Chapter 14
Three days had passed, and there was still no sign of Alice. Bradley had to accept the truth that she was really gone. She hadn’t left behind a single trace, as if she had vanished completely from his world.
If this had happened before, he would have been thrilled. He wouldn’t have to be stuck with a woman he didn’t love anymore. He could finally pursue Maisy again. Even if it had to be in secret, that alone would have been enough for him.
But now that his wish had come true, he felt no delight at all.
Bradley clutched the divorce papers in his hand. This was the last thing Alice left him, and the only thing he could hold on to.
He never realized how empty this home would feel without Alice. There was no sound of her voice and no sight of her face. The pain slowly crept in, piercing to the bone. Only then did he finally realize he had been wrong all along.
As his fingers traced the familiar name on the papers, regret flickered across his face.
Over the past few days, Bradley had investigated everything. And finally, he understood.
Alice had known the truth for a long time–ever since Maisy’s fever that night.
Christine’s death, the stolen heart, the scattered ashes, the empty grave, the countless miscarriages, and finally, this child, the one he had treated as an offering to Maisy. Alice had known it all
Bradley couldn’t begin to imagine the kind of pain Alice had endured. He wouldn’t even dare try.
He lowered his head. He was already starting to miss Alice. He regretted everything.
Just then, Jacob quietly stepped beside him and spoke in a soft voice, “Mr. Sharp, Ms. Doyle is awake.”
Bradley’s eyes snapped open, filled with fury.
Carefully, he put away the divorce papers before heading to the basement alone.
Three days ago, he had taken Maisy straight to his home. Given his status and the fact that everyone saw him as Maisy’s devoted admirer, no one stopped him. Zachary hadn’t returned yet either.
Bradley locked Maisy in the basement. Three days was more than enough time for him to do a lot, but it wasn’t over yet. He would make sure she paid back everything she owed Alice.
He opened the door with a stern expression and immediately saw the woman sprawled on the floor with her clothes disheveled. It had only been three days, but Maisy was already a ghost of her former self.
At the sound of the door, she jerked her head up and scrambled toward Bradley. She clung desperately to his leg.
“Brad! I was wrong! I’m sorry! Please, I’m begging you! Just let me go! I can’t stay here anymore! It’s too much! It’s too horrible! I’m scared, Brad! I’m so scared!”
Maisy wailed and sobbed, hoping Bradley would take pity on her.
No one could possibly imagine what she had endured in these three days.
A man capable of ripping out a heart, scattering ashes, and deceiving his wife for years would naturally have no shortage of ways to inflict suffering.
Bradley had ordered Maisy to take care of Alice’s baby. But the baby was already dead. Maisy couldn’t even bring herself to touch it.
Bradley, of course, had no patience for disobedience. The moment she refused, he would force her hands into scalding water. In less than a second, the pain would tear through her, leaving her screaming in agony–just like Alice back in that hospital.
Maisy didn’t dare resist anymore. She did exactly as Bradley ordered, cleaning the maggots, flies, and rotting blood from the stillborn’s body. She held it at all times, cradling and soothing it, as if it were a real child.
It was enough to drive her to the brink of madness.
For the past three days, Bradley barely showed up. The basement had no windows, so there was no way to tell time. But if Maisy let go of the baby, someone would storm in and shock her with an electric baton. The only way to get a moment’s peace was to hold that wretched, decaying bundle close.
Now, sering Bradley at last, Maisy didn’t care about anything else. She threw herself at him, clinging and sobbing. But there wasn’t a trace of sympathy in his eyes. He kicked her away like trash.
“It’s too late for apologies, Maisy. Did you never consider that you’d end up like this when you hurt Alice?”
Bradley watched her coldly The tenderness he once had for her was long gone.
