Roses Covered in Dust

chapter 3

Anna was woken up by my sobs. I looked at her, my lips trembling, unable to speak.

I thought I would get her comfort.

But seeing me covered in bruises, she picked up a stick and struck me repeatedly.

She cursed, "You shameless wretch, how dare you seduce your stepfather? I'll beat you to death."

"Why are you still alive? You should just die along with your useless father."

In shock, I stayed silent.

Once it happens, it will happen countless times.

Whenever I went home, Wyatt would come to my room late at night.

I closed my eyes and let Anna hit and scold me.

Outside, a black Bentley was parked on the path.

The car window slowly rolled down, revealing Nathan's face.

His face was calm, yet he watched the scene unfold like a bystander enjoying a show.

After a moment, he walked in and threw a stack of cash into Anna's arms. "Get lost."

Anna left happily with the money, only Wyatt seemed reluctant to part.

Nathan bent down to look at me, his eyes full of extreme mockery. "Seems like you haven't saved much money all these years."

"How about this, you serve me, ten thousand dollars an hour."

"Don't keep me waiting too long, Esther."

He threw the key card at my face.

He called me dirty, yet still wanted to humiliate me.

Between going and not going, I still went.

This is what I owe him.

But as I stood outside the door, my hand holding the key card trembled violently.

Nathan was standing behind me without me noticing.

He pressed down my hesitant hand and mocked, "Ms. Nielsen, this isn't your first time offering door-to-door service, so why still act like a rookie?"

Walking into the black, white, and gray-toned living room, he pointed to the doorway and said, "I don't like this outfit."

His words instantly brought tears to my eyes. I stiffened my neck and looked at him. "What do I have to do for you to let me go?"

I had just undone two buttons when Nathan strode toward me and abruptly tore open my blouse.

He glared at me, his eyes fierce. "Esther, don't act all high and mighty in front of me. Didn't you come here for money? Don't you just love money?"

"Your mom owes a lot from gambling. You know her personalityshe won't stop until she's drained you dry. Your grandma's sick and needs hospitalization, but do you have money?"

"As long as you agree to serve only me from now on, I'll help you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

His words left me with no courage to argue anymore.

I once confided in him completely, sharing the sorrow of my family background, never expecting him to use it against me today.

I'm not afraid of threats; I'm only worried about Faith's health.

After Bruce passed away, the only one who cared about me was Faith.

In front of him, I gave up resisting as he demanded.

Nathan shoved me into the bathroom and ordered, "Clean yourself up."

But midway, the door was opened.

I was startled.

Nathan's face was gradually replaced by Wyatt's ugly one.

That pitch-black night, that damp, miserable bathroom, felt as if it were right in front of me.

I begged him, "Not here. Please, somewhere else."

He pinned my hands against the glass, accidentally noticing the marks on my wrists.

Warm breath brushed against my ear as he chuckled wickedly, "So, you like being tied up."

The dense mist blurred my vision, hiding the emotions on his face.

He forced me to look directly at my reflection in the mirror.

My tears fell in big drops, hitting his arm hard.