Chapter 5

Eve struggled in vain and shouted angrily, "I'm the daughter of the Costa family. How dare you touch me?"

The police officer sneered and rudely pulled Eve by the handcuffs. "The daughter of the Costa family? You're now suspected of assault with intent to harm, and the evidence is solid. Even if Mr. Costa himself came, he couldn't save you."

Eve quickly turned to look at Lucas and Alina.

Alina was nestled in Lucas's arms, with a bandage on her forehead. Her eyes were filled with smugness and provocation.

Lucas stared at Eve expressionlessly. "Eve, this is the lesson you deserve. Stop pretending. You will be punished more severely if you pretend to be the daughter of the Costa family. When you realize your mistakes in jail, I'll come to bail you out."

Under Alina's triumphant gaze, Eve was roughly shoved into the police car and taken straight to the detention center.

The nightmare was just beginning.

She was locked in a dark, damp cell. There were already several sinister-looking female prisoners in there.

They greeted Eve with malicious smiles. "Welcome to prison, Eve. Lucas specifically let us give you a warm welcome."

In the following days, Eve was tortured inhumanely.

They dunked her head into filthy toilet water until she nearly suffocated.

They slashed her arms with sharpened toothbrushes.

They stole her food, leaving her dizzy with hunger.

They took away her blanket and tied her to a pole so that she couldn't fall asleep during the night.

Late into the night, as everyone else slept deeply, a silent emergency message with a tracker was sent out.

By the time Lucas finally remembered Eve, she was barely recognizable after being abused.

Her golden hair was matted against her face. Her eyes, which were bright, now became blank. Her lips were cracked and bleeding.

She curled up in the corner of the cell and whispered to herself.

"Eve?" A prison guard tentatively called her.

Eve shrank into a ball. "Don't hit me... Go away. I'm sorry... I'm sorry!"

The guard frowned and turned to look at Lucas standing behind him. "She's been like this for days. She seems out of her mind."

Lucas's heart clenched as he saw Even, who looked like a madwoman.

Was she Eve, who had been proud and radiant?

He crouched down and tried to touch her, but she flinched away instantly. "Don't touch me!" she screamed and retreated in fear. "I'm sorry. I won't do that again."

Lucas's hand froze mid-air, and his throat tightened. "Eve, I'm taking you out."

Eve tilted her head and smiled foolishly.

Lucas couldn't hold back any longer and scooped her up.

She was terrifyingly light, as if she were just a bundle of bones.

"I'm sorry..." he murmured hoarsely. "I didn't know you would become like this."

Eve quieted in his arms, like a frightened kid leaning against his chest. She continued murmuring, "I won't do that anymore... I'm sorry..."

Lucas carried Eve out of the cell, and the sunlight was so harsh that Eve couldn't open her eyes.

She shivered and buried her face in his chest.

Lucas looked down at her and felt sorry for her.

Eve had always been strong and proud. She had never been so frightened like a startled bird.

He had intended to let Eve be obedient and reliant on him. But he regretted it now after she became like that.

Lucas took Eve to the hospital, put her on the bed, and gently covered her with a blanket.

She was still trembling slightly, and her gaze was unfocused on the ceiling. She was still unconsciously repeating words of apology.

He sat beside the bed and caressed her gaunt cheek. He said in a low and tender voice, "Eve, don't be afraid. No one will hurt you again."

The doctor came in to give Eve a check-up. Lucas was about to see which part of her got injured when his phone suddenly vibrated.

It was a call from Alina.

He hesitated for a moment before answering the call.

"Lucas, where are you?" Alina's voice was coquettish. "I've been waiting for you for a long time. Didn't you promise to go with me when I try on wedding dresses today?"

Lucas glanced back at Eve on the bed, who lay quietly. She seemed unresponsive to the outside world.

"I'll be there soon," he finally said.

He hung up and took one last look at Eve.

He instructed the doctors and the nurses lightly, saying, "Take good care of her."

Lucas returned late at night with Alina in tow.

Alina eyed Eve, who was weak and nearly burst into laughter. "Honey, your fiancée seems to have a mental disease."

Eve heard Alina's voice, sat up in terror, and shrank into the corner.

"You know what? Eve, when you were suffering in jail, Lucas and I were doing it at the hotel, from morning till night, from the sofa to the bathtub to the bed, without stopping."

Eve curled up in the corner of the hospital bed. Her emaciated body trembled uncontrollably, and her eyes were filled with fear and confusion. They were not as bright as before.

"Stay away from me... Stay away!" She repeated those words in a hoarse voice, and her fingers gripped the sheets tightly. Even her knuckles turned pale.

Alina walked over in her high heels and looked down at Eve. "Look at you now," Alina said disdainfully. "Do you remember how you used to stand so proudly beside Lucas? You never deserved him. Lucas plans to call off the engagement with you and marry me, the princess of the Costa family."

Listening to Alina continuously provoke Eve, Lucas frowned and reached out to hold Alina's arm. "That's enough, Alina."