Chapter 6: Ethan Won’t Let Me Go

CLAIRE’S POV

When Amelia saw the wounds on my body, her brows furrowed deeply, her eyes filled with pity. “This is serious. Why did you wait so long to come to me?”

“I thought it would heal on its own,” I replied softly.

Thankfully, the injuries this time were only on the front of my body, so she wouldn’t see the scars on my back from Ethan’s merciless whippings.

Amelia didn’t say much else. She just treated my wounds and told me to rest.

I thanked her and felt a fleeting sense of hope that things might get better.

Earlier, I had finally mustered all my courage to ask Kane if I could stay by his side to serve him. While I couldn’t directly tell him about everything Ethan had done to me, being near Kane would at least give me some breathing room, a chance to escape Ethan’s reach. As for everything else, I’d figure it out later.

As I left the treatment room, I saw Kane.

He leaned against the wall, his expression sharp and brooding. His deep gray eyes locked onto me, stormy and unreadable, like clouds before a thunderstorm.

My heart raced uncontrollably, just like before.

But it wasn’t fear that gripped me. Strangely, in that moment, I felt an inexplicable urge to move closer to him.

The thought startled me, and I quickly lowered my head in embarrassment.

“All better?” His voice was low and gentle, with a hint of concern.

I nodded lightly and replied in a small voice, “Yes, thank you, Alpha.”

Amelia followed me out and explained my condition to Kane.

After listening to her, his frown deepened. “Did you hear that, Claire?” he said, turning to me. “You need to rest properly now.”

My cheeks flushed with heat, and I instinctively dropped my gaze, unable to meet his eyes. The feeling was so strange.

“You haven’t finished your breakfast yet. Go back and eat,” Kane said, his voice calm and reassuring.

I nodded numbly.

On the way back to the dining hall, I kept my head down, quietly following behind him. His tall, broad figure exuded a sense of security I had never felt before. The crisp scent of cedar lingered in the air around him, and I found myself unconsciously taking deep breaths, as if inhaling it could calm my unease.

When we returned, Ethan was already gone. The table still held my unfinished bowl of corn porridge, along with bacon and eggs he had prepared.

Kane pulled out a chair for me and motioned for me to sit.

His gesture left me flustered.

“I’m just a servant,” I thought.

Yet here he was, pulling out a chair for me and ensuring I had such a hearty breakfast.

“Didn’t you hear what Amelia said? You’re too weak right now. If you don’t eat and regain your strength, how will you serve me?”

I slowly sat down, picked up the spoon, and forced myself to eat a few bites of the warm porridge.

It was such a simple meal, yet it moved me to the brink of tears.

I clenched my teeth, swallowing the lump of emotion rising in my chest. Kane was right—I needed to build my strength.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t eat much. After just a few bites, I felt uncomfortably full. Years of hunger had left me unable to handle larger portions.

Kane frowned. “That’s all you’re eating?”

“Sorry… I can’t eat any more,” I said, clutching my stomach.

I stood to clear the dishes, but Kane stopped me. “Go rest. You don’t need to work for now.”

“But—”

“That’s an order,” he said, his tone firm and cold.

“Yes, Alpha,” I replied, bowing my head before leaving the dining hall.

Despite his stern demeanor, being cared for like this was a warmth I hadn’t known in a long time.

Maybe I could survive if I stayed by Kane’s side.

But why did this warmth feel so familiar?

It wasn’t the first time someone had treated me so kindly. The food, too—I had once enjoyed meals like this.

Were these memories I had lost?

Had someone cared for me like this before?

I needed to recover those missing pieces of my past.

When I returned to my dormitory, the warmth I had felt was instantly replaced by a chilling dread.

Ethan was sitting on my bed.

He lounged casually, one leg draped over the other, leaning lazily against the wall. In his hand, something glinted as it spun between his fingers.

My eyes focused on it—a silver knife.

It was the one I had hidden under my pillow for protection. He had found it.

Ethan looked up at me, his dark eyes glinting with a sinister red glow. A cruel smile curled at his lips, like a predator savoring its prey’s despair.

“Claire, you’re such a naughty girl,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “Did you really think getting my uncle’s help would make you untouchable?”

“No…” My voice caught in my throat, as if an invisible hand was choking the air out of me.

“Come here,” Ethan commanded. “Disobedient dolls deserve punishment.”

Paralyzed by fear, I clutched the doorframe, my trembling hand barely supporting me. My heart pounded in my chest, threatening to burst.

I turned to flee, but Ethan was faster.

In an instant, he was in front of me. He grabbed me and threw me back into the room like a rag doll.

I crashed onto the floor, my back slamming against the bed frame. Pain exploded through my body, stealing the breath from my lungs.

I didn’t give up. I fought with every ounce of strength I had, clawing and striking at him.

But Ethan was relentless. He pinned me down, using his weight to overpower me. With one hand, he grabbed my wrists and tied them together with his belt.

“No!” I screamed, kicking desperately, but he easily subdued my legs.

His eyes burned brighter, the red glow consuming them. His grin grew wider, more twisted.

“Your resistance only makes this more exciting,” he said, his voice laced with sadistic pleasure.

He raised the knife, its cold blade hovering just above my chest.

This was the most terrifying, hopeless moment of my life.

Ethan smiled cruelly, leaning close to whisper, “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt too much…”

Then, without hesitation, he plunged the knife into the flesh beneath my collarbone.

Agonizing pain ripped through me like fire, and I cried out as blood poured from the wound.

Ethan laughed, his excitement palpable. He tore at my clothes, kissing the open wound with sickening delight.

“Just kidding,” he said mockingly. “I only wanted to hear you scream.”

My body trembled violently as he continued to torment me. The searing pain, the humiliation, and the suffocating terror made it impossible to breathe.

My cries filled the room, but no one would hear me.

Ethan’s hands roamed over my body, leaving bruises and scars that would never heal. His voice was a cruel promise of what was to come.

“Before I send you to your death,” he sneered, “I’ll enjoy breaking you.”