Chapter 3

After a long silence, I did as he wished.

"Yes, I wished to divorce you."

This was the 99th time I said "divorce" to Jasper. I counted quietly in my mind.

"Sure, as long as you pay back what you owe."

Jasper's eyes were bloodshot, mocking me.

I dryly asked:

"How do you want me to pay it?"

Jasper asked slowly:

"Remember how Phoebe died?"

I closed my dry eyes.

Of course, I remembered, how could I forget? My beloved sister was raped in a pool of blood, declared dead shortly after reaching the hospital.

"I want you to feel Phoebe's despair before death, to go to hell to atone for her, and to pay with your life for your father's debt."

"Can you alone repay our family's two lives?"

Jasper's voice wasn't loud, but deafening.

"Okay."

I said.

"Okay?"

Jasper repeated.

"Then let's start."

"Start with undressing or stabbing?"

Jasper's words pierced my heart painfully.

He sneered.

"Is it that painful? Do you know how much Phoebe suffered? She treated you like a sister, how did you dare to run away?"

"I didn't... I just ran to find help for her..."

My explanation was weak.

Jasper opened a bottle of red wine and poured it over my head.

"Does this wine look like the color of her blood?"

"For the sake of being a couple, how about I let you be raped and killed?"

Jasper finished, hinting to everyone:

"The South City project is up for grabs. It's up to your own efforts."

There was an uproar.

Jasper's words pierced my heart, causing me unbearable pain. He let out a cold laugh.

"Is it really that painful? Do you know how much Phoebe suffered? She treated you like a sister, and you dared to run away secretly."

"I didn't... I just ran to find someone to save her..."

My explanation felt weak and powerless.

Jasper opened a bottle of red wine and poured it over my head.

"Doesn't the color of this wine remind you of the blood on her body?"

"Considering we were once married, how about I let you be violated before being killed?"

After saying this, Jasper addressed everyone present:

"The project in the south of the city is up for grabs. Work for it as you see fit."

The room erupted in whispers.

"Did I hear that right? What a deal, getting to be with Jasper's wife and also getting a project."

"Keep it down, Mrs. Jasper looks amazing, her skin is so soft and tender. I've always wanted to be with someone like that..."

"Have you secretly thought about it a lot? But is Jasper serious about this? What if..."

"What are you afraid of? Better to die for beauty than to live without passion, especially when Jasper himself said it."

...

The insults came one after another, and I trembled in fear.

Jasper walked over, placing his hand lightly on my shoulder. I thought he would stop this farce.

"Why are you shaking? Didn't you say you wanted to atone? Are you waiting for someone to undress you?"