Chapter 44

FORTY-FOUR

The restof the time spent at the bridal boutique was abnormally… normal. I tried on multiple veils, and Daphne let me choose the one I wanted. She said my jewelry would be gifted family heirlooms, and beyond that, I had nothing else to worry about since everything would be arranged. I was getting married. Out of everything I had endured at the Ivory house, getting married seemed like the least problematic.

I had come to a full circle of accepting that this was what I had to do. The options were clear, and if I wanted to live, then it meant living a life chosen for me.

We returned to the estate, but I didn't take my eyes off the windows once. I loved watching the sunlight shimmer through the dense oak trees that lined the pathway to hell.

"Mrs—" I stared, but she quickly cut me off.

"Mother," Mrs. Ivory filled in.

Clearing my throat, I relaxed my shoulders. "Mother, I was wondering if I could invite Raina and her family to the wedding."

It pained me that Raina was in on this sickness. There was no coincidence she was driving around on the bad side of town, picking me up with her toddler son in the car.

"And her family?" Mrs. Ivory crossed her arms next to me as the driver pulled into the winding driveway.

"Yes, her husband Jax and her son Kai?" My eyebrows furrowed as she pinched her lips to the side.

"Oh, I thought someone had already told you now that you just… know all the family secrets." She tugged out a tube of the nude lipstick that was the only shade we'd been allowed to wear.

Sliding it over her lips, she smacked them together. "Sure, we'll invite them." She smiled at me maliciously. The driver opened the door for us, and we headed back inside. I glanced over my shoulder, wondering how far I'd make it if I made a dash for it? How easily they'd capture me, and how quickly they'd throw me into the colorless, soundless, torture rooms they lovingly called cages?

Once inside, Mrs. Ivory directed me to head to my room and rest since the wedding was tomorrow evening.

"I thought it was Friday?" I looked at her stunned.

"No. Plans have changed. Your IUD will be removed today, and then tomorrow is the wedding. You and Conrad are set to leave for your honeymoon on Friday."

My heart pounded as she watched me walk toward my room—well, Bradley's old room.

I slid my card in front of the panel outside of Bradley's room. It opened immediately, and I cautiously walked in. Blinking repeatedly, I flipped the light on and looked around. Not a trace of blood. Where did they put Becca's body? The chill in the room hung over me as I unzipped the all-white jumpsuit and slid the flats off. It was the first time I hadn't worn the ridiculous platform shoes.

Opening the closet, I squatted down and tugged out the box of Nike Air Jordans that Bradley got me. I missed him so much. Sliding my feet into them, I stood and put my hands on my hips and admired them.

The greatest part of this wedding was that I'd get to see Bradley. Yet, the worst thing was also that he was going to see me marry Conrad. I didn't know much about healthy relationships; I didn't know what love was since I'd clearly never experienced it. But the emotions I felt for Bradley were something unlike any others I'd experienced.

And now, I was going to marry a monster. A monster who raped a woman in front of me. A monster who was providing return receipts for human beings. A monster I'd have to pretend everything was okay with.

Peeling back the blankets, I climbed into the bed. Closing my eyes, a tear escaped as I remembered Bradley's touch in this bed and suddenly, I realized I had to figure out a way to make myself bleed tomorrow night…

If I didn't bleed on our wedding night, he'd cage me. He'd kill me. And worst of all, he'd kill Bradley.

I fell asleep with nothing but my bra, panties, and sneakers on. Some people struggled to sleep—it was an issue with control often times—but that wasn't the case for me. In my entire life, the only place I could ever truly feel safe was in my sleep.

Cold fingers raked against my stomach, and I abruptly jerked upright, gasping into the darkness.

"Who's there?" I swatted at the figure in front of me.

A small lighter flicked on between our faces.

Trembling and falling backward, I saw it was Ian Ivory. I grabbed the blanket around me, drawing it up higher to cover my body.

"Please leave," I whimpered, hating the weakness my voice so easily depicted.

"Sweet daughter, I'm here to remove your IUD. Our in-house expert is off today. And tomorrow, my son must… well, soil such a perfect, pure flower." He brushed his hand against my cheek as the flicker of the flame outlined his ominous sneer.

"No. You… Conrad wouldn't want his dad to do that." I swallowed and pushed back, but I could barely move since Ian was pressing his hands against my legs.

"Nonsense. What's mine is his and what's his is… well, mine." Grabbing my ankles, he tugged me in one swift motion, causing me to cry out.

"Please! No! I'm begging you." A light turned on above us and Ian's piercing green eyes stared straight into my eyes. He was a demon.

"You know I've never tasted a brown-eyed woman before. And, come to think of it, I haven't tasted a tan-skinned woman, either. You know I'm very particular about cleanliness and purity, my beautiful Demi. White is so pure, so clean, so exquisite. There are products, you know? Products that will bleach the skin. I could lighten you up a bit; we can do the contact lenses. We can make you perfect." His nails dug deeper into my ankles as I bit my quivering bottom lip.

"Please…" I pleaded.

"You know while you and Daphne were shopping, I had someone install these." He leaned down to the side of the bed and jingled the chain.

"No. No!" I kicked at him harder until I was half off the bed and he jerked me up harder.

"Fight this and you'll pay the price, Demi!" he roared, quickly chaining my ankles to the bed.

Choking on my tears, I gripped the sheets as tears poured out and he ripped my panties off.

"This is a medical procedure, and I'm a physician." Using his nails, he pried my thighs apart as I slammed them back together once my panties hung at my ankles.

Holding a tool up, he exhaled. "Demi, please. I'm just removing your IUD for your marriage to my precious son. I'm not going to hurt you. You have to relax these… tight… muscles, or it'll hurt." His voice dropped low, which was even more terrifying than when he yelled at me.

There I was, lying in bed, chained, as my soon-to-be father-in-law stared in between my legs, panting like a dog.

He swiped his tongue across his bottom lip and mumbled something to himself. Pushing my legs upright, he jammed the speculum inside me before using the tool to yank the IUD out of my body.

I moaned as the pain of the multiple tools and tugging hurt.

Ian was still talking to himself, his eyes honed-in on my vagina.

"Just one…" I heard him whisper. And then, the fear shook through me as I realized what he was chanting.

"Just one taste…" He finished the sentence with his tongue wiggling out of his mouth. Forcing my legs closed, even as his hands kept trying to pry them open, I began to cry harder.

"Dr. Ivory, I have to be pure for Conrad," I choked out.

His eyes shot up to mine and he pulled back. "You're right, Demi. When you're back from the honeymoon, I can have you whenever I'd like. Even if you're with child." He snickered.

"You know… I forgot, but I need to do one more thing before I leave you to get your bridal sleep." He hummed and walked around to my arms. Grabbing another chain, he tightened my arm into it.

"What? Please… I think you should go get Conrad," I pleaded.

"Shh. You know I don't like women who speak!" Closing my eyes, I had to calm myself down. They say if you ever encounter a dangerous animal in life, you shouldn't react and you have to stay composed. It's the only way to survive.

Because there's no running from someone who has no problem killing you.

I kept my eyes closed and moments later, I felt something foam-like in between my legs. Opening my eyes, Ian Ivory was standing with a razor, shaving cream, and a small bowl of water.

"Let me shave you, beautiful."

My eyes widened in shock as my lips parted. "No. No. No…" But he wasn't listening. He began to hum a song that sounded religious as he dipped the razor into the bowl and began shaving me.

"Conrad's not going to like this bush." He chuckled and shook his head. Humiliation and discomfort raced through me as tears poured out of my eyes. Spreading my legs apart, he sprayed more shaving cream on my skin, but I felt his fingers pad across and rub me.

"Please stop."

But he started to hum louder as he continued to shave me and shove his fingers inside my body. I closed my eyes and tried to picture an escape, but there was nothing. I couldn't even dream up an escape.

It was just black. And lonely. And quiet.