Chapter 5

Victoria rushed forward, grabbing his arm. "Mr. [Caleb's Last Name], please don't be angry, Lena... she must be overwhelmed with grief, she's not making sense."

"Get off me."

Caleb flung her hand away with such force that Victoria stumbled back a few steps.

Caleb didn't even look at her, dragging me out of the hall.

My knees scraped against the floor, then I was hauled along, the rough carpet tearing at the skin beneath my dress.

He shoved me into a car and sped off towards the mountain mansion.

He dragged me straight to the second floor, kicking Elias's room door open.

I was thrown hard onto the floor, the back of my head hitting the ground. My vision instantly swam with black spots.

"Are you proud of yourself?" He loomed over me, his chest heaving violently, his eyes filled with a surging, bloody rage. "My brother is dead. Do you feel finally free?"

I braced myself on my arms, trying to sit up, but he stomped his foot on my hand.

A sound like bone shattering.

I gasped in pain, cold sweat instantly breaking out on my forehead.

"Speak!" he roared, pressing down harder with his foot.

"Yes." I looked up, meeting his murderous gaze, and managed a twisted smile. "I'm happy. I prayed for his death every day."

His pupils constricted sharply.

"Say that again."

"I said, Elias's death brings me immense satisfaction!"

"You're asking for death!" He roared like a wild beast pushed too far, grabbing my collar and hauling me off the ground, then slamming me onto Elias's soft bed.

The world spun.

His body pressed down on mine, radiating scorching fury.

His hands closed around my throat, tightening, tightening, but he stopped himself at the last second.

"Do you hate him that much?" His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper. "Hate him enough to humiliate him at his own memorial?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

I closed my eyes, not wanting to answer.

"Because he loved you, and you didn't love him? Because he harassed you, so you wanted him dead?"

He pinched my chin, forcing my eyes open.

"Lena, what is your heart made of? Stone?"

"How could you... be so cruel..."

His voice was strained, actually carrying a hint of a sob.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. That face was so similar to Elias's.

Elias had once pressed down on me like this, whispering the most vicious words in the gentlest tone into my ear.

"Lena, the more you resist, the more excited I get."

"You're thinking of Caleb, but your body is beneath mine. Isn't that thrilling?"

"What do you think Caleb's face would look like if I took a picture of you right now and sent it to him?"

Yes, Caleb.

The one I loved was Caleb.