Chapter 2

When Caleb showed up with his bodyguards, it was just the end of the shift at the illegal coal mine.

The men hid in the coal-cinder caves, watching the luxury car of the Pierce family pass by, whispering among themselves.

Terry Morrison, the manager of this coal mine, bowed and scraped in front of Caleb. "Mr. Pierce, over these three years, we've disciplined Jessica exactly as you ordered. She's really obedient now. She definitely won't resist you anymore."

Caleb nodded in satisfaction.

Then I was taken out of the coal cave.

It was a sweltering summer evening, but I was still wearing the sweater I had when I first came to this illegal coal mine. I stood in front of Caleb in a sorry state.

My cheeks were sunken, and I'd lost a lot of weight.

Just a short while ago, several men had just left my bed.

At the moment, my legs were extremely sore. Barely had I stepped out of the cave when my legs gave way uncontrollably, and I crashed to the ground. The sharp-edged gravel instantly cut my calf.

I gasped in pain.

But Caleb frowned instinctively. "I thought you'd realized your mistakes in these three years. Turns out you just can't change your ways. All you can do is play the poor-me card. Debby was bullied and beaten by you before and got depression, but she wasn't as fake as you."

Terry immediately smiled obsequiously and said, "Mr. Pierce, if you're not satisfied with Jessica, why not leave her here for further discipline? I promise you, this time I'll make her completely submissive."

Caleb fell silent, looking at me with a scrutinizing and contemplative gaze. He was actually considering whether to leave me here.

I looked at him, and my already broken heart couldn't help but ache again as if a sharp dagger had stabbed into my chest and was churning my flesh.

Blinking my dry eyes, I struggled to get up and knelt down in a humble position, pleading, "Mr. Pierce, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me."

My forehead hit the ground, and the sharp gravel hurt my skin, but the pain was far less intense than the humiliation of having my pride broken and my dignity trampled underfoot.

Caleb was a bit surprised. Apparently, he wasn't used to my humble attitude. I was definitely not like this before.

Caleb reached out to help me up, but I flinched and instinctively backed away.

He got a bit irritated and pushed me away forcefully. "Jessica, don't act like someone has abused you."

My body was already weak. With his strong push, I was pushed out and hit the ground heavily. My ankle made a cracking sound.

I curled up in pain, unable to speak. The black coal cinders all over the ground covered me.

My face and hair that I had specially washed to greet Caleb were covered with dust again, as dirty as a homeless madwoman.

Caleb was stunned. He didn't expect that a little push from him could cause me so much harm.

He was about to explain something when a few coughs suddenly came from the car in the distance.

Caleb frowned, and his guilt turned into displeasure. "Debby came to pick you up even though she's sick. She's so nice to you. How could you have done such beastly things to her? Get up now and go apologize to her."

I endured the pain and tremblingly got up.

Three years ago, at my engagement ceremony, Debby accused me of being jealous. She said that just because she talked to Caleb a few more times, I instigated the company employees to bully her.

Debby showed the scars on her body and cried her heart out at the engagement scene.

Caleb was furious. He announced on the spot to cancel the engagement and threw me into the illegal coal mine, saying I should change my temper.

But I had never done those things to hurt Debby.

Swallowing the blood in my throat, I limped towards the car.

My legs hurt so much that after just a few steps, I fell to the ground again.

The loose sweater slipped off my skinny shoulders, revealing a large area of my skin.

The men in the coal cave burst into lewd laughter.

Caleb's face turned gloomy, and he slapped me directly. "Jessica, have you no shame? You're not even wearing underwear in public. Don't act like a slut expecting to seduce men all the time."

I clutched my clothes tightly as desolation hit my heart.

My underwear had been torn to pieces in the first month I was sent here.

In the past three years, I hadn't stepped out of the coal cave once, and there was no chance for me to buy new ones.

My embarrassment was caused by these men, but at this moment, they all looked at me with disdainful eyes, as if I were a born slut.

I bit my lips in humiliation, trying hard not to let the tears fall, and dragged my injured leg to the car.

Just as I touched the car door, a woman's voice came out.

"Mr. Pierce, have you picked up Ms. Quincey?"

The car door opened. Debby was wearing a high-end little cocktail dress, looking cute and pretty. But when she saw me, she shrank her neck like she was frightened, with a look of timidity on her face.

I also trembled instinctively.

Everyone said that Debby was fragile but kind. Even though she was almost driven to suicide by my "bullying" back then, she never took any revenge on me.

Only I knew that it was her idea to throw me into the illegal coal mine. All the humiliation I suffered was instigated by her. I ended up like this all because of her.

Forcibly suppressing the sarcasm and grievance in my heart, I knelt down numbly.

I said, "Debby, please forgive me. It's all my fault, every single mistake.

"I was vain and vicious. I took advantage of my position and instigated the company employees to bully you.

"I deserve it. I should die. I shouldn't have bullied you."

"Ms. Quincey, what are you doing? Get up on your knees. I'm just a secretary. How could you kneel to me?" Debby was like a frightened little rabbit and quickly came to help me. But as soon as she touched my hand, she let out a scream and pulled her hand back abruptly.

Caleb's eyes turned cold. He kicked me away, then got into the car and quickly checked Debby's body.

"Jessica, you're such a jinx. Look what you've done. Debby is allergic just to touching you. You're so dirty. You're not allowed to get in the car. Wrap yourself in a plastic bag and get into the trunk," he said.

My body was already at the limit. With his kick, my ribs seemed broken, too. But even though I was pale with pain, no one cared about me.

The bodyguard stuffed me into a woven bag like an item and threw me into the trunk.

In the darkness, Caleb's gentle care for Debby became even clearer.

I stared blankly at nowhere, and the tears I had held back for so long finally slid down silently.

Before I left, the doctor who secretly treated me told me that I had a cervical infection and erosion as well as kidney failure. According to his diagnosis, I could live at most five days.

In five days, I wouldn't have to endure this humiliation anymore.

Five days later, even if Caleb searched the whole of River City, he wouldn't be able to find me because I would be dead by then.