My silence finally snapped her.
She grabbed a glass from the table and threw it at me.
It shattered on impact, blood trickling down my forehead.

She stared, stunned."Why...why didn't you dodge?"
Dodge?
Could I?
Wasn't it her rule?
If I dodged, she'd feed my parents'bones to dogs.
Victoria always followed through, didn't she?

She'd once warned," Ethan Caldwell, if you dare badmouth Ryan, I'll make you  beg for death."
In the basement, when Ryan lost a few hairs over the incident, she sent people to beat me.
If Ryan couldn't eat, neither could I—no food, barely any water.
When Ryan nearly jumped, she had my leg and finger broken.

Blood pooled. I blinked, dizzy.
Victoria rushed to my side."Ryan, get iodine and bandages!"
Ryan didn't move." Vicky, this is what he wants—standing still to get hit, guilting you."
She froze, her grip on my arm loosening.
After a long pause, she said coldly," Ethan Caldwell, how childish are you? Think this manipulates me?"
"You haven't apologized since you got out. Apologize to Ryan now—sincerely, for your reckless accusations—and I'll forgive you."
Ryan smirked."Vicky, a simple sorry is enough?"
She glanced at me, resolute."Ethan Caldwell, kneel and apologize!"
A drop of blood splattered on her hand, like scalding water. She flinched.
Ryan stepped forward, pulling her close, wiping her hand with a tissue."What're you waiting for, Ethan?"
Victoria's face was grim.
I lifted my head numbly, taking a deep breath.
"I'll apologize.I'll kneel. But tell me—where are my parents buried?"
Victoria blinked, caught off guard.
Ryan's eyes darted.
After a pause, she frowned at him." Ryan, you handled it. Where were they buried?"
His evasive look sparked my suspicion.
I lunged, grabbing his arm."Where did you bury them?!”
"Let go!"
I gripped tighter."Tell me where!"
Ryan's dark face twisted into a creepy smile."Ethan, why do I feel you hate me more than ever? Planning to cozy up to Vicky, then run me over with a car?"
Victoria's eyes widened."Ethan Caldwell, let go!"
I didn't move.
She shouted," I said let go!"
"Ethan, do you want to go back and reflect?"
Back?
No—I couldn't go back!
I released him, exhausted, facing the woman opposite me.
"Victoria Hayes, let's divorce."
The room fell silent.
Her face cracked with disbelief." Divorce? Are you joking?"
"I told you to let go, and you jump to divorce? Didn't you see you hurt Ryan? What are you playing at?"
I pressed my lips, staring at the woman I once loved.
Every day in that basement was a living death.
I couldn't believe Victoria would torture me for Ryan's sake.
Numbly, I said," You two love each other so much. Isn't it better if I step aside?"
Her face flushed, as if I'd exposed a secret. Her eyes darted.
"What nonsense! Ethan, stop it. I never wanted a divorce. Ryan and I—"
"But I want one."
I cut her off.
Her expression soured.
Ryan laughed."Ethan, where'll you go? The company's Vicky's now. A cripple with a busted hand—gonna sleep on the streets?"
His words hit like a boulder.
But Victoria, hearing this, looked at me, shocked."What? You're crippled? How? And your hand?"
I followed her gaze, lifting my twisted finger with a hollow laugh." Didn't you know? Why so surprised?"