Chapter 7
Thea was already weak and couldn’t fight back. Her wounds split open, blood streaming down her arms.
Ryan released her throat but grabbed her jaw instead, squeezing like he wanted to shatter bone.
Thea spoke through gritted teeth.
“So you know how to check cameras now? Why don’t you look at the other footage-everything except the poisoning? I didn’t do any of it.”
“Lyra’s pregnant. Would it kill you to cut her some slack?”
Hearing that, Thea stared at him, finally understanding.
He’d always known exactly what kind of person Lyra was.
He just chose to look the other way for her sake.
She met his eyes.
“You could just divorce me. No need to make her and the baby suffer.”
Ryan’s face twisted with rage.
“Have I been too good to you? Now you think you can talk about divorce?”
“All these years you’ve been dead weight, but I still let you play house as my wife. Gave you everything. And this is how you repay me? Asking for a divorce and trying to kill me?”
Thea suddenly started laughing.
So that’s what he really thought of her.
He’d forgotten how she’d walked beside him door-to-door, chasing investors until her feet bled raw, helping him build the company from nothing.
Forgotten all those sleepless nights when she’d stayed up brainstorming with him.
Forgotten that becoming a housewife was his idea-he’d begged her to quit her job.
She’d given up her career so he’d have a hot meal waiting when he came home.
Ryan’s expression grew darker. He dragged her outside and drove to an abandoned warehouse.
Thea went white, trying to pull away, but he held her tight.
When she was eight, her father’s business failed. He’d brought her here to collect insurance money-would’ve burned her alive if Mom hadn’t found
them in time.
The father who’d loved her turned into a monster. That day haunted her dreams for years.
She’d told Ryan about the nightmares during late-night conversations. He knew she took detours just to avoid this place.
And now he’d brought her here.
“Ryan, what do you want?!!”
He dragged her into the warehouse as terror consumed her.
“Let go! I’m not going in there!”
Ryan ignored her pleas. “Remember this lesson. Maybe you’ll behave next time.”
His bodyguards lit some old plastic boxes. Fire spread through the trash and weeds.
Her worst nightmare was happening all over again.
Thea’s eyes went wild, her voice breaking.
“Please, don’t do this…”
She clung to Ryan’s arm like he was her lifeline.
But he pried her fingers off and shoved her inside, slamming the door shut.
“Ryan, don’t leave me here! Open the door!” Thea threw herself against it, pounding with her fists.
Ryan didn’t flinch. When Lyra called, his voice went soft.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’m coming home now.”
“I promise Thea won’t hurt you anymore.”
He hung up and told his men, “Watch her. Let her out in thirty minutes.”
“What if she gets burned…” one bodyguard hesitated.
“Good! Maybe she’ll finally learn!”He just answered coldly.
Then through the crack under the door, Thea watched Ryan drive away.
All hope died. She stopped pounding on the door.
How good did she have to be? Take care of Lyra after birth? Help raise their kid?
Ryan was wrong. She’d never learn to be that kind of “good.”
Thea found a metal rod and jammed the door shut from the inside. She pulled out the last vial with shaking hands and drank it down.
Curled up in the corner, watching the flames spread, she tried to comfort herself.
When you’re dead, you can’t be scared anymore.
She’d never have to see Ryan again. Finally free.
Too bad she’d come so close to dragging him to hell with her.
Blood filled her throat. She coughed up a mouthful of red.
Her body swayed as she collapsed.
Through the haze, she thought she saw Mom coming to get her.
