Love Laid Me to Rest

But no one could hear my desperate cries, and the only response was Maddox's cold, unfeeling voice.

"Callie, you're too softhearted. We've planned this for so long, just for this very day. We can't let everything fall apart at the last moment.

"Have you forgotten how Judith stole everything from you? If it weren't for her mother, your identity as the illegitimate daughter wouldn't have been exposed. Your mother wouldn't have died, you would have married the man you loved, and you wouldn't have been driven out of the Whitcombe family!

"Don't worry. When it's all over, I'll make it up to Judith."

My whole body trembled. My limbs spasmed from the numbness, feeling as if a thousand needles were stabbing into me at once. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and I forcefully swallowed the metallic taste rising in my throat.

"I don't want you to make it up to me, Maddox Harlow! Just let me out of here, and I'll willingly give up my position as the heiress. I'll go somewhere far away and never disturb you all again!" I yelled inwardly.

Callista seemed to be crying, her voice choked with sobs.

"Maddox, you're so good to me. Every time I felt sad or upset, you'd deliberately provoke Trevor so he'd abuse Judith. You'd even have him send over the photos and videos.

"Seeing her covered in bruises, kneeling on the floor begging for mercy, or locked in the closet for three whole days and nights until she was starving and dehydrated—it always made me feel so much better."

Maddox pulled Callista tightly into his arms and sighed. "As long as you're happy, hurting Judith a thousand times—or even ten thousand times over—is worth it. She owes you that much."

Inside the coffin, tears burst from my eyes. My heart felt as though something heavy had brutally smashed into it, causing it to cave in.

So that was how Maddox saw me this whole time. How could a person be that cruel? So every single time I was abused, he was the one behind it.

He was endlessly gentle when he was with me, but behind my back, he used photos of my torment and suffering to please another woman.

I laughed silently, tears sliding down from the corners of my eyes and dripping onto the wooden board, where they were instantly absorbed.

Perhaps the agony was too much, because suddenly, a surge of strength I'd never felt before rushed through my body, and I could move my fingers again.

No matter how much I hated the vile pair, at this moment, all I wanted was to live.

My nails scraped against the board beneath me, making faint scratching sounds. I desperately hoped they'd hear the noises coming from inside the coffin.

But in the next second, my hope shattered. Outside, the sounds of passionate kissing started.

I could feel a woman being pressed against the coffin, her back flat against the wooden lid.

I pounded my fingers desperately against the wood, but the two of them were lost in their passion and couldn't hear me.

Their ragged breathing tangled together as their bodies rocked against the coffin, making it creak and groan incessantly.

My desperate cries for help were drowned out just like that.

While moving against her, Maddox murmured his devotion. "Callie, do you know how long I've waited for this day? Finally, you're willing to give up on Trevor and marry me.

"Because of you, I swallowed my disgust and seduced Judith. When I was with her that night, all I could think about was you."

I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth, forcing myself not to listen to the nauseating sounds outside.

I thought my will to survive outweighed my hatred for them, but I was wrong. I hated them. Just as much as I had once loved Maddox, I now hated him. And I hated myself even more for falling in love with two men who had hurt me without mercy.

I didn't know how much time passed before it finally went quiet outside.

Just as I sank into despair, waiting to die, the coffin lid suddenly cracked open just a sliver.