps she had been treated like one. He mistreated his mistress the way he ought to have treated his partner, me, and he treated me like an object. Tears began to well up in my eyes. Anna, please don't weep. Your tears are not worth them for him. "I'm going out with my friends, will be back before night." Tracing her fingernail over his lips, she said, "May I take your credit card? Please. As I watched Celine and his relationship, I found it more difficult to breathe. Even in his quiet, which was a reaction, he did not say or do anything. It ached so much. Alexander gave her his credit card silently, and Celine walked out, planting a kiss on his lips and said, "See you." Once more, the place fell silent as she departed. But it didn't make me any less restless. It was more than I could handle. I required some room. "I don't feel good. I'd like to go to my room. Please. At last I got up, quickly dabbing at my tears so he wouldn't see me. "No." When he responded, he set the teacup down and got to his feet.